Current Graduate Students
Bailey Fitzgerald (PhD): I am a graduate student at The Ohio State University working with Dr. Derek Sawyer. The overarching goal of our research is to quantify the relationship between earthquake shaking and shear strength development of marine sediments within the first 100 meters below the sea floor and determine how this relationship plays a role in the earthquake -landslide- tsunami cycle. Before I joined the OSU earth sciences department, I earned my BA in geoscience with a minor in communication from Denison University. After graduating, I worked for the Department of the Interior as a natural resources intern and then for Ace Iron and Metal as a commodities trader.
Daniel Blake (PhD): I am a graduate student at The Ohio State University working with Dr. Derek Sawyer. My research focuses on collecting near-surface geophysical data and investigating unique features in the shallow subsurface. I am particularly interested in using side scan sonar, sub-bottom profiling, bathymetry, and drone photography to model changes occurring on the Lake Erie coastline. I received my bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2009 and my master’s degree from Wright State University in 2012. I am currently working as a geophysicist at the Ohio Geological Survey in Columbus, Ohio.
Faye Higgins (MS): I am a graduate student at The Ohio State University working with Dr. Derek Sawyer. My research is focused on the age dating of megabeds, or “megaturbidites”, within the Marsili Basin, Tyrrhenian Sea. The purpose of this research is to understand the timing of the catastrophic events that triggered these turbidity flows, and if these events correlate to known volcanic episodes that occurred within the Campi Flegrei caldera, Italy. I received my bachelor’s degree in geoscience with a minor in mathematics from SUNY Geneseo in 2023.
René Castillo (PhD): René’s research is centered on her fascination with geohazards, extreme environments, and outdoor recreation! She is passionate about exploring the dynamic forces of our planet while seeking adventure in the great outdoors. As a geohazard enthusiast, she has always been captivated by the raw power of nature. Whether it’s studying volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or landslides, she is constantly amazed by the Earth’s ever-changing landscape. Her academic and professional journey has led her to study unraveling the mysteries of geohazards and understand their impact on our environment and society. But it’s not all about studying disasters; She is equally drawn to extreme environments. From the depths of the oceans to the icy moons of other planets, Rene thrives on pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge. When not immersed in geoscience research, you’ll find Rene indulging in outdoor recreation or baking bread. Hiking, camping, rock climbing, and kayaking are her go-to activities to connect with nature and recharge the spirit.
Previous Postdocs and Graduate Students:
Jacob Fillingham, MS, 2021, “Undulating Sediments of the Cape Fear Submarine Landslide system, offshore U.S. Atlantic Margin: Sediment Waves versus Creep Deformation.”
Brandi Lenz, PhD, 2021, “Kinematics of Submarine Landslides, Offshore Oregon.” Currently Instructional Assistant Professor, Texas A&M Department of Geology and Geophysics.
Gabriel Martinez, MS, 2021, Seismic Geomorphology of the Chandeleur Submarine Landslide in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.”
Dr. Alexey Portnov (2017-2020). Currently Research Scientist, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Geophysics
Dr. Jess Hillman (2015-2016). Currently Marine Geologist/Geophysicist, GNS Science, New Zealand.
Trevor Browning, PhD, 2020, “Assessing Vulnerability to Watershed Erosion and Coastal Deposition in the Tropics.” Currently Assistant professor, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Elmira College, Elmira, NY.
Paul Russell, MS, 2018, “Tsunami Stratigraphy in a Salt Pond on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.”
Bennett Trotter, MS, 2018, “Pore Pressure Prediction in the Point Pleasant Formation in the Appalachian Basin, in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, United States of America.”
Katie Treiber, MS, 2017, “Deepwater Channel Systems in the Orca and Choctaw Basins, Northern Gulf of Mexico.”
Chen Yang, MS, 2017, “Petrophysical and geophysical interpretation of a potential gas hydrate reservoir at Alaminos Canyon 810, northern Gulf of Mexico.”
Joshua DeVore, MS, 2016, “Mudstone Consolidation in the Presence of Seismicity.”
Levent Akinci, MS, 2016, “An Analytical Modelling Approach to Test if a Rising Salt Diapir Triggered The Cape Fear Landslide.”
Zac Moore, MS, 2015, “Assessing the Relative Mobility of Submarine Landslides from Deposit Morphology and Physical Properties: an Example from Kumano Basin, Nankai Trough, offshore Japan.”
Current and Previous Undergraduate Theses:
2023 – 2024 Colton, Lane, Particle Size Analysis of Japan Trench Sediments from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 386. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2023 – 2024 Bzdafka, Jacob. Mineralogical analysis of a Sediment core from the Marsili Seamount, Tyrrhenian Sea. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2023 – 2023 Courtright, Daniel. Interpretation and Analyses of Soil Boring Log Data in Central Ohio, United States. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2023 – 2024 Schmetzer, Nicholas. Sediment cores in a salt pond, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2020 – 2022 Ab Rahaman, Faz. Slope stability analysis of neighboring salt domes with different scarring histories. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2020 – 2022 Nasir, Fattin. Fossil assemblage analysis in salt pond cores for paleotsunami interpretation. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2020 – 2022 Washburn, Jeremy. Analysis of the Submarine Slope Failures Accompanying the 1929 Grand Banks Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2020 – 2022 Price, Mallory. Analysis of fanquakes seismometer data from Ohio State football games in 2016. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2019 – 2021 Marchlewicz, Justin. Seismic Stratigraphy in Green Canyon, Gulf of Mexico. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2018 – 2019 Lager-Lowe, Kain. Three-Dimensional Seismic Interpretation of Near-Seafloor Salt Bodies and Fluid Expulsion Features Adjacent to the Mississippi Canyon, Gulf of Mexico. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2018 – 2018 Fuad, Mohamad I. A Seismic Well-Tie Analysis at Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 308 Site U1320, Brazos-Trinity Basin IV, Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2017 – 2018 O’Malley, Michael D. A Multi-channel Seismic Interpretation of the Canterbury Basin Offshore New Zealand and Potential Hydrocarbon Sources. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2017 – 2018 Mason, Keith L. An Analysis of Shallow Sediment Overlying Gas Hydrate, Green Canyon Block 955 (GC-955), Gulf of Mexico, USA. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2015 – 2017 Lenz, Brandi L. Shear Strength of Sediment Offshore Southern Alaska. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2016 – 2017 Rodgers, Nick. A Numerical Simulation of a Tsunami Generated by a Submarine Landslide, Offshore Puerto Rico. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2015 – 2016 Gutierrez, Mario. Upper and Middle Miocene Ash Beds in the Central Gulf of Mexico. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2015 – 2016 Rohan, Tyler. Grain Size and Seismic Analysis of IODP Expedition 333, Site C0018 and the Pink Volcanic Ash Horizon, Nankai Trough, Offshore Japan. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
- Won 1st place in the 2016 Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research Forum in the Natural and Mathematical Sciences Division
2015 – 2016 Haugh, Ryan. Styles of Soft-Sediment Deformation of the Lower Headwall of the Cape Fear Landslide, Offshore North Carolina. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2015 – 2016 Copeland, Thomas. Grain Size Analysis of the Watershed and Nearshore Coastal Sediments in Coral Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2014 – 2015 Mills, Jacqueline. Mapping Key Subsurface Boundaries to Determine Maximum Thickness of Methane Hydrate within the Blake Ridge Region of Offshore North Carolina, USA, Constrained with Three-Dimensional Seismic Data and Well Logs. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2014 – 2015 Munson, Sarah. Petroleum Potential in the Carolina Trough. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2014 – 2015 Nsona, John. Oil and Natural Gas Reserves of the Utica Shale in Ohio. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
2013 – 2014 Hodelka, Bailee. The Role of Foraminifera-enriched Condensed Section in Arresting the Movement of a Large Retrogressive Submarine Landslide in the Gulf of Mexico. The University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States.