Brendan Hanger

Brendan Hanger is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He holds a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the Australian National University (2014) and dual bachelor’s degrees in Geology (B.Sc. Honours, 2009) and Chemical Engineering (B.Eng. Honours, 2008) from Monash University, Australia. His teaching responsibilities include courses such as GEGN101 (Earth and Environmental Systems), GEGN212 (The Rock Cycle), and field-based courses like GEGN217 (Geologic Field Methods). His research focuses on geoscience education and mantle processes, particularly mantle metasomatism, igneous petrology, and in-situ mineral chemistry analysis. Recent work emphasizes diffusion profiles in garnet crystals to study mantle dynamics and kimberlite ascent mechanisms. Hanger is not currently accepting graduate students as a primary advisor. His research has been published in prominent Earth science journals, with a focus on geochemical and petrologic investigations of mantle xenoliths.

Education history includes advanced training in geology, chemical engineering, and Earth sciences, with a strong emphasis on field methods and analytical techniques. His teaching portfolio demonstrates a commitment to integrating fieldwork and laboratory-based geoscience education.