Curriculum Vita

YVONNE KAY BRANAN

(February 2008)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Active volcanism, with a specific interest in the correlation of SO₂ gas fluxes, and thermal and seismic signals in order to better understand eruptive and conduit processes.

EDUCATION

Michigan Technological University                                                                                                    Houghton, MI

     Department of Geological & Mining Engineering & Sciences                          August 2001-December 2007   

     Doctor of Philosophy in Geology                                                                               

     Thesis:  Investigating short-term variation in volcanic plume and shallow

                    subsurface dynamics using high temporal resolution gas emission

                    rate data

University at Buffalo                                                                                                                                  Buffalo, NY

     Department of Geological Sciences                                                                                                   Summer 2001

Indiana University of Pennsylvania                                                                Indiana, PA

     Bachelor of Science in Geology                                                                                                1996-August 2001

     Thesis:  Latitudinal migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

                   recorded by eolian sediments from the central and eastern Pacific   

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

        Geomorphology                                                                                                                         Aug. -  Dec. 2006

                Developed this lecture and lab course as an upper-level undergraduate introduction to

Geomorphology, with an approach meant to cover the basics of both processes and landforms. 

Some of the topics covered include weathering, mass wasting, streams and groundwater,

glaciation, and coastal processes.

        Oceans and Atmospheres Laboratory                                                                              Aug. 2006 - Present

                An introductory lab for non-major undergraduates covering topics such as geography, plate

tectonics, ocean sediments, atmospheric/oceanic circulation, greenhouse, and ocean productivity.

        Exploring the Universe Laboratory                                                                                 Jan. 2007 - May 2007

                An introductory lab for non-major undergraduates covering topics such as constellations, seasons,

telescopes, the moon (motion and surface), the planets (motion and characteristics), sunspots, and

observations.

       Geology of the National Parks                                                                                        July 2007 - Aug. 2007

A study of geological processes and earth history as documented by the classical geological

features of U.S. and Canadian national parks. Includes Grand Canyon, Great Smokies, Mammoth

Cave, Yellowstone and others.

        Dynamic Earth                                                                                                                          Aug. - Dec. 2007

                An introductory lab for non-major undergraduates covering mineral, rock and fossil identification,

                topographic maps, geologic time and stratigraphy, and geologic environments.

Michigan Technological University

        Environmental Geology (GE2100)                                                                                Jan. 2006 – April 2006

Full lectureship position of this undergraduate, mostly non-major lecture and lab course covering

an introduction to many topics, including earth systems and cycles, plate tectonics, various earth

resources (fuels, mineral, water), natural hazards, global warming and engineering geology.

        Natural Hazards (GE4150/5150)                                                                                Aug. 2003 – Dec. 2003

Fully taught 5 week portion of this undergraduate/graduate lecture and lab course covering aspects

of volcanic hazards, including a mock volcano crisis with mitigation planning and seismic hazards,

including understanding different approaches to calculating seismic risk.

FIELD EXPERIENCE

     Field Researcher - Alaska                                                                                             Jul. 2004 – Aug. 2004

     Michigan Technological University

• Assisting Alaska Volcano Observatory in the setup and initial testing of new remotely-sensing gas                                                                         equipment, the MUSe (mini-UV spectrometer).  Tests performed at the following field areas: Shishaldin                                                                             Volcano, Pavlof and Hague Volcanoes, and Veniaminof Volcano.

     Field Researcher - Guatemala                                                                                        Jan. 2004 – Feb. 2004

     Michigan Technological University

• Gathering field data (using TIR radiometer, correlation spectrometer, and two miniature ultraviolet                                                                     spectrometers, MUSEs, and a seismometer) at Santiaguito and Fuego Volcanoes in Guatemala, while                                                                         working closely with local government agencies.

     Field Researcher - Guatemala                                                                                        Jan. 2003 – Feb. 2003

     Michigan Technological University

• Gathering field data (using TIR radiometer, correlation spectrometer, and miniature ultraviolet                                                                             spectrometer, MUSE, and a seismometer) at Santiaguito Volcano in Guatemala, while working closely                                                                                 with local government agencies.

     Field Researcher - Italy                                                                                                  Sept. 2002 – Oct. 2002

     Michigan Technological University

• Gathering field data (using a miniature differential optical absorption spectrometer) at several volcanoes                                                                             in Italy (including Vulcano, Stromboli, and Etna), while collaborating with other scientists from Open                                                                     University, University of Hawai’i, University of Firenze, and Instituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia                                                                 (INGV)

     Field Researcher – Central America                                                                            Jan. 2002 – Feb. 2002

     Michigan Technological University

• Gathering field data (using TIR radiometer, correlation spectrometer, and sun photometer) at several                                                                             Central American volcanoes (including Pacaya, Fuego, Santiaguito, Santa Ana, San Miguel, Masaya, and                                                                         San Cristobal), while working closely with local government agencies

ACADEMIC / RESEARCH AWARDS

     University Senate Research Committee Award (IUP)                                                                                    2006

     Jack Kleinman Internship for Volcano Research                                                                                            2004

     Thornton Endowed Fellowship                                                                                                               2003-2004

     NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention                                                                   2003-2004

     Michigan Space Grant                                                                                                                               2003-2004

     GAANN Fellowship, Department of Education                                                                                    2001-2006

     WA Tarr Award, Outstanding Undergraduate in Geological Sciences, Sigma Gamma Epsilon    May 2001

     Undergraduate Sigma Xi Distinguished Research Award, Sigma Xi                                                 2000-2001

     Margaret Flegal Harte Scholarship, Indiana University of Pennsylvania                                         1999-2000

     Provost Scholar, Indiana University of Pennsylvania                                                                         1996-2001

PUBLICATIONS

   Branan, Y.K., Harris, A.J.L., Watson, I.M., Horton, K., Williams-Jones, G., and Garbeil, H., 2007, Gas

         puffing at Masaya: Evidence for steady degassing at a persistently active system, Journal of

         Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 169 (1-2), pp. 34-37.

   Rodríguez, L.A., Watson, I.M., Rose, W.I., Branan, Y.K., Bluth, G.J.S., Chigna, G., Matías, O.,

         Escobar, D., Carn, S.A. and Fischer, T., 2004, SO₂ emissions to the atmosphere from active volcanoes

         in Guatemala and El Salvador, 1999-2002, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research,

         138 (3-4), pp. 345-364.

PRESENTATIONS & ABSTRACTS

     Watson, I.M, Y Branan, JF Smekens, J Phillips, P Holland, Cyclic gas fluxes observed using very high   

         temporal resolution DOAS and UV camera imagery at Santiaguito Volcano, Guatemala, AGU

         abstract, Fall AGU Meeting 2007.

     Branan, YK, A Harris, IM Watson, JC Phillips, K Horton, G Williams-Jones, H Garbeil, Investigation

         of At-Vent Dynamics and Dilution of Gas Puffing Using Thermal Infrared Radiometers at Masaya

         Volcano, Nicaragua, AGU abstract, Fall AGU Meeting 2006.

     Kearney C, A Harris, K Horton, J Dehn, S Clegg, Y Branan, K Dean, SO₂ and thermal signatures of

         puffing events at Pu’u O’o since 2002, IAVCEI General Assembly 2004.

     Harris, A, K Horton, M Ripepe, E Marchetti, Y Branan, C Kearney, E Calder, M Davies, J Dehn, M

         Patrick, G Williams-Jones, L Wilson, Integrated Thermal Monitoring 2:  Gas Puffing as a Proxy for

         Degassing Rates at Persistently Active Systems, IAVCEI General Assembly 2004.

     Branan, YK, A Harris, IM Watson, K Horton, G Williams-Jones, H Garbeil, M Ripepe, L Wilson 

         W Rose, Gas Puffing at Masaya: Evidence for Consistent Pulse Frequency at a Persistently Degassing

         System, IAVCEI General Assembly 2004.

     Lopez, T, IM Watson, LA Rodriguez, YK Branan, WI Rose, GJS Bluth, Photometric observations of

         aerosol plumes from volcanoes in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, AGU abstract, Fall AGU

         Meeting 2003.

     Branan, YK, IM Watson, AJL Harris, WI Rose, GJS Bluth, G Chigna, M Mota, Correlation of SO₂ gas   

         emissions, seismicity and thermal signals at Santiaguito, Guatemala, AGU abstract, Fall AGU

         Meeting 2003.

     Bluth, GJ, YK Branan, WI Rose, IM Watson, O Matias, Observations of Santiaguito’s eruptive and           

         passive emissions, AGU abstract, Fall AGU Meeting 2002.

     Branan, YK, IM Watson, AJL Harris, WI Rose, LA Rodriguez, G Chigna, S Carn, L Flynn, GJS Bluth,

         J Byman, Search for eruptive patterns at Santiaguito Crater, Santa Maria Volcano, Guatemala, AGU

         abstract, Fall AGU Meeting, 2002.

     Rodriguez, LA, YK Branan, IM Watson, GJS Bluth, WI Rose, G Chigna, O Matias, A Coy, SA Carn, T

         Fischer, SO₂ emissions to the atmosphere from active volcanoes in northern Central America, 2000-

         2002, AGU abstract, Spring AGU Meeting, 2002.

    Branan, YK, WI Rose, O Matias, D Escobar, G Bluth, IM Watson, J Shannon, Comprehensive

         COSPEC measurements to measure SO2 conversions in moist tropical atmosphere, Santa Ana, El

         Salvador, AGU abstract, Fall AGU Meeting, 2001.

     Undergraduate Senior Thesis: The path of the Intertropical Convergence Zone throughout the

         Cenozoic as seen through eolian sediment records, Spring 2001.

     Sigma Xi Research Symposium, Indiana University of PA, Spring 2000.

     SA Hovan, YK Branan, DK Moore, JD Gleason, Latitudinal migration of the Intertropical

         Convergence Zone (ITCZ) recorded by eolian sediments from the central and eastern Pacific, AGU  

         abstract, Fall AGU Meeting, 2000.

CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS ATTENDED

    Climate Project Workshop, Montclair, New Jersey                                                                    January 2008

    American Geophysical Union Meeting, San Francisco, California                                      December 2006

    American Geophysical Union Meeting, San Francisco, California                                      December 2003

    American Geophysical Union Meeting, San Francisco, California                                      December 2002

    American Geophysical Union Meeting, San Francisco, California                                      December 2001

    American Geophysical Union Meeting, San Francisco, California                                      December 2000

    Geological Society of America Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado                                 October 1999

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

     American Geophysical Union

     International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior

     Phi Kappa Phi

     Sigma Gamma Epsilon

     Sigma Xi