Faculty Experts This guide lists the specialty areas of our diverse faculty, who are available for expert commentary on breaking news or feature stories on topics topics related to the Geological Sciences.
Faculty/Staff Highlight
George Jiracek
Professor of Geophysics
Dr. Jiracek joined the Department in 1980 as an applied geophysicist, with an expertise in magnetotellurics, electromagnetics, and resistivity. Since then George has advised over 30 undergraduate theses and over 15 graduate theses. George has published over 40 referred articles, countless abstracts, and technical papers. He as been awarded over 75 grants totaling more then $2,500,000.00, and over $750,000.00 of those grants has gone to support undergraduate research in Geophysics. George co-founded the SAGE Program (Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience) in 1983 and has been co-director for 20 years. SAGE is a unique blend of teaching and research that operates as a partnership between universities, industry, and federal laboratories. It has provided a month-long “hands-on” geophysical experience for 625 students during the 25 years of operation. The SAGE Program received the American Geophysical Union’s Excellence in Geophysical Education Award in 1998 and George was given a Special Commendation Award from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists in 2000. Currently George is the elected U. S. representative within the working group for his specialty in the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy.
Education Ph.D. - 1972 - UC Berkeley - Engineering Geophysics M.S. - 1965 - University of Wisconson, Madision - Geophysics B.S. - 1963 - University of Wisconson, Madision - Physics
Selected Publications Jiracek, G.R. and Bentley, C. R., 1971, Velocity of electromagnetic waves in Antarctic ice: in Antarctic Snow and Ice Studies II, Antarctic Res. Ser., vol. 16, AGU, Washington, D.C., 199-208. Jiracek, G.R. and Ward, S. H., 1971, Oblique Electromagnetic reflection from layered lunar models based on data from Apollo 11 and 12: J. Geophys. Res., 76 (26), 6237-6245. Jiracek, G. R., Haak, V., and Olsen, K. H., 1995, Practical magnetotellurics in a continental rift environment, in K.H. Olsen, ed., Continental rifts: evolution, structure, and tectonics, Elsevier, New York, 103-129. Jiracek, G. R., Kinn, C. L., Scott, C. L., Kuykendall, M. G., Baldridge, W. S., Biehler, S., Braile, L.W., Ferguson, J.F., and Gilpin, B., 1996, Tracing of crustal isotherms, under the western margin of the Jemez Mountains using SAGE and industry magnetotelluric data: New Mexico Geol. Soc. Guidebook 47, 129-133. Jiracek, G. R., Baldridge, W. S., Biehler, S., Braile, L. W., Ferguson, J. R., and Gilpin, B. J., and Alumbaugh, D. L., 2000, SAGE: Learning geophysics by immersion, The Leading Edge, 19, 986-990. Wannamaker, P. E., Jiracek, G. R., Stodt, J. A., Caldwell, T. G., Gonzalez, V. M., McKnight, J. D., and Porter, A. D., 2002, Fluid generation and pathways beneath an active compressional orogen, the New Zealand Southern Alps, inferred from magnetotelluric data: J. Geophys. Res., 107, ETG 6-1-ETG 6-20. Jiracek, G. R., Gonzalez, V. M., Caldwell, T. G., Wannamaker, P. E., and Kilb, D., 2007, Seismogenic, electrically conductive, and fluid zones at continental plate boundaries in New Zealand, Himalaya, and California, USA: in D. Okaya, T. Stern, and F. Davey, eds., A continental plate boundary: Tectonics at South Island, New Zealand, Geophys. Mono. Ser. 175, AGU., Washington, DC, 347-369.
Girty, Gary H. (1984) Ph.D., 1983 Columbia
Professor
Processes controlling the compositions of sandstones and argillites, and the sedimentological and structural origins of Paleozoic/Mesozoic rocks of the western Cordillera
Olsen, Kim Bak (2004) Ph.D., 1994 University of Utah
Professor
3-D simulation of wave propagation using finite differences, strong ground motion and site amplification, earthquake dynamics, non-linear effects in strong ground motion, modeling and migration of crosswell seismic data, parallel and high-performance computing, visualization and animation.
Schellenberg, Stephen A. (2002) Ph.D., 2000 University of Southern California
Assistant Professor
Paleobiology and paleoecology of invertebrates and protists, Mesozoic and Cenozoic paleoceanography, applications of isotopic and elemental chemistry to biological, ecological, and environmental research
Huntley, David. (1978-present) Ph.D., 1976 Colorado School of Mines Professor Emeritus
Hydraulics of groundwater flow and solute transport; groundwater in fractured crystalline rock aquifers, numerical modeling of groundwater flow and solute transport, parameter estimation, movement of non-aqueous phase liquids, and application of geophysical techniques to groundwater investigations
Camp, Victor E. Ph.D., 1976 Washington State University
Full-Time Lecturer
Volcanology, petrology, tectonic control of magmatic systems, geologic mapping in volcanic terrains with an emphasis on the flood basalts and Basin-and-Range volcanic rocks of eastern Oregon
Instructional, recreational and scientific diving program
Dept. Geological Sciences
5500 Campanile Dr.
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-1020
Email: flahan@science.sdsu.edu
Grove, Marty J. Ph.D., 1993 University of California
Adjunct
Ion Microprobe Facility Manager, UCLA
Dept. Earth and Space Sciences & IGPP
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Office: (310) 794-5457
FAX: (310) 825-2779
Email: marty@oro.ess.ucla.edu Website
Ph.D. - 1972 - UC Berkeley - Engineering Geophysics 
