Crustal Deformation Group at Columbia University
The Crust-Def Group at Columbia University investigates how the earth's crust deforms in response to tectonic loading and how the deformation process leads to earthquake rupture and sedimentary basin development. Our research employs and integrates field observations, geophysical imaging, numerical modeling, and laboratory geomechanical rock testing experiments.
Group Members
Folarin Kolawole, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator)
Dr. Kolawole is the Principal investigator at the Crust-Def Group at Columbia University. He integrates field observations, geophysics, and geomechanics to study the brittle deformation of the Earth's crust. Currently, Fola's research focus is on investigating 1.) how strain is localized during the early stages of continental extension, and 2.) basement structures that influence anthropogenically induced earthquakes and natural intraplate earthquakes and their associated geomechanical controls.
Rasheed Ajala, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Dr. Ajala is a Lamont-Doherty Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University. His primary research area is Computational Seismology, and he is interested in developing and utilizing seismic imaging techniques to understand the Earth’s crustal structure and tectonic evolution, and improving seismic hazard assessment. His study areas include Southern California, Indo-Burma, Madagascar, East and Southern Africa. Currently, his research is focused on integrating structural geology concepts with seismology, and geodynamic simulations to investigate the crustal structure and geodynamics of the southern Tanganyika-Rukwa segments of the East African Rift System.
Cameron Grant (Undergraduate Researcher)
Cameron is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Earth Sciences. He is currently investigating fault scaling relationships along the East African Rift System. His research involves the integration of remote sensing, field structural geology, and geophysics to investigate fault growth in rift basins.
Christian Rowan (PhD Student)
Chris is investigating the structural evolution of multi-stage volcanic rift zones, specifically in the Turkana Depression of the East African Rift System. Chris's research involves the integration of field geology (structure and sedimentology), seismic reflection interpretation, and potential field geophysics to investigate how juvenile active rift basins evolve through space and time.
Meritxell Colet (PhD Student) - Starting Fall 2023
Meritxell is currently a Field System Engineer and Analyst at the Infrasound Lab (ISLA) at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH). Starting in Fall 2023, Meritxell's research at CU's Crustal Deformation Lab will be focusing on investigating how continental rift segments propagate in space and time, and the mechanics of rift interaction and linkage. Her research will involve the integration of field structural geology, seismology, and numerical modeling.
Sydney Maguire (PhD Student) - Starting Fall 2023
Sydney is currently a Masters student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is studying the slip history of the Garlock Fault in California. Starting in Fall 2023, Sydney's research at CU's Crustal Deformation Lab will be focusing on investigating how the slip history of active faults vary in space and time in the East African Rift System, with implications for earthquake hazards, sedimentation patterns etc. Her research will involve the integration of field structural geology, thermochronology, and cosmogenic nuclide dating.
Previous Lab Members
Lawson Goodloe (Undergraduate Researcher, Fall 2022)
Lawson is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Earth & Environmental Engineering. Lawson's research in our lab utilized seismology techniques to investigate crustal structure beneath an active rift zone.
Macy Matthews (Undergraduate Researcher, Summer 2023)
Macy is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Earth Sciences. During her internship, she worked on a research that involve the mapping of fracture systems in subsurface cores.
Krista Watson (NSF-REU Intern, Summer 2023)
Krista is an undergraduate major in Ecology at Gateway Community College, Connecticut. During their NSF-REU internship at the CU Crust-Def lab, Krista investigated crustal deformation and geomorphic expression of incipient rift reactivation in a basin along the East African Rift System.
Sarah H. Alsharif (Undergraduate Researcher, Summer 2023)
Sarah is an undergraduate student in Earth and Environmental Engineering. During her summer research at tour lab, she worked on a research involving the use of tectonic geomorphology techniques to map surface-rupturing fault distribution in an active rift along the East African Rift System.
Farhan Tanvir (Undergraduate Researcher, Summer 2023)
Farhan is an applied physics undergraduate student, working on research involving the use of seismology techniques for imaging upper-crustal structure and tectonic deformation beneath a rift along the East African Rift System.
Patrick Boston (Visiting Intern, Summer 2023)
Patrick is an undergraduate major in Geology at Mid-Western State University, Texas. During his internship at our lab, he worked on the coupling of brittle damage and fault displacement across a border fault relay zone in the Albertine Rift, Uganda.