Education:
Ph.D
B.S.
University of Pittsburgh (1990)
Beloit College (1982)
Appointments:
Sr. Research Associate / Assistant / Associate / Full Professor, Case Western Reserve University, 1995 – present
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Tennessee, 1990-1995
Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, 1992-1995
Staff Geologist, Huntley and Huntley, Inc, 1984-1985
Director of Student Activities / Intramurals, Beloit College, 1982 – 1984
Research Interests:
Most of my research involves the geochemical study of planetary materials (meteorites, mars rocks, and micrometeorites), but I am very broadly trained and my interests are diverse. Below is a list of research I’m involved in. The most active ones right now are in italics.
- Experimental studies of interactions between the crust and atmosphere of Venus (with NASA Glenn)
- The recovery of meteorites and micrometeorites from Antarctica
- The DAVID mission to fly by a very small asteroid and study its evolutionary history (with NASA Glenn)
- The adhesive and other physical properties of asteroidal regolith (with NASA Glenn)
- Experiments simulating interactions between brines and crustal rocks on Mars and large asteroids
- Development of a scanning electron microscope for deployment on Mars (with NASA Marshall)
- Studies of the mineralogy and geochemistry of meteorites, with a focus on Martian meteorites and micrometeorites
- The recent history of polar icesheets, as revealed by ice movement networks, ice chemistry and cosmogenic radionuclide studies
- Weathering and associated mineralogical alteration mechanisms on Earth, Venus and Mars
- The geological history of Mars, with a focus on volcanism, rock/ice/water interactions, and possible source regions for the Martian meteorites
- Exploring the geochemical and climatological limits on biological activity in cryogenic settings
- Future human and robotic exploration of Mars and the asteroids.
NOTE I always encourage students to approach me with their own ideas for research- we’ve had great success with that in the past and there’s nothing better than grad students who can take ownership of their projects.
Teaching / Mentoring:
On a regular basis I teach EEPS 341 (Mineralogy), EEPS 344 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology) and EEPS 345 (Planetary Materials). I’ve also taught the intro courses EEPS 110 (physical geology) and EEPS 101 (Earth and Planets) on numerous occasions, and a wide variety of topical courses as requested by students at both grad and undergrad levels. I currently advise three graduate students (Brandon Radoman-Shaw, Zoe Zeszut and Paul Scholar) and am the research advisor for two undergraduates (Harrison Nealley and Patrick Shober).
Graduate and Undergraduate Research Opportunities
I am always looking for curious and capable students (undergraduate and graduate) with a strong background in the natural sciences. Please contact me to discuss current opportunities
See Harvey Cirque in Antarctica (named in 2003)
See Asteroid Ralpharvey (named in 2000)
More Information:
For more information, see my Research and additional links on the top navigation bar.