Jacqueline L. Giblin

Ph.D. Candidate 

About me 

Hi! My name is Jackie Giblin and I am a fourth-year Geological Sciences Ph.D. Candidate at Arizona State University, working primarily  in the Group 18 Laboratories with Dr. Kip Hodges and secondarily in the Volcanophiles group with Dr. Amanda Clarke. 

My research interests lie broadly in geochronology and thermochronology, continental arc tectonics, active tectonics, landscape and mountain belt evolution, physical volcanology, and volcanic hazards. I am also deeply passionate about education, outreach, and diversity in the Earth Sciences.

I came to to ASU after receiving an M.S. in Geological Sciences at the University Connecticut, working with Dr. Julie Fosdick. My master’s research focused on constraining the Miocene slip history of the southern San Andreas Fault using sedimentary provenance and geochronology methods.

My current research projects focus on the long-term topographic evolution of the Sierra Nevada, using multi-mineral detrital thermochronology and geochronology and investigating the eruption dynamics of the most recent explosive eruption at the Valles caldera, NM. 


I grew up in the urban sprawl of the East Coast, far removed from the grandiose mountains or volcanoes that I now study. I found my way to the earth sciences after trying various arts degrees in college and the random epiphany that I was my happiest when I was in and studying the natural world. 

The geosciences speak to me because few fields play such a pivotal role in protecting people’s lives and are so transdisciplinary in nature- bringing together ideas from social sciences, humanities, the arts, and every branch of STEM. Holistically, the geologic tools I primarily use- geochronology and thermochronology, provide me with an appreciation for the relatively slow (usually) and steady churning of the earth and grounding perspective of the fleetingness of life.

When I am not geologizing, I love hiking, star gazing, embroidery and sewing projects, reading/listening to scary stories, baking, drinking coffee, and hanging out with my two cats, Saturn and Nova.