Recent Faculty Research Projects

There is a very diverse applied, as well as basic, research emphasis in the Department of Geosciences at Western Michigan University. The faculty have a well-funded and active research program that addresses a wide range of research topics in the general fields of geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology, geotechnical geology, glacial geomorphology, earth science education, sedimentary systems and basin analysis. There have been a number of new initiatives pertaining to research activities and construction of research facilities.

Recent projects

William Harrison

• Michigan Contribution to the National Geothermal Data System: Arizona Geological Survey, 5/24/10-8/29/12
• Petroleum Technology Transfer Council Michigan Center: Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, Other, 10/1/09-9/30/11

Stephen Kaczmarek

• Origin and evolution of microporosity in limestone reservoirs: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, 2009-2015
• Genetic origin of lacustrine carbonates in the Santos Basin, Brazil: ExxonMobil Exploration Company, 2013-2014
• Development and evolution of cation ordering in dolomite

Alan Kehew

• Geologic mapping of the Augusta quad: US Geological Survey, Federal, 9/1/11-8/31/12
• Geologic mapping of Calhoun County: Great Lakes Geologic Coalition, Federal, 8/1/11-7/31/12

Michelle Kominz

• Ocean Leadership: Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Other, 1/4/10-1/8/13
• Ocean Leadership: Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Other, 11/4/09-11/3/12

Carla Koretsky

• Influence of Road Salt Deicers on the Chemistry of Michigan Lakes, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 9/1/2015-8/31/17
• Development of surface complexation models for Cr (VI) adsorption on soils, sediments, and model mixtures of kaolinite, montmorillonite, g-alumina, hydrous manganese and ferric oxides, and goethite, DOE, Federal, 9/1/10-8/31/12

Heather Petcovic

• Improving the STEM workforce by improving community college teachers of science: National Science Foundation, Federal, 8/08-8/13
• Collaborative Proposal: Learning across the Expert-Novice Continuum; Cognition in the Geosciences, National Science Foundation, Federal, 9/08-8/12
• Development and evaluation of a problem-based field and laboratory environmental geochemistry course: National Science Foundation, Federal, 9/08-8/11

Joyashish Thakurta

• Surficial Geological Mapping: Iron Mountain 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, Dickinson County, Michigan, 2016
• Geochemical characterization of sulfide mineralization at Eagle and Eagle East intrusions in Marquette County, Michigan, 2015
• Bedrock Geological Mapping: Norway 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Dickinson County and Bessemer Quadrangle, Gogebic County, 2015
• Surficial Geological Mapping: Vulcan 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, Dickinson County, Michigan, 2015

Mohamed Sultan

• Nile Delta Subsidence: NSF, Federal, 10/1/11-9/30/14
• Enhancing capacity for water resource studies in Egypt and Morocco: U.S. Department of State, Federal, 10/1/11-9/30/14
• Grace, remote sensing, and traditional data sets for modeling time dependent water partitioning on continental scale: A case study from Africa, NASA, Federal, 10/1/11-9/30/14
• Detailed Studies on Landslides in Jazan Area: Saudi Arabia Geological Survey, Foreign, 7/15/2010-7/15/2013
• Sinai Egypt Water Resources: NATO, Foreign, 4/27/07-10/1/12
• Integration of Grace Data with Inferences from Hydrologic Models, Geochemical Data, and Field Data for a Better Understanding of the Time-Dependent Water Storage Variability in Large-Scale Aquifers: Case Studies from North Africa, NASA, Federal, 4/08-4/12
• Mojave Water Investigation: California State University, Fullerton, Education, 5/1/10-6/30/11