Elizabeth Cassel

Dr. Elizabeth Cassel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences at the University of Idaho, affiliated with the College of Science. She specializes in tectonics, basin analysis, and the interplay between tectonic processes and climate systems. Her research focuses on reconstructing ancient topography and tectonic histories using stratigraphic, geochemical, and thermochronometric techniques.

Dr. Cassel holds a Ph.D. in Geological and Environmental Sciences from Stanford University (2010) and a B.A. in Geology from Carleton College (2003). She teaches courses including Historical Geology, Stratigraphy and Sedimentation, Basin Analysis, and Tectonics.

Her research team, the Idaho Tectonics & Basin Analysis (TBA) group, investigates mountain-building processes, sedimentary basin evolution, and the influence of tectonics on landscape evolution. Current projects include studying the Eocene tectonic evolution of western North America, paleoelevation reconstructions in the Andes and Cascade ranges, and climate-tectonic interactions in Patagonia and Nevada.

Dr. Cassel actively mentors students and collaborates on fieldwork across the western U.S., Peru, and Wyoming, emphasizing hands-on field studies in geological analysis. She maintains an active research program with recent grants supporting studies of Cenozoic topography and basin systems.