Dr. Kate C. Miller

Professor Emerita

Active Source Seismology, Continental Evolution, Shallow Geophysics

Phone: 307-766-2630

1000 E. University Ave.,

Office:  Geology #129

Email: kate.miller@uwyo.edu

Education

Ph.D. Geophysics, Stanford University, 1991

M.S. Geophysics, Stanford University, 1988

A.B. Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Princton University, 1982.

Recent Publications

•  Houser, C., J. Nunez, and K. C. Miller, 2018, Pathways to the Geosciences through 2YR community colleges: A strategic recruitment approach being used at Texas A&M University, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 66, 4-11, doi: 10.1080/10899995.2018.1412189.

•  Worthington, L. L., K. C. Miller, E. A. Erslev, M. L. Anderson, K. R. Chamberlain, A. F. Sheehan, W. L. Yeck, Steven H. Harder and Christine S. Siddoway, 2015, Crustal structure of the Bighorn Mountains region: Precambrian influence on Laramide shortening and uplift in north-central Wyoming, doi: 10.1002/2015TC003840.

•  Carrick, T. L., K. C. Miller, E. A. Hagedorn, B. R. Smith-Konter, and A. A. Velasco, 2016, Pathways to the Geosciences Summer High School Program: A Ten-Year Evaluation, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 64, 87–97, doi: 10.5408/15-088.1.

•  Yeck, W. L., A. F. Sheehan, M. L. Anderson, E. A. Erslev, K. C. Miller and C. S. Siddoway, 2014, Structure of the Bighorn Mountain region, Wyoming, from teleseismic receiver function analysis: Implications for the kinematics of Laramide shortening, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 119, pp. 7028–7042, doi: 10.1002/2013JB010769.

•  OʼRourke, C.T., A.F. Sheehan, E.A. Erslev, K.C. Miller, 2014, Estimating basin thickness using a high-density passive-source geophone array, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 402, pp. 120–126, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2013.10.035.

•  Averill, M. G., and K. C. Miller, 2013, Upper crustal structure of the southern Rio Grande rift: A composite record of rift and pre-rift tectonics, in Hudson, M.R., and Grauch, V.J.S., eds., New Perspectives on Rio Grande Rift Basins: From Tectonics to Groundwater: Geological Society of America Special Paper 494, p. 463–474, doi:10.1130/2013.2494(17).

•  Yang, Z., A. F. Sheehan, W. L. Yeck, K. C. Miller, E. A. Erslev, L. L. Worthington and S. H. Harder, 2012, Imaging basin structure with teleseismic virtual source reflection profiles, Geophysical Research Letters, v. 39, doi: 10.1029/2011GL050035.

•  Stephenson A. L., G. D. Spence, K. Wang, J. A. Hole, K. C. Miller, R. M. Clowes, S. H. Harder, and G. M. Kaip, 2011, Crustal velocity structure of the southern Nechako Basin, British Columbia, from wide-angle seismic travel-time inversion, Canadian Journal of Earth Science, v. 48, pp.  1050-1063.

•  Kreinovich, V., J. Nava, R. Romero, J. Olaya, A. Velasco and K. C. Miller, 2010, Spatial Resolution for Processing Seismic Data: Type-2 Methods for Finding the Relevant Granular Structure, 2010 IEEE International Conference on Granular Computing (Silicon Valley, CA, USA, August 14-16).

Research Statement

My research has focused primarily on the application of active source seismology to the origin and evolution of the continents. This work has resulted in student research and publications on the west coast of North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, and central and eastern Europe. Recent projects have included analysis of active source data from the NSF-funded BATHOLITHS Project, and the seismic experiment for the Big Horns Mountains, an NSF EarthScope project. BATHOLITHS is a multi-disciplinary study of the Coast Range Plutonic Complex of British Columbia directed at understanding the magmatic evolution of continental arcs. The Bighorns project is a multi-disciplinary investigation of how contractional basement-involved foreland arches, such as those that comprise the central Rocky Mountains, form and are linked to plate tectonic processes.

I also have a record of engagement in using active source techniques to better understand earthquakes and other environmental hazards.

I have long-standing interests in enhancing diversity in geoscience education. I have led a number of training grants related to recruitment and retention of minorities in the geosciences and math and science education with funding from the National Science Foundation and major corporations. I am currently active as a steering committee member of the NSF-sponsored Summit on the Future of Undergraduate Geoscience Education.

Teaching Statement

During the 2020-2021 academic year I will not be active in teaching or graduate student mentoring.  In the past I have taught undergraduate courses in introductory Earth Science, Geology for Engineers, and Seismic Methods as well as graduate courses in Digital Signal Processing, Plate Tectonics, Seismic Reflection Data Processing, Seismic Reflection Data Interpretation, Modeling and Inversion of Wide-Angle Seismic Data, and the Geophysical Framework of North America.