Scott Johnson

Graduate StudentsÌý´¥ÌýCoursesÌý´¥ÌýGeodynamicsÌý´¥ÌýÌý´¥Ìý | ERS103 (Fall and Spring) ´¥ÌýERS103 (Summer Session 2)Ìý´¥

I have a wide range of interests in the general fields of Earth rheology, rock microstructures, materials science, structural geology, and artificial intelligence. Working with 91¸£Àû mechanical engineers, my ECS colleagues, and our jointly advised students, we have tackled topics such as the role of microstructure in seismic anisotropy and thermal conductivity, the role of thermal and mechanical stress heterogeneities in driving physical and chemical evolution of the lithosphere, buoyancy forces in hydrocarbon and magmatic dike propagation, inelastic energy dissipation and rheological evolution in the source region of seismogenic faults/shear zones, power law creep in polymineralic aggregates, mechanical quantities such as differential stress preserved in the fractal dimensions of deformed grain boundaries, and other fundamental problems associated with the thermomechanical and rheological evolution of the lithosphere. I take a holistic approach with my students and their projects. Most of them tend to include elements of field work, laboratory analytical analysis, microstructural analysis, and numerical modeling.

Current Postdoctoral Fellows

  • Bo Ra Song, Earth and Climate Sciences.
  • Won Joon Song, Earth and Climate Sciences.

Current Graduate Students

  • Erik Anderson (PhD), jointly advised with Chris Gerbi in Earth and Climate Sciences.
  • Jacob Pelletier (PhD), jointly advised with Senthil Vel in Mechanical Engineering.
  • Natalie DeMarco (MS), jointly advised with Cici Cruz-Uribe in Earth and Climate Sciences.
  • Julia Sotelo-Emery (MS), jointly advised with Cici Cruz-Uribe in Earth and Climate Sciences.

Past 91¸£Àû Graduate Students

  • Emily Haggerty, MS 2025, jointly advised with Chris Gerbi in Earth and Climate Sciences and Senthil Vel in Mechanical Engineering, pursuing a PhD at the University at Buffalo.
  • He (Jackie) Feng, PhD 2023, jointly advised with Chris Gerbi in Earth and Climate Sciences, faculty member, Georgia Southern University.
  • Bora Song, PhD 2022, jointly advised with Peter Koons in Earth and Climate Sciences, postdoctoral research fellow in Earth and Climate Sciences.
  • James Hodge, MS 2019, living and working in Maine.
  • Won Joon Song, PhD 2018, jointly advised with Chris Gerbi in Earth and Climate Sciences, postdoctoral research fellow in Earth and Climate Sciences.
  • Erik Anderson, MS 2017, current PhD student in Earth and Climate Sciences.
  • Alden C. Cook, PhD 2016, jointly advised with Senthil Vel in Mechanical Engineering, employed in Canada.
  • Zhiqiang Fan, PhD 2012, jointly advised with Zhihe Jin in Mechanical Engineering, faculty member, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China.
  • Nancy Price, PhD 2012, faculty member, SUNY Plattsburgh, New York.
  • Ben Frieman, MS 2012, finished a PhD at the Colorado School of Mines, now Research Associate at Laurentian University, Canada.
  • Félice Naus-Thijssen, PhD 2011, living in the Netherlands.
  • Sam Roy, MS 2011, finished a PhD with Peter Koons in 2015, currently Geospatial Data Science Manager, State Resilience Office, Maine.
  • Jeff Marsh, PhD 2010, laboratory manager, Laurentian University, Canada.
  • Wesley Groome, PhD 2006, Senior Exploration Geologist, Australia.
  • Erwin Melis, PhD 2006, Shomaker and Associates, New Mexico.
  • Heather Short, PhD 2006, faculty member, John Abbott College, Canada.
  • Chris Gerbi, PhD 2005, faculty member, University of Maine.
  • Matthew Dupee, MS 2005, geotechnical industry, New England.

Courses I have offered at 91¸£Àû

  • ERS 101 – Introduction to Geology. A 4-credit introductory lab course that attracts approximately 350 students per year.
  • ERS 103 – Dynamic Earth. A 3-credit introductory course that attracts approximately 500 students per year.
  • ERS 316 – Introduction to Structural Geology. A 4-credit lab course required for ERS majors in the Earth Science Concentration.
  • ERS 555 – Microstructural Processes.
  • ERS 602 – Use of Artificial Intelligence in Earth and Climate Science Research.