Overview Faculty & Students Research Projects Equipment Presentations Publications


Personnel
Graduate Students


Undergraduate Students





Faculty

Lew.jpgLewis J. Abrams, abramsl@uncw.edu: I specialize in investigating sub-surface features, both submarine and terrestrial, using a variety of geophysical instruments including seismic and multibeam bathymetry systems along with, gravimeters, magnetometers, and ground penetrating radar. My research includes marine geophysical and Ocean Drilling Program expeditions in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Caribbean Sea. Recent expeditions include an ROV study of the Endeavor Deep, Juan Fernandez microplate Southeast Pacific Ocean, and a ground penetrating radar survey in search of the buried kingdom of Tambora, Sumbawa, Indonesia.

Lewis' Web Page


Nancy.jpgNancy R. Grindlay, grindlayn@uncw.edu: Plate tectonic boundaries are very dynamic features of the Earth’s surface that are often characterized by earthquake and volcanic activity, and when proximal to population centers pose serious geologic hazards. I specialize in mapping submarine plate tectonic boundaries using high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and side-scan sonar systems, together with single-channel seismic systems, gravimeters and magnetometers. My research has taken me and my students on marine geophysical cruises all over the world; to the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Southwest Indian Ridge, East Pacific Rise, Puerto Rico Trench, Nauru Basin in the western Pacific Ocean and the Puna Ridge offshore Hawaii. Recently, I have been involved in geophysical surveys of the inner and mid- continental shelf offshore SE North Carolina to monitor sediment movement in response to storm events.

Nancy's Web Page


Current Graduate Students



Recent Graduates

Timothy Dulaney, MS in Geology.  Thesis title:  "Volcanic morphology of the ultra-slow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (15°-35°E): Implications for crustal construction " Graduated Spring 2002, now at Exxon-Mobil, Houston, TX.

Joni (aka Osku) Backstrom, MS in Marine Science. Thesis title: "Monitoring storm driven sedimentary changes of the shoreface of a replenished beach: Kure Beach, North Carolina" Graduated Spring 2002, now in at EMU Ltd.

Matt Head, MS in Marine Science. Thesis title: "Use of high-resolution sidescan sonar to quantitatively map and monitor a mid-continental shelf hardbottom: 23 mile site, Onslow Bay, NC". Graduated Spring 2004, now at General Dynamics, Greenville, NC.

Christopher Wood, BA in Geology, Minor Creative Writing. Honors Thesis title: "Evidence for recent hydrothermal activity in Endeavor Deep, Juan Fernandez Microplate, Southeast Pacific Ocean", Graduated Spring 2004.

Meghan Hearne, MS in Geology. Thesis title: "Investigation of submarine landslides along the Northern Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands margin: Implications for tsunamigenesis" Graduated Summer 2004, now at Minyo and Moore, San Diego, CA.

Jeffery Marshall, MS in Geology. Thesis title: " Event driven sediment mobility on the Inner continental shelf of Onslow Bay", Graduated Summer 2004, now at Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC.

Luke Del Greco, MS in Geology. Thesis title: "Identification of recent faulting on the shallow insular shelf of Western Puerto Rico". Graduated Fall 2004, now at Chesapeake Energy, Oklahoma City, OK.

Michael Murphy, MS in Marine Science: Thesis title:" Geophysical Investigation of the Tectonic and Volcanic History of the Nauru Basin, Western Pacific". Graduated Fall 2004. Now at URS Corporation.

Kelly Roberston, BS in Geology: Honor Thesis title: " Morphotectonic Analysis of the Mona Canyon, and its Possible Origins". Graduated Summer 2006, now enrolled in Ph.D. program at UNLV.

Steve Mondziel, MS in Geology . Thesis title: "Morphology, structure and tectonic evolution of Mona Canyon, Puerto Rico". Graduated Fall 2007, now at Hess Corporation, Houston, TX

Kassy Rodriguez, MS in Marine Sciences . Thesis titele: "Use of high-resolution sidescan sonar and seismics to map historic oyster reefs in the Lower Cape Fear River". Graduated Summer 2009, now at Exxon-Mobile, Houston TX.

Amanda Maness, MS in Geology. Thesis title: "Acoustic and visual seabed classification of Oculina Habitat Area of Particular Concern, Southeast Florida shelf". Graduated Fall 2011.