Dr. Kate C. Miller

Research Interests

My research focuses primarily on the application of active source seismology to the origin and evolution of the continental lithosphere. In recent years, this work has resulted in student research and publications on the west coast of North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, and central and eastern Europe. Presently, my students and I are wrapping up research in continental rifts including the southern Rio Grande Rift and Lake Baikal. Current projects include the active source experiment for the NSF-funded BATHOLITHS Project, that took place in the summer of 2009 and the seismic experiment for the Big Horns Mountain, an NSF EarthScope project, which is scheduled for the summer of 2010. BATHOLITHS is a multi-disciplinary study of the Coast Range Plutonic Complex of British Columbia directed at understanding the magmatic evolution of continental arcs. The Big Horns project is a multi-disciplinary investigation of how contractional basement-involved foreland arches, such as those that comprise the central Rocky Mountains, form and are linked to plate tectonic processes.

I have long been involved in using active source techniques to better understand earthquakes and other environmental hazards. Present research in this area centers on analysis of near surface reflection data from the East Potrillo Mountains Fault in southern New Mexico, which displays evidence for recent motion.

While at UTEP, I led a number of training grants related to recruitment and retention of minorities in the geosciences and math and science education. These included an NSF OEDG program called Pathways, an NSF GK-12 Partnership for Exploring the Environment on the U.S.-Mexico Border and the Math and Science Teachers (MasT) Academy, and a program for future secondary math and science teachers. Through these efforts, I have developed expertise in the social science research methodologies used in program evaluation and assessment and have begun to publish results from this work.

Experience

• 2009 - Present: Dean, College of Geosciences, Texas A&M University
• 2009 - Present: Professor of Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M University
• 2004 - 2008:  Associate Dean, College of Science, University of Texas at El Paso
• 1999 - 2004:  Chair, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso
• 2002 - 2008:  Professor, University of Texas at El Paso
• 1998 - 2002:  Associate Professor, University of Texas at El Paso
• 1993 - 1998:  Assistant Professor, University of Texas at El Paso
• 1991: Research Specialist, University of Texas at El Paso
• 1987 - 1991: Research and Teaching Assistant , Stanford University
• 1987 & 1988: Summer Geophysicist, Amoco Production Co. (now BP pic ), New Orleans
• 1984 - 1986: Exploration Geophysicist, Amoco Production Co. (now BP pic), New Orleans
• 1982 - 1984: Development Geologist, Amoco Production Co. (now BP pic), New Orleans

Awards and Honors

• 1982 Elected to Sigma Xi
• 1997 Elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America
• 2001 Univeristy of Texas System Chancellor's Council Award for Teaching Excellence

Professional Affiliations

• Licensure:  Texas Professional Geoscientist License No. 4605, Geophysics
• American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America, Society of Exploration Geophysics

Selected Publications

• Averill, M.G., K. C. Miller, G. R. Keller, V. Kreinovich, R. Araiza, S. A. Starks, 2007, Using expert knowledge in solving the seismic inverse problem, International Journal of Approximate Reasoning, v. 45, pp. 564-587.
   
• Miller, K. C., T. Carrick, C. Martínez-Sussmann, R. Levine, C. L. Andronicos, R. P. Langford, 2007, Effectiveness of a Summer Experience for Inspiring Interest in Geoscience Among Hispanic-American High School Students, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 55, pp. 596-603.
   
• Velasco, A. A., V. L. Gee, C. A. Rowe, D. Grujic, L. S. Hollister, D. Hernandez, K. C. Miller, T. Tobgay, M. Fort, and S. Harder, 2007, Using Small, Temporary Seismic Networks for Investigating Tectonic Deformation: Brittle Deformation and Evidence for Strike-Slip Faulting in Bhutan, Seism. Res. Lett., v. 78, p. 446-453, DOI: 10.1785/gssrl. 78.4.446.
   
• J. M. Hamblock, C. L. Andronicos, K. C. Miller, C. G. Barnes, M-H. Ren, M. G. Averill, and E. Y. Anthony, 2007, A Composite Geologic and Seismic Profile Beneath The Southern Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico, Based on Xenolith Mineralogy, Temperature, and Pressure, Tectonophysics, v. 442, pp. 14–48, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2007.04.006.
   
• Snelson, C. M., T. M. Brocher, K. C. Miller, T. L. Pratt, and A. M. Tréhu, 2007, Seismic Amplification Within the Seattle Basin, Washington State: Insights from SHIPS Seismic Tomography Experiments, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., v. 97, pp. 1432–1448, doi: 10.1785/0120050204.
   
• Averill, M.G., G. R. Keller, K.C. Miller, P Sroda, T. Bond, and A. Velasco, 2006, Data fusion in geophysics: Seismic tomography and crustal structure in Poland as an example, in Sinha, A.K., ed., Geoinformatics: Geological Society of America Special Paper 397, p. pp. 153-168,. doi: 10.1130/2005.2397(11).
   
• Parsons T., R. J. Blakely, T. M. Brocher, N. I. Christensen, M. A. Fisher, E. Flueh, F. Kilbride, J. H. Luetgert, K. Miller, U. S. ten Brink, A. M. Trehu, and R. E. Wells, 2005, Crustal Structure of the Cascadia Fore Arc of Washington, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1661-D, 45 pp.
   
• Snelson, C. M., G. R. Keller, K. C. Miller, H.-M. Rumpel, and C. Prodehl, 2005, Regional crustal structure derived from the CD-ROM 99 seismic refraction/wide-angle reflection profile: The lower crust and upper mantle, in Lithospheric Structure and Evolution of the Rocky Mountain Region, K. E. Karlstrom, and G. R. Keller, eds., Am. Geop. Un. Monograph 154, pp. 271-292.
   
• Magnani, M. B., A. Levander, K. C. Miller, T. Eshete, and K. E. Karlstrom, 2005, Seismic investigation of the Yavapai-Mazatzal transition zone and the Jemez Lineament, northeastern New Mexico, in Lithospheric Structure and Evolution of the Rocky Mountain Region, K. E. Karlstrom, and G. R. Keller, eds., Am. Geop. Un. Monograph 154, pp. 227-238.
   
• Amarante, J. F. A., S. A. Kelley, M. T. Heizler, M. Barnes, K. C. Miller, and E. Y. Anthony, 2005, Characterization and age of the Mesoproterozoic Debaca sequence in the Tucumcari basin, New Mexico, in Lithospheric Structure and Evolution of the Rocky Mountain Region, K. E. Karlstrom, and G. R. Keller, eds., Am. Geop. Un. Monograph 154, pp. 185-200.
   
• Keller, G. R., K. E. Karlstrom, M. L. Williams, K. C. Miller, C, L. Andronicos, A, Levander, C. M. Snelson, and C. Prodehl, 2005, The dynamic nature of the continental crust-mantle boundary: Crustal evolution in the Southern Rocky Mountain region as an example, in Lithospheric Structure and Evolution of the Rocky Mountain Region, K. E. Karlstrom, and G. R. Keller, eds., Am. Geop. Un. Monograph 154 pp. 403-420.
   
• Magnani, M. B., K. C. Miller, A. Levander, and K. E. Karlstrom, 2004, The Yavapai-Mazatzal boundary: a long-lived assembly structure in the lithosphere of southwestern North America, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., v. 116, pp. 1137-1142.
   
• Grad, M., S. L. Jensen, G. R. Keller, A. Guterch, H. Thybo, T. Janik, T, Tiira, J. Yliniemi, U. Luosto, G. Motuza and V. Nasedkin, W. Czuba, E. Gaczynski, P. Sroda, K. C. Miller, M. Wilde-Piórko, K. Komminaho, J. Jacyna, and L. Korabliova, 2003, Crustal structure of the Trans-European suture zone region along POLONAISE'97 seismic profile P4, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 108, doi:10.1029/2003JB002426.
   
• Pratt, T. L., T. M. Brocher, C. S. Weaver, K. C. Miller, A. M. Trehu, K. C. Creager, R. S. Crosson, and C. M. Snelson, 2003, Amplification of seismic waves by the Seattle basin, northwestern U. S., Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, v. 93, pp. 533-545.*
   
• Miller, K. C., 2002, Geophysical Evidence for Miocene Extension and Mafic Magmatic Addition in the California Continental Borderland, Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 114, pp. 497-512.*
   
• Grad, M., G. R. Keller, H. Thybo, A. Guterch, W. Czuba, T. Janik, P. Sroda, K. C. Miller, S. Jensen, U. Luosto, T. Tiira, J. Yliniemi, and C. E. Lund, Lower lithospheric structure beneath the Trans-European suture zone from POLONAISE'97 seismic profiles, 2002, Tectonophysics, v. 360, pp.153-168.
   
• Belzer, W. L., K. C. Miller, and S. Harder, 2002, Shallow Geophysical Study of the Grapevine Canyon Area, Eastern Tularosa Basin: Implications For Groundwater Resources, New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 52, pp. 79-84.*
   
• Gorman, A.R., R.M. Clowes, R.M. Ellis, T.J. Henstock. G.D. Spence, G.R. Keller, A.R. Levander, C.M. Snelson, M.J.A. Burianyk, E.R. Kanasewich, I. Asudeh, Z. Hajnal and K.C. Miller, 2002, Deep Probe - Imaging the roots of western North America, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 39, pp. 375-398.*
   
• O'Donnell, T. M. Jr., K. C. Miller, and J. C. Witcher, 2001, A Seismic and Gravity Study of the McGregor Geothermal System, Southern New Mexico, Geophysics, v. 66, pp.1002-1014.*