Michael E. Oskin

Michael E. Oskin is a Professor and former Department Chair (2017-2021) in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis. He also serves as faculty director of the Lassen Field Station, part of the UC Natural Reserve System. His research focuses on structural geology, geomorphology, and active tectonics, particularly the interplay between earthquakes, surface processes, and landscape evolution. He specializes in using high-resolution topography and geochronological techniques to study deformation rates, fault mechanics, and tectonic processes in regions like California and the Tibetan Plateau.

Education:

• B.S. in Geology/Engineering Geology, UC Los Angeles (1995)
• Ph.D. in Geology, California Institute of Technology (2002)

Research Interests: His work addresses deformation rates linked to earthquakes, continental deformation mechanisms, and topographic responses to geologic structures. Techniques include field observations, cosmogenic dating, and lidar analysis to quantify processes like fault slip, erosion, and landscape evolution.

Publications: Recent work includes studies on fault rupture dynamics (e.g., San Andreas and Ridgecrest earthquakes), geochronological modeling, and tectonic evolution in regions like the Tibetan Plateau. His research bridges structural geology with quantitative methods to advance understanding of active crustal processes.

Awards: Recipient of the UC Davis Graduate Program Advising and Mentoring Award (2020).

Advising & Grants: Mentor to over 20 graduate students, emphasizing collaborative research, fieldwork, and open science practices. Prioritizes student summer support and funding for field/analytical costs. Leads a lab focused on earthquake geology and hosts weekly reading groups.

Labs/Teams: Oversees the Lassen Field Station, teaching the summer field course GEL 110A and conducting research in the region. Active in the UC Natural Reserve System and collaborates with international research groups.