Nikki M. Seymour

Nikki M. Seymour is an Assistant Professor of Geology at Occidental College, appointed in 2022. She holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin (B.A., M.S.) and Colorado State University (Ph.D.). Her research focuses on tectonic deformation processes, interactions between magmatism and deformation, and sediment subduction at convergent plate boundaries. She employs field and laboratory approaches to study lithospheric dynamics, including faulting, metamorphic histories, and crustal exhumation.

Education

• B.A., University of Texas at Austin
• M.S., University of Texas at Austin
• Ph.D., Colorado State University

Research Interests

Seymour investigates deformation in continental margins, magmatic-tectonic interactions, and the kinematics of intra-arc faults. Her work integrates structural geology, geochemistry, and thermochronology to address questions about continental rifting, subduction zone processes, and the exhumation of lower crustal rocks. Key themes include the thermal evolution of orogenic systems and the influence of magmatism on crustal-scale deformation.

Grants & Collaborations

Her projects often involve collaborative NSF-funded research, such as evaluating tectonic models for the western US Cordillera and studying subduction dynamics in Chile and Italy. She also explores the Calabrian forearc uplift and the role of slab-mantle interactions.

Labs & Fieldwork

Seymour’s research combines field mapping in regions like the Andes and Arizona with laboratory techniques including U-Pb geochronology, microstructural analysis, and thermochronometry. Her work has led to detailed maps of fault systems in Northern Chile and Arizona’s metamorphic core complexes.