James MacEachern

James A. MacEachern is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Earth Sciences at Simon Fraser University (SFU). He holds a BSc from the University of Regina, an MSc from the University of Regina, and a PhD from the University of Alberta. His research focuses on integrating ichnology with sedimentology and genetic stratigraphy, particularly in subsurface and outcrop contexts. Current research emphasizes three major depositional settings: shoreface/strandlines, estuarine incised valleys, and deltas.

MacEachern leads the Applied Research in Ichnology and Sedimentology (ARISE) group at SFU, collaborating closely with the Ichnology Research Group (IRG) at the University of Alberta. His work explores trace fossil analysis as a tool to refine facies models, enhance understanding of sedimentary rock records, and interpret environmental stresses. Recent projects include studies of tidal effects on shorefaces, deltaic ichnology, and mixed-influence systems.

Key contributions include advancing methodologies to recognize tidal indicators in clastic seas, elucidating physico-chemical stresses through trace fossils, and developing integrated ichnological-sedimentological models for improved paleoenvironmental analysis. His research bridges theoretical and applied geosciences, with applications in reservoir characterization and sequence stratigraphy.

Despite no explicitly listed awards, his prolific publications and leadership in ichnology underscore his academic impact. He advises graduate students on field- and subsurface-based research, fostering advancements in facies modeling. His work on the McMurray Formation and other basins highlights interdisciplinary approaches to stratigraphic and sedimentological challenges.