Matthew J. Kohn

Matthew J. Kohn is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Boise State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Geology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1991), an M.S. from the same institution (1989), and a B.S. from MIT (1986). His research spans two main areas: (1) metamorphic petrology and tectonics, focusing on mountain-building processes and geochemical methods like petrochronology, and (2) stable isotope geochemistry applied to vertebrate fossils for paleoclimate and paleoecology studies. He teaches courses such as Earth Materials, Stable Isotope Geochemistry, and Paleoclimatology. Current projects include Himalayan tectonics, southern Argentina paleoclimates, and trace element analysis in fossils. Awards include the 2019 Dana Medal from the Mineralogical Society of America. He advises graduate students working on Himalayan metamorphism, Andean paleoclimate, and REE in fossils. His lab facilities include LA-ICP-MS and collaborations with museums globally.

Research interests include the application of novel geochemical techniques to metamorphic rocks and fossils, with fieldwork in regions like the Himalayas, Alps, and Patagonia. He leads the NSF-funded E-FIRE project on subduction zone metamorphism. Teaching emphasizes hands-on methods, including optical mineralogy videos on YouTube.