Undergraduate research focuses on developing and enhancing observational, critical thinking, and technical writing skills. Projects vary in scope with most involving a component of field work combined with petrographic and/or other quantitative analysis. Listed below are the students and projects that I have mentored over the past few years at Bridgewater State University. These projects were made possible by the generosity of the Bridgewater State University Foundation which supports vital programs such as the Adrian Tinsley Program for undergraduate research.

2016

Autumn Burrell, Geochemical analysis of the basaltic rocks from volcanoes of the Hawaiian Island: Implications for their evolutionary stage of development. BSU Symposium Poster

Chris Crowley, Tectonic origins of Precambrian Granitic Gneisses & Amphibolites from the Spanish Peaks-Gallatin Mountain range, SW Montana. BSU Symposium Poster

Jeremy Frodyma, Origin and Tectonic Implications for Granite Bodies at Fort Phoenix State Reservation and the Permian-Aged Narragansett Pier Granite Using Whole-Rock Geochemistry. BSU Symposium Poster

2012

Lauren Bell, Timing of deformation associated with a major ductile shear zone, Ruby Mountains, SW Montana. GSA Poster

2011

Allen Schaen, 40Ar/39Ar laser dating and provenance of micas from the Teddy Creek Group, SW Montana. GSA Poster

2009

Renee Holt, Sedimentary Petrology of the Teddy Creek Group, Blacktail Mountains, Montana: Implications for provenance and landscape evolution. GSA Poster; Undergraduate Review article

2008

Jessica Sousa, Petrologic investigation of amphibolites across a major ductile shear zone in the Ruby Mountains, SW Montana: Implications for the nature of early Proterozoic(?) mafic magmatism. GSA Poster

Jessica Sousa, Kinematic analysis of mylonitic rocks, southern Ruby Mountains, SW Montana: Evidence for Proterozoic orogenic crustal thickening and topographic collapse. Undergraduate Review article pages 57-63.

2007

Rene Olsen, Kinematic and microstructural study of mylonitic rocks from the Ruby Mountains, southwest Montana.

2006

Amy Saccoccio, Petrography and geochemistry of Cenozoic basalt flows within the Blacktail Mountains and Ruby Mountains, SW Montana.

2005

Emily Clement, Field and Petrographic Investigation of the Lone Mountain Intrusion and Associated Effects of Contact Metamorphism, Gallatin Range, Montana. NCUR Poster

Ashlee Kirkwood, Petrographic analysis of a drill core from the Narragansett Basin, Somerset, Massachusetts.

Elizabeth (Lynn) Connell, Microstructural Analysis of the Rhode Island Formation, Narragansett Basin, MA. GSA Poster

2004

Lisa Baltimore, Development of lab assignments for secondary education in Earth Science.

Crystal Cakounes, Development of Earth Science labs for elementary education.

Daniel Callahan, Geologic mapping and analysis of sedimentary rocks in the Teddy Creek drainage, Blacktail Mountains, Montana.

Amanda Craig, Petrographic Analysis of Core # 47, Halifax Massachusetts.

Russ McCormick, Field, Petrographic, & Geochemical characteristics of the Price Creek volcanics, southeast Blacktail Mountains. GSA Poster

Erin Nevens, Petrographic analysis of metamorphic rocks at Black Rock Beach, Cohasett MA. GSA Poster

Michael Robbins, Petrographic and Paleo-Depositional Analysis of the Northern Narragansett Basin Through Drill Core Observation. ATP Poster

2003

Nicholas Rofe, Geologic mapping of volcanic rocks in the Blacktail Mountains, Montana.

2002

Mathew Brennan, Geologic history of Borderland State Park, Easton MA.

Adrian Tinsley Program Summer Scholars

2007

Jessica Sousa, Kinematic and microstructural analysis of ductile shear zones, Ruby Mountains, Montana

2005

Emily Clement, Field and Petrographic Investigation of the Lone Mountain Intrusion and Associated Effects of Contact Metamorphism, Gallatin Range, Montana

Ashlee Kirkwood, Petrographic analysis of a drill core from the Narragansett Basin, Somerset, Massachusetts

Elizabeth (Lynn) Connell, Microstructural Analysis of the Rhode Island Formation, Narragansett Basin, MA

2004

Daniel Callahan, Sedimentary Petrology of the Teddy Creek Group, Blacktail Mountains, Montana

Erin Nevens, Geologic Mapping and Petrographic Analysis of Metamorphic Rocks from Black Rock Beach, Cohasset, Massachusetts

2003

Nicholas Rofe, Geologic mapping of volcanic rocks in the Blacktail Mountains, Montana

2002

Mathew Brennan, Geologic history of the Easton and Sharon border, southeastern Massachusetts

Adrian Tinsley Program Semester Grant Recipients

2005

Erin Nevens, Geochemical constraints on the timing of basaltic magmatism at Black Rock Beach, Cohasset, MA

Russ McCormick, Geochemical analysis of the Price Creek and Dillon Volcanics, Blacktail Mountains, Montana

2004

Michael Robbins, Petrographic and Paleo-Depositional Analysis of Drill Core Samples from the Northeastern Portion of the Narragansett Basin, Massachusetts

Erin Nevens, Unraveling the Geologic History of the Avalon Terrane in Massachusetts: Field Observations and Petrographic Analysis

Russ McCormick, Petrographic Comparison between Price Creek, Teddy Creek and the Dillon Volcanics, Southwestern Montana

2003

Nicholas Rofe, Petrographic analysis of volcanic rock samples collected from the Blacktail Mountains, Montana

2002

Matthew Brennan, Geologic history of Borderland State Park, Easton MA