Jeremy K. Hourigan
Assistant Professor of Earth Science
Tectonics and Thermochronology

Contact Information:
Earth Sciences Department                                                                        Office:    (831) 459-2873
1156 High Street                                                                                           Fax:    (831) 459-3074
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California 95064                                                            email:  hourigan@pmc.ucsc.edu

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

·         General: Understanding the tectonic evolution and growth of continental crust at convergent margins through integrated studies involving field mapping, structural analysis, petrology and geochronology and thermochronology. The exhumation history of orogenic belts and chronostratigraphy of sedimentary basins utilizing He-Pb zircon dating of detrital zircons.

·         Methodological: Improving accuracy and precision of (U-Th)/He dating method by zoning dependant alpha ejection correction. Design and implementation of LA-ICP-MS U-Th-Pb and U-Th depth profiling methodologies. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar thermochronology, SIMS U-Th-Pb analysis, Automation of isotopic analytical systems using Labview software.

·         Russian:  Fluent in conversational and technical Russian; technical translation  

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Ph.D., 2004, Stanford University, Stanford CA
Dissertation Title: Mesozoic-Cenozoic Tectonic and Magmatic Evolution of Northeastern Russia
            Dissertation Advisor: Elizabeth L. Miller
            Committee members: C. Page Chamberlain, W. Gary Ernst, Stephen A. Graham, Michael O. McWilliams

B. S. with Honors in Geology, 1996, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Thesis: Structural Evolution and Cleavage Development in the Lower Cambrian (?) Pinnacle Formation, Richmond Area, Northwestern VT; Advisor: Barry Doolan

B. A. Cum Laude in Russian, 1996, University of Vermont, Burlington VT

Exchange Student, 1994-1995, Department of Geology, St. Petersburg State University, Russia

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Jan. 2005  - Present       Assistant Professor, Dept. of Earth Sciences, UC Santa Cruz
Feb. 2005 - Dec. 2005   Assistant Researcher, Institute for Crustal Studies, UC Santa Barbara
Dec. 2004                     Co-convener NSF-sponsored Joint U.S. Russia Tectonics workshop
Jan. 2003-Dec. 2004      Postdoctoral Research Associate, Yale University (with Mark Brandon and Peter Reiners)
Aug 2004-Sept. 2004     Expedition Leader, Yale-GIN-RAN Kamchatka Transect
June 2002-Sept. 2002     Expedition Leader, Yale-IL-MS-RAN Kamchatka Project
Dec. 2001-Dec. 2002    Research Assistant, Structural Geology and Tectonics (Stanford)
Sept. 1999-Dec. 2001    Geochronology Labs (SHRIMP & Ar-Ar) Research Assistant (Stanford)
June 1997-Aug. 2001     Stanford Graduate Fellow
Fall 1998                       Co-organizer New Zealand - California Geologic Analogs Field Trips
Sept. 1998-May 1999     Co-organizer of School of Earth Sciences Journal Club Speaker Series
March-June 1998          Teaching Assistant Structural Geology
June 1996-Sep.1998       Geologist, NE Russian expeditions (6 months total)
Sep 1996-June 1997       Teaching Assistant, Environmental Earth Science and Land Use Planning
Sep 1995-June 1996       Research assistant, Vermont State Mapping Project
Summer 1993                Field assistant, mapping project in NE Vermont

HONORS AND AWARDS:

1998     McGee Fund Grant
1997     Stanford Graduate Fellowship
1997     Honorable Mention, National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship Competition
1997     McGee Fund Grant
1997     GSA Research Grant
1997     Society of Economic Geologists Hickok-Radford Memorial Grant
1996     Stanford University Fellowship
1996     Phi Beta Kappa
1996     Charles Doll Award for outstanding undergraduate in Geology, University of Vermont
1996     Outstanding Senior in Russian, University of Vermont
1994     National Security Education Program grant for study abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia
1993     George V. Kidder Scholarship for the outstanding sophomore scholar, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Vermont

FUNDING:

Future

• NSF Continental Dynamics: INDEPTH IV - Subcontract to investigate the thermomechanical evolution of the Eastern Kunlun and the Qaidam basin response to Tibetan Plateau formation

Current

• American Chemical Society , Petroleum Research Fund G - Quantifying Sediment Dispersal Rates in a Transcontinental Drainage Using Zircon U/Pb: (U-Th/He) Chronometry, Amazon River
• UC Santa Cruz, Committee on Research – Special Research Grant: Seed Research for an NSF MRI Laser-ablation ICP-MS Acquisition Proposal
• NSF Instrumentation and Facilities:  Collaborative Research: Development of Improved Zircon Standards for SIMS and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Geochronology using CA-TIMS Pre-Treatment; co-PI with Mattinson (UCSB)

Past

• NSF International and NSF Tectonics programs:  U.S.-Russia Workshop on the Plate Tectonic Evolution of Northeast Russia – co-organizer with Elizabeth Miller
• CEP International, Tectonic Evolution of Western Kamchatka – Kolpakova River Transect  

INVITED TALKS:

• San Jose State University, October 8th, 2007
• Ores and Orogenesis, Sept 28, 2007 University of Arizona
• Peninsula Geological Society
• Earthtime Workshop, Sante Fe Institute, NM, Sept 11-12, 2006
• Stanford University,  Zircon (U-Th)/He Thermochronology, February 15, 2006
• University of California at Santa Cruz, March 10, 2005
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, February 28, 2005
• Cornell University, November 11, 2004
• University of Utah, April 23, 2004,
• University of Vermont, May 3, 2004