I started my position in the Geological Sciences department at Cal Poly Pomona in 2015 after completing my PhD from UC Santa Barbara in 2014 and my MS from UCLA in 2007. I currently teach sedimentary geology, field methods, historical geology, and megascopic petrography courses. My research generally focuses on how tectonic processes influence the depositional record of sedimentary and volcanic rocks in ancient basins. I consider myself a “field geologist” as my research is primarily field-based, combining detailed geologic mapping, sedimentology, stratigraphy, physical volcanology, and structural geology with a variety of laboratory techniques including provenance analyses, petrography, geochemistry, and geochronology. My recent research projects focus on the relationship between extensional basin development and mid-Cenozoic ignimbrite flare-up magmatism in the Sierra Madre Occidental silicic large igneous province of northwestern Mexico and in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. My master’s thesis focused on sedimentology, stratigraphy, and provenance of non-marine deposits in Bolivian Altiplano (see my research page for more information). Each of these studies involved collaborating with local in-country geologists and professors from several universities.
I have extensive experience teaching in higher education. Prior to my current position, I worked as an adjunct geology instructor at several community colleges in Southern California (Santa Monica College, Mt. San Antonio College, El Camino College, Pasadena City College, Antelope Valley College, Pierce College, and Los Angeles City College) were I taught Introductory Geology, Historical Geology, Oceanography, and Earth Science. As a teaching assistant at UCLA and UCSB, I developed laboratories and taught lab sections for a wide range of geology courses including Dinosaurs, Physical Geology, Field Geology Methods, Sedimentary Petrology & Stratigraphy, History of Life, Historical Geology, Geological Catastrophes, and Oceanography. Outside of academia, I’ve had professional experience working in the environmental, petroleum, mining, and geotechnical industries. After finishing my BS in Geology-Paleobiology at UCLA in 2003, I volunteered in the Peace Corps where I worked with a non-governmental organization in Jamaica that was responsible for the management of a newly established protected area and taught at a local community college. This was the first time I ever taught a class and I’ll never forget the feeling of accomplishment I had while teaching my students concepts about the earth, especially complex topics such as plate tectonics, sparking an interest for the world around them. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering and traveling, SCUBA diving for underwater research with Reef Check California; surfing in the South Bay; backpacking in California's mountains, sailing in San Diego and Catalina Island, and spending time with my wife and daughters, Coral and Pearl. |