Research Group
Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University – 2008
M.S. in Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico – 1999
B.A. in Geology, Whitman College – 1996
I’m always interested in hearing from self-motivated students looking to join our research group.
Please contact me or the students currently working with me for more information.
This could be your office, well at least part of the year…
Current Graduate Students
Col. Julian (Nuttman) Chesnutt (email)
Ph.D. candidate: 2015 – present
Research Topic: Landscape Evolution and Mass Wasting on Earth and Mars
Julian’s webpage
Grant Colip (email)
M.S. student, co-advised with Dr. Elana Leithold: 2020-present
Research Topic: Reconstructing the earthquake history of the Olympic Peninsula using sediment cores from Lake Crescent, Washington
Grant’s webpage
Raja Das (email)
Ph.D. student: 2020 – present
Research Topic: Developing remote sensing and geo-statistical models for geohazard prediction and analysis
Raja’s webpage
Chris Norcross (email)
M.S. student: 2021 – present
Research Topic: Biogeomorphology of beavers across the Piedmont of North Carolina
Chris’ LinkedIn page
Current Undergraduate Students (2021-2022 academic year)
Looking for a research opportunity? E-mail Karl
Former Graduate Students… where are they now?
Rachel Atkins (2021): Characterizing Tectonic and Hydrologic Processes Shaping Earth and Mars [Ph.D. Dissertation]; Current Position: Hydrologist – U.S. Geological Survey, Salt Lake City, UT
Corey Scheip (2021): Remote Sensing Studies of Landslides and Landslide Prone Landscapes [Ph.D. Dissertation]; Current Position: Geologist – BGC Engineering, Inc., Golden, Colorado.
Gantulga Bayasgalan (2018): Late Cenozoic Landscape Evolution in the Khangay Mountains, Mongolia [Ph.D. Dissertation]; Current Position: Faculty in the School of Geology and Mining Engineering, Mongolian University of Science and Technology, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Adam Lee (2018): Leave it to Beavers: Evaluating the Potential for Incised stream Restoration using Natural and Analog Beaver Dams [M.S. Thesis]; Current Position: Senior Staff Geologist – Terracon, Raleigh, NC
Catelyn Joyner (2016): Lacustrine megaturbidites and displacement waves: the Holocene Earthquake History of the Lake Creek-Boundary Creek Fault at Lake Crescent, Washington, USA [M.S. Thesis]; Current Position: Geologist III – Tetra Tech, Norfolk, VA
Stephen Smith (2016): Tectonic and climatic controls on landscape evolution in the Hangay Mountains, Mongolia and Olympic Mountains, USA [Ph.D. Dissertation]; Current Position: Postdoctoral Teacher-Scholar, Environmental Studies Program at Wake Forest University.
Matthew Morriss (2015): Dynamic and Tectonic Landscapes in Eastern Oregon Reveal Neogene to Quaternary Rearrangement of Topography [M.S. Thesis]; Current Position: Physical Scientist – USGS, Salt Lake City, UT
Nathan Lyons (2014): Hillslope-Stream Coupling in Tectonically Active and Inactive Regions [Ph.D. Dissertation]; Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Sean Gallen (2013): The Development of Topography in Ancient and Active Orogens: Case Studies of Landscape Evolution in the Southern Appalachians, USA, and Crete, Greece [Ph.D. Dissertation]; Current Position: Assistant Professor of Geology, Dept. of Geosciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Mark Voli (2012): Tracing the Sources of Suspended Sediment Inputs to Falls Lake Reservoir, Neuse River, North Carolina [M.S. Thesis]; Current Position: Geomorphologist / Environmental Scientist, Dewberry, Fairfax, VA
Robert Lewis (2011): The Lasting Impacts of Post-Colonial Agriculture and Water-Powered Milldams on Current Water Quality, Wake County, Raleigh, North Carolina [M.S. Thesis]; Current Position: Ph.D. student in Environmental Ethics and Theology at the University of Birmingham, U.K.