CV (.PDF) - University of Michigan

Erik Arthur Kneller
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan**
2534 CC Little Building,
1100 North University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1005
Cell: 419-349-6195
E-mail: ekneller@umich.edu
Website: www.geo.lsa.umich.edu/~ekneller
**Affiliation after 11/12/2007: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
EDUCATION
2007 Ph.D. in Geology, University of Michigan, Thesis Title: Geodynamic
insights into patterns of seismic anisotropy in subduction zones, Advisor:
Peter van Keken
2005 MS in Geology, University of Michigan, Thesis: B-type fabric in the
mantle wedge: Insights from high-resolution non-Newtonian subduction
zone models, Advisor: Peter van Keken
1997-2002 B.S. in Geology, University of Toledo, Thesis: Preliminary textural
study of the red, high-silica rhyolitic lavas of the St. Francois
Mountains: textural description, origin and chronology, Advisor: Max
Brown
RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Computational fluid dynamics applied to geologic systems
• 3D mantle convection and mineral fabric development
• High-resolution finite element modeling, non-Newtonian rheology
• Origin of patterns of seismic anisotropy, intermediate depth seismicity, and geochemical
tracers in subduction zones
• Subduction zone thermal structure, metamorphism, and magmatism
• Inferring mantle rheology and fabric from naturally deformed rocks
HONORS AND AWARDS
2006 MARGINS Student Prize (1st place prize for outstanding student presentation,
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting).
2005 Scott Turner Research Grant for researching naturally deformed peridotites
(funded collaborative research project with Greg Hirth at WHOI).
2002 Dean's Award for most outstanding student in geology (University of Toledo).
2001 GSA North-Central Section undergraduate research grant for researching
Precambrian volcanic textures of the St. Francois Mountains.
2001 AASG Mentoree (based on outstanding performance at field camp).
2000-2002 Toledo Gem and Rock Hound Scholarship and Bringham Scholarship (based on
academic achievement).
E. A. Kneller – CV 9/20/2007 1

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2006 Graduate Student Instructor for Computational Methods in the Geological
Sciences: University of Michigan; introduction to Unix, computer programming,
numerical methods, data analysis, parallel computing, and 3D visualization.
2005 Graduate Student Instructor for Field Camp: University of Michigan Camp
Davis, Jackson Hole, WY; field petrology, structural geology, and stratigraphy.
2004 Graduate Student Instructor for Economic Geology: University of Michigan;
scientific writing instructor.
2004 Graduate Student Instructor for Earth Systems Science: University of
Michigan; prepared laboratory exercises and gave weekly lectures.
2001-2002 Physical Geology Lab Instructor: University of Toledo; gave weekly lectures
and prepared laboratory exercises on the following subjects: megascopic
mineralogy and petrology, introductory structure, geologic and topographic map
reading, and fossil identification.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2007 ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Geology Intern: Developed
numerical models of gas mixing processes in hydrocarbon gas reservoirs.
2003-2007 University of Michigan, Research Assistant: Developed 2D and 3D, highresolution
finite element models of heat transfer and deformation processes
associated with subduction zones.
2003 ConocoPhillips, Geology Intern: Basin assessment, Interpreted and correlated
well log data, 3-D modeling of coalbed methane deposits.
2001 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geologic Survey,
Geology Intern: Measured erosion of Lake Erie shoreline with GPS, Quantified
rate of marina sedimentation in Northern Ohio using SONAR.
COMPUTER SKILLS
• Operating Systems: Windows, Unix/Linux, Mac OS
• Programming Languages: FORTAN 77, FORTRAN 90, C, C++, Shell scripting, HTML,
Excel
• 2D/3D Finite Element Modeling with Sepran
• Parallel Computing with MPI
• Computer Algebra Systems: Maple, Mathematica, Matlab
• 2D/3D Visualization Software: Paraview, GMT, Surfer, ArcGIS, Petrel
• Word Processing and Illustration: Word, Latex, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
FIELD AND LABORATORY EXPERIENCE
• Presently involved in an on-going field project with Greg Hirth: fabric analysis of
naturally deformed mantle rocks, Trinity Ophiolite, N. California.
• Performed geologic mapping and structural analysis: Black Hills of South Dakota.
• Measured lattice-preferred orientation in deformed mantle rocks using electron
backscatter diffraction (EBSD).
• Interpreted EBSD data using pole figure analysis software (HKL).
• Field Geophysics: Collected and interpreted gravity and shallow seismic data from a
possible meteor crater (Seneca County, Ohio).
E. A. Kneller – CV 9/20/2007 2

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
Kneller, E. A. and P. E. van Keken, The effect of three-dimensional slab geometry on
deformation in the mantle wedge: Implications for shear wave anisotropy, Geochemistry,
Geophysics, Geosystems, in press.
Kneller, E. A., P. E. van Keken, I. Katayama, and S. Karato, Stress, strain, and B-type olivine
fabric in the fore-arc mantle: sensitivity tests using high-resolution steady-state
subduction zone models, Journal of Geophysical Research, 112, B04406,
doi:10.1029/2006JB004544.
Abers, G. A., P. E. van Keken, E. A. Kneller, A. Ferris and J. C. Stachnik, 2006, The thermal
structure of subduction zones constrained by seismic imaging: Implications for slab
dehydration and wedge flow, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 241, p. 387-397.
Kneller, E. A., P. E. van Keken, S. Karato and J. Park, 2005, B-type olivine fabric in the mantle
wedge: Insights from high-resolution non-Newtonian subduction zone models, Earth and
Planetary Science Letters, v. 237, p. 781-797.
PAPERS IN REVISION
Kneller, E. A. and P. E. van Keken, Trench-parallel flow and seismic anisotropy in the Mariana
and Andean subduction systems, Nature, in revision.
Kneller, E. A., M. D. Long, and P. E. van Keken, Olivine fabric transitions and shear wave
anisotropy in the Ryukyu subduction system, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, in
revision.
ABSTRACTS
Kneller, E. A. and P. E. van Keken, 2007, The effect of three-dimensional slab geometry on
deformation in the Central American mantle wedge: Implications for shear wave
anisotropy, MARGINS Workshop to Integrate Subduction Factory and Seismogenic
Zone Studies in Central America, Heredia, Costa Rica.
Kneller, E. A., and P. E. van Keken, 2007, The effects of 3D slab geometry on deformation in
the mantle wedge, EGU General Assembly 2007.
Kneller, E. A., and P. E. van Keken, 2006, The effects of 3D slab geometry on deformation in
the mantle wedge, AGU Fall Meeting.
Kneller, E. A., M. Long, P. E. van Keken, E. Syracuse, and G. Abers, 2006, Olivine fabric
transitions and shear wave anisotropy in the Ryukyu subduction system, AGU Fall
Meeting.
Kneller, E. A., and P. E. van Keken, Slab geometry and 3D Flow in the mantle wedge, 2006,
Penrose Conference on arc crustal genesis and evolution, Valdez, AK.
E. A. Kneller – CV 9/20/2007 3

Kneller, E. A., P. E. van Keken, I. Katayama, and S. Karato, 2006, Olivine fabric transitions and
trench-parallel fast S-wave polarization: Insights from high-resolution subduction zone
models, MARGINS Workshop on Interpreting Upper Mantle Images, Woods Hole, MA.
Karato, S., I. Katayama, P. Skemer, E. A. Kneller, 2005, Variation of olivine fabrics with
thermo-chemical environment: an interdisciplinary study, 9th International Workshop on
numerical Modeling of Mantle Convection and Lithosphere Dynamics, Sicily.
Kneller, E. A., P. E. van Keken, S. Karato, and J. Park, 2005, Finite strain in the fore-arc mantle:
Testing the B-type fabric anisotropy hypothesis, AGU Fall Meeting.
van Keken, P. E., G. Abers, E. A. Kneller, 2004, Thermal modeling of the central Alaska
subduction zone, AGU Fall Meeting.
Kneller, E. A., P. E. van Keken, S. Karato, and J. Park, 2004, Stress and strain in the mantle
wedge, AGU Fall Meeting.
Kneller, E. A., P. E. van Keken, and S. Karato, 2004, The effects of water-dependent composite
rheology on mantle wedge dynamics; Gordon Research Conference on The Role of
Water on Rock Deformation, Holyoke, MA.
Kneller, E. A. and V. M. Brown, 2002, The red, high-silica, rhyolitic lavas of the Precambrian
St. Francois Mountains, southeast Missouri: Presentation at 36th Annual Meeting, North-
Central Section, The Geological Society of America, Lexington, KY.
INVITED TALKS AND SEMINARS
December 2006
July 2006
June 2006
June 2006
Oral presentation at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
Oral presentation at the Penrose Conference on arc crustal genesis and
evolution, Valdez, AK
Seminar at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Seminar at Boston University, Boston, MA
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
1999-Present
2002-Present
Geological Society of America
American Geophysical Union
REFERENCES
Peter van Keken, Geological Sciences, University of Michigan,
734-764-1497, keken@umich.edu
Shun-ichiro Karato, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University,
203-432-3147, shun-ichiro.karato@yale.edu
Allen K. McNamara, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University,
480-965-1733, allen.mcnamara@asu.edu
E. A. Kneller – CV 9/20/2007 4