I am interested in how rocks deform with the purpose of understanding mountain building and the implications for the theory of plate tectonics and seismic hazards. My students and I are currently trying to understand 1) the tectonic history of the Caribbean-North American through the study of large faults, 2) how the lithosphere deforms at active continental rifts, and 3) the location of faults that produce anomalous earthquakes in central Oklahoma (in the center of the North American Plate far from plate boundaries). These studies are important because we can contribute knowledge to the puzzle of plate tectonics and we can help understand the seismic hazards both close and far away from plate boundaries. To study these issues, we use techniques of structural geology and geophysics. That means going to the field and examine the characteristics of the rocks in location, taking samples to analyze in the lab, and using geophysical equipment to image structures (such as faults) below the surface.

On a typical day, I will arrive early to my office and work a couple of hours on writing either a scientific paper or grant proposal. It is important to do this early because the mind is fresh and ready to tackle writing, which is a difficult yet essential task. Also, early in the morning you have fewer interruptions. After the two hours of writing I check email. It is important to do this later, otherwise your mind will not be focused on writing. Then I prepare to teach a 1-hour class (Geology and Human Affairs, Structural Geology, Plate Tectonics or Advanced Methods in Structural Geology). I have already planned these course before the beginning of the semester but I reserve an hour before the class to focus on the learning objectives of that day’s class. After I teach the class, I have office hours to meet with any students that need help with the material covered in class. In the afternoon I meet with graduate students to discuss the progress of their research projects. Some days I could also participate in a research discussion with colleagues and other graduate students. Other days I attend seminars by invited scientists from outside our department. Other days I participate in faculty meetings to discuss issues in the department. I may also attend phone calls from news reporters interested in knowing more about occurring earthquakes in Oklahoma. Before leaving the work for the day, I review the things that I have accomplished on that day and think about the things to be done tomorrow.