Uncover the Past
Our research into Earth’s history and evolution advances our understanding of how our planet and life have changed over time and how it may continue to change in the future. By studying rocks, fossils, and other geological features, EPS faculty and students create a clearer picture of past environments, oceans, climates, as well as the formation of mountains and continents.
Jacob Benner
Distinguished Lecturer & Laboratory Coordinator | He/him | 865-974-6013 | jbenner@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Paleontology, Sedimentary Geology
Research Interests: Ichnology and paleoecology
Jordan Burkey
Lecturer | She/Her | jburkey1@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Structural Geology and Tectonics
Research Interests: My research is in structural geology and neotectonics with a focus on active faulting in the Eastern California Shear Zone. Research includes geologic mapping of Quaternary landforms, and calculations of slip rates and paleoearthquake histories.
Nicholas Dygert
Associate Professor | he/him/his | 865-974-6022 | ndygert1@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I use field investigations, experiments, and numerical models to understand processes that shape the evolution of planetary interiors and crusts, and to interpret their expressions in the rock record. My focus is the Earth and Moon.
Annette Summers Engel
Donald H. and Florence Jones Professor of Aqueous Geochemistry | she/her/hers | 865-974-0402 | aengel1@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Earth System Science, Environmental Science, Geochemistry, Geomicrobiology
Research Interests: Understand and improve water and environmental quality by exploring how biological activities interact with and impact geological and geochemical processes through time using advanced geochemistry and geomicrobiology methods.
Chris Fedo
Professor | he/him/his | 865-974-6002 | cfedo@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Geochemistry, Planetary Geoscience, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Research Interests: I study clastic sediments and sedimentary rocks in order to interpret planetary surface processes including weathering, transport, sedimentary environments, stratigraphy, and lithification.
Dan Hembree
Professor | he, him, his | 865-974-3788 | dhembre2@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Paleontology, Paleobiology, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Research Interests: Use of ichnology and paleopedology to study the evolution of ancient to modern soils, soil ecosystems, and landscapes as well as evaluating the effect of long-term climate change on terrestrial ecosystems through Earth history.
Linda Kah
Kenneth R. Walker Professor | 865-974-6399 | lckah@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Earth System Science, Geochemistry, Geomicrobiology, Paleobiology, Planetary Geoscience, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Research Interests: My lab integrates sedimentology, geochemistry, and paleobiology to understand planetary biospheres. We explore rock fabrics and geochemical data to understand the evolution of the early Earth, and investigate potential habitable environments on Mars.
Molly McCanta
Associate Professor | she/her/hers | 865-974-6003 | mmccanta@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Petrology, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I am an igneous petrologist whose research is focused on the mineralogic record of magma storage regions conditions and eruptive processes on Earth and other terrestrial bodies.
Michael McKinney
Professor | 865-974-6359 | mmckinne@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Earth System Science, Environmental Science
Research Interests: Urban ecology: maximizing biodiversity and ecosystem services on green roofs and green infrastructure, urban invasive species, microplastic pollution. Freshwater mussels and snails: relocation success metrics.
Alycia L Stigall
Department Head and Jones/Bibee Professor | she/her | 865-974-5499 | stigall@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Earth System Science, Paleontology, Paleobiology
Research Interests: Paleoecology, biogeography, and speciation; invasive species in the fossil record; Ordovician marine ecosystems; brachiopods; broadening participation in science
Colin D Sumrall
Associate Professor | He Him | 865-974-0400 | csumrall@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Earth System Science, Paleontology, Paleobiology
Research Interests: I use field investigations, phylogenetic methods and morphological analysis to understand the timing, nature and ecology of echinoderm evolution and the origin of modern taxa.
