Paleoglaciology Research Group Members
Current members
Tracy Brennand (PhD Alberta): Professor
I am a geomorphologist and sedimentologist.
My main research interests lie in the processes that shape Earth’s surface, and in particular with the action of glaciers and ice sheets. My field-intensive research program probes the paleoenvironmental record contained within glacigenic sediments and landforms and explores the agents and processes responsible for their formation and evolution. My main interest is in understanding how ice sheets operated in the past, with a view to better understanding how present-day ice sheets may behave in the future. I have also applied this knowledge to the inventory and management of Canada’s natural resources and to investigations of the action of water on Mars.
My research program integrates digital terrain modeling, topographic surveying, remote sensing, sedimentology, shallow geophysical techniques and geochronology. To find out more about my research visit my research links, or contact me at tabrenna@sfu.ca.
Researchgate - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tracy_Brennand
Google scholar - https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=fWaZUX8AAAAJ&hl=en
Olav Lian (MSc SFU; PhD Western): Adjunct professor
My research includes Quaternary sedimentology and stratigraphy, glacial geology, geomorphology, and geochronology (luminescence dating). I have collaborated with geomorphologists, glacial geologists, physicists, geophysicists, and biologists. I am mainly interested in understanding the character of environmental change in western Canada over the Quaternary Period (last ~2.5 million years), but I am also collaborating on research projects in the eastern and western Canadian Arctic, Australia, and Patagonia (southernmost Chile and Argentina), and I have collaborated on projects in New Zealand, Russia and Indonesia. For more information on my research, see my homepage and my publications and seminars page, or contact me
Jonathan Cripps: (MSc Royal Halloway): PhD candidate
PhD. thesis: Reconstructing the paleohydrology and paleohydraulics of glacial lakes in southern BC
Research awards at SFU: 2019 SFU Dean of Graduate Studies TMRA; 2019 INQUA travel bursary; 2018 SFU PhD completion award; 2018 SFU Dean of Graduate Studies TMRA; 2018 QRA Quaternary Research Fund grant; 2017 GSA travel grant; 2016 SFU Dean of Graduate Studies TMRA; 2016 SFU Graduate Student Society Professional Development grant; 2015 CANQUA Dreimanis Doctoral Scholarship; CGRG 2015 Olav Slaymaker award for best student talk; 2015 CANQUA travel grant; 2015 Quaternary Research Association (QRA) new research workers’ award; 2015 British Society for Geomorphology (BSG) postgraduate research grant; 2015 Dean of Graduate Studies TMRA; 2015 SFU President’s PhD scholarship; 2015 SFU graduate fellowship; 2014 WDCAG award for best student poster (2nd place); 2014 SFU graduate fellowship; 2013 GSA graduate research grant; 2013 Quaternary Research Association (QRA) student travel award; 2013 SFU graduate student research award; 2012 SFU special graduate entrance scholarship
Present position: Teaching assistant, SFU
To find out more, contact Jonny at jecripps@sfu.ca
Brendan Miller (MSc Alberta): PhD candidate
PhD project: Evolution and drainage of glacial Lake Fraser, interior BC
Research awards at SFU: 2019 SFU Dean of Graduate Studies TMRA; 2019 SFU Graduate Fellowship; 2018 SFU graduate fellowship
Present position: Research Soil Scientist, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
To find out more, contact Brendan at Brendan.Miller@gov.bc.ca
Jordan Bryce: MSc candidate
MSc thesis: The evolution of Pruth Bay-West Beach isthmus, Calvert Island, BC central coast
Research awards at SFU: Hakai Fellowship (2016-18)
Present position: Teaching assistant, SFU
To find out more, contact Jordan at jordan_bryce@sfu.ca
Meaghan Dinney: MSc candidate
MSc thesis: Exploration of a morphogenetic signature for eskers
Research awards at SFU: 2019 SFU Graduate Fellowship; 2019 SFU Dean of Graduate Studies TMRA; 2018 SFU Dean of Graduate Studies TMRA
Present position: Teaching assistant, SFU
To find out more, contact Meaghan at mdinney@sfu.ca
Travis Gingerich: MSc candidate
MSc thesis: Optical dating of postglacial Fraser River terraces, Big Bar, British Columbia
Research awards at SFU: 2020 SFU Graduate Fellowship; 2019 SFU Dean of Graduate Studies TMRA; 2018-19 NSERC CGS-M; 2018-2023 SFU Graduate Dean’s Entrance Scholarship; 2018 SFU Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship
Present position:
To find out more, contact Travis at travis_gingerich@sfu.ca
Alumni
Matthew Burke (PhD Nothumbria; Post-docs @ SFU and Liverpool)
Post-doctoral project at SFU (2010-2012): Controls on esker sedimentary architecture during the last glaciation of Canada
Research award at SFU: Leverhulme Study Abroad Studentship
Present position: Senior hydromorphologist, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Aberdeen
To find out more, contact Matt at matt_j-burke@hotmail.com
Andrew Perkins (PhD SFU)
PhD 2015 (SFU): Deglacial chronology and style of the southern Fraser Plateau and environs, British Columbia. Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University [pdf]
Research awards at SFU: Dean's Convocation Medal 2016; 2016 CAG Starkey-Robinson Award in recognition of high quality graduate research that furthers understanding of the geography of Canada; CANQUA 2013 Proudfoot award for best student talk (3rd place); CANQUA travel award 2013; 2012 SFU Presidents Researxch Fellowship; 2011 CGRG Jean-Claude Dionne award for best student oral presentation in a CGRG-sponsored session at geoHydro 2011; 2010 GSA graduate student research grant; 2010 SFU Graduate Fellowship.
Present position: Lecturer, Simon Fraser University, BC
To find out more, contact Andrew at ajp7@sfu.ca
Jerome Lesemann (PhD SFU)
PhD 2012 (SFU): Subglacial processes, glacier dynamics, and deglacial processes and patterns assocated with the Cordilleran Ice Sheet around Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University [pdf]
Research awards at SFU: 2005 CANQUA Proudfoot award for best student paper (3rd place); 2004 AGU/CGU Outstanding Student Paper award; 2001 & 2002 GSA graduate student research grants
Present position: Professor, Vancouver Island University (homepage)
To find out more, contact Jerome at Jerome.Lesemann@viu.ca
Marco Jorge (MSc SFU)
Extreme Environments addict
MSc 2015 (SFU): Size, shape and spatiality of Puget Lowland (WA, USA) subglaial bedforms and an exploration of potential environmental controlling factors. Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University [pdf]
Research awards at SFU: 2017 ESRI Canada-SFU Higher Education Scholarship Award; 2017 SFU graduate fellowship; 2016 SFU Dean of Graduate Studies TMRA; 2015 SFU graduate entrance scholarship; 2014 SFU graduate fellowship; 2013 GSA graduate student research grant
Present position: Consultant
To find out more, contact Marco at marco.jorge6@gmail.com
Jared Peters (MSc SFU)
MSc 2012 (SFU): Late Pleistocene evolution of glacial Lake Purcell: a potential floodwater source to the Channeled Scabland. Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University [pdf]
PhD project (Ulster): Late Quaternary glaciation of the continental shelf offshore of west Ireland
Research awards at SFU: 2013 CAG Starkey-Robinson Award in recognition of high quality graduate research that furthers understanding of the geography of Canada; 2010 GSA graduate student research grant
Present position: PhD candidate, University of Ulster (homepage)
To find out more, contact Jared at Peters-J@email.ulster.ac.uk
Christina Neudorf (MSc SFU; PhD Wollongong)
MSc 2008 (SFU): Relationships between the macroscale sedimentology and micromorphology of glacigenic diamictons in south-central British Columbia. Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University [pdf]
PhD 2012 (Wollongong): Luminescence investigations into the time of final deposition of Toba volcanic ash and artefact-bearing alluvial deposits in the Middle Son Valley, Madhya Pradesh, India. Centre for Archeological Science, University of Wollongong, Australia
Research awards at SFU: 2006 NSERC CGS-M; 2006 GSA graduate student research grant
Present position: Hakai post-doctoral fellow, Optical dating laboratory, UFV (homepage).
To find out more, contact Chrissy at Christina.Neudorf@ufv.ca
Timothy Johnsen (MSc SFU; PhD Stockholm)
MSc 2004 (SFU): Late glacial lakes of the Thompson basin, southern interior of British Columbia: paleogeography and paleoenvironment. Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University [pdf]
PhD 2010 (Stockholm): Dynamics and chronology of ice sheet deglaciation in the central Scandinavian mountain range. Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, Sweden
Research awards at SFU: 2001 CANQUA Proudfoot award for best student paper (1st place); 2005 CAG Starkey-Robinson Award in recognition of high quality graduate research that furthers understanding of the geography of Canada
Present position: Matrix Solutions Inc., Calgary
To find out more, contact Tim at timmertim@gmail.com or visit his homepage
Kerry Ayers
MSc project: Genesis and implications of undulating terrain on selected areas of the southeastern plains, Canada (never completed)
Research awards at SFU: 2005 CANQUA Lortie award for best student poster (1st place); 2002 GSA graduate student research grant
Present position: High school science teacher, Calgary, Alberta
Abigail Burt
PhD project: Genesis of glaciofluvial sedimentary bodies in southeeastern Manitoba (never completed)
Research awards under my supervision: 2002 GSA northeastern section outstanding student paper award
Present position: Quaternary geoscientist, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forests (MNDMF)
Research Assistants
| Meaghan Dinney, MSc candidate, SFU | Remote predictive mapping of esker systems in the Canadian North |
| Justin Kokoszka, BSc candidate, SFU | Tracking landscape change and cumulative environmental impacts using remote sensing |
| Nadine Scott, BSc candidate, SFU | Esker data mining and digitization |
| Spencer Mulder, BSc, SFU | Reconstructing deglacial history using moraines and eskers, central BC |
| Justin Walch, BSc candidate, SFU | Esker data mining and digitization |
| Kirsten Calder-Sutt, BSc candidate, SFU | Reconstructing glacial lakes and their drainage in interior BC |
| Justin Kokoszka, BSc candidate, SFU | Mapping permafrost disturbance and impacts to aquatic systems across northern NWT |
| Pauline Martens, visiting student | Glacial landform morphometry |
| Rahim Gaidhar, BSc candidate, SFU | Reconstructing glacial lakes and their drainage in southern BC |
| Gagandeep Singh, BAS candidate, SFU | Glacial sediment analysis |
| Kate Bujnowicz, BSc candidate, SFU | Reconstructing the paleohydrology and paleohydaulics of glacial lake drainage in southern BC |
| Qihao (George) Sun, BSc candidate, SFU | Reconstructing the paleohydrology and paleohydaulics of glacial lake drainage in southern BC; Moraine age and genesis, Thompson Plateau, BC; Quantifying esker planform from SPOT imagery, Keewatin |
| Matt Aquin, BSc candidate, SFU | Quantifying esker planform from SPOT imagery, Keewatin |
| Meaghan Dinney, BSc candidate, SFU | Reconstructing glacial lakes and their drainage in interior BC; Quantifying esker planform from SPOT imagery, Keewatin |
| Gia Bogeti, BSc candidate, SFU | Quantifying esker planform fro SPOT imagery, Keewatin |
| Valerie Zhang, BA candidate, SFU | Mapping subglacial bedforms, Puget Lowland |
| Ainur Matayeva, MSc candidate, Vienna | Mapping of glacial lakes and eskers |
| Valerie Zhang, BA candidate, SFU | Mapping of glacial lakes, southern BC |
| Suzann Rowden, BSc candidate, SFU | The late Pleistocene dynamics and evolution of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet |
| Sarah Pearce, MSc, B.Ed. candidate, SFU | Creating a digital elevation and bathymetric model of the Kootenay Lake area, BC |
| Lili Perreault, BSc candidate, SFU | Quantification of glacial landscapes |
| Malcolm Little, BSc candidate, Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Shallow geophysics on deglacial landforms, southern Fraser Plateau |
| Andrew Perkins, PhD candidate, SFU | Deglacial history of the southern Fraser Plateau |
| Aaron Dixon, BSc candidate, SFU | The structure and evolution of meltwater drainage systems of the Laurentide Ice Sheet |
| Melissa Dinsdale, BSc, EASC, SFU | The structure and evolution of meltwater drainage systems of the Laurentide Ice Sheet |
| David Sacco, MSc candidate, SFU | Geophysical investigation of glaciofluvial landforms |
| Jared Peters, MSc candidate, SFU | Deglacial history of the southern Purcell Trench, BC. |
| Tyler Williams, BSc candidate, SFU | Inferring the timing and dynamics of paleo-ice sheets |
| Christina Neudorf, MSc candidate, SFU | Till sedimentology and optical age sampling southern Interior, BC |
| Jennifer Godfrey, BSc candidate, Univerity of the Fraser Valey | Optical ages for sediments in the Bowmanville Bluffs |
| Robert Price, BSc candidate, SFU | Sedimentology of glacigenic diamictons, BC interior |
| Christina Neudorf, BSc, Saskatoon | Inferring the behaviour of past ice sheets from field and digital data |
| Jessica Pickell, BSc candidate, SFU | Database development and analysis for paleoglaciology; Inferring the behaviour of past ice sheets from field and digital data |
| Rob Ostwald, BSc candidate, SFU | Archival research in glacial geomorphology |
| Rebecca Lynn, BSc candidate, SFU | Archival research in glacial geomorphology |
| Stephen Momeyer, BSc candidate, SFU | Okanagan Valley and Prairie esker research |
| Chris Kowalchuk, BSc candidate, SFU | Glacial Lake Deadman and Belair Moraine research |
| Amanda Denney, BSc candidate, SFU | Okanagan Valley research |
| Derek Kinakin, BSc candidate, SFU | Southeastern Plains research |
| Claire Beaney, PhD candidate, SFU | Using GIS to investigate ice-sheet paleohydrology in southern Alberta |
| Jake McGillivray, BSc candidate, SFU | Analysing the glacial paleohydrology of southern Alberta using GIS |
| Mark Jurca, BSc candidate, SFU | Glacial Lake Deadman research |
| Tania Jurca, BSc candidate, SFU | Williams Lake - Prince George research |
| Abigail Burt, PhD candidate, University of Waterloo | Sedimentology of the Belair Moraine, Manitoba |
| Jamie Ross, BSc, MSc candidate, Queen’s University | Lake Ontario bluff survey |
| Trevor Shaw, BSc candidate, Queen’s University | Surficial mapping and georadar, southern Ontario |