Copyright © 2014 Nicolas C. Barth. All Rights Reserved.

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Nicolas C. Barth, Ph.D.

www.ncbarth.com

 

Objective: To employ my diverse skills as a hard-working geologist fit to explore, observe, collect,
analyze, collaborate, communicate and report on high-impact projects. In particular, I strive to solve
societally-relevant geological problems. I desire workplace challenges which utilize my intelligence
and strong work ethic, hone my existing abilities, and provide opportunities to develop new skills.

• Ph.D. Geology         University of Otago, New Zealand                                       May 2013

  "A Tectono-Geomorphic Study of the Alpine Fault, New Zealand"
  Distinguished as a 2013 Exceptional Thesis (top 10% of OU theses examined)
  Advisors: Prof. Richard Norris, Dr. Virginia Toy, Prof. Alan Cooper

• M.Sc. Geological Sciences     University of California-Santa Barbara                June 2008

  “Strain in the Western Gneiss Region of Norway Recorded by Quartz LPOs”
  Advisor: Prof. Brad Hacker

• B.Sc.   Geological Sciences     University of California-Santa Barbara               March 2007

  High Honors and Distinction in the Major
  Year abroad at the University of Otago, New Zealand (2006)
  “Geology of the South Branch of the Pareora and Otaio Rivers Region,
  Hunter Hills, Canterbury, New Zealand”            (Senior Thesis)
  Advisor: Prof. Rick Sibson

• Barth (2013) “The Cascade rock avalanche: Implications of a very large Alpine Fault-triggered failure, South Westland, New Zealand,” Landslides, doi: 10.1007/s10346-013-0389-1
• Barth (2013) “Caves of Otago,” Special Issue of the New Zealand Speleological Bulletin, vol. 11(206), 37 pp., ISSN-0110-621X
• Barth et al. (2013) “New c. 270 kyr strike-slip and uplift rates for the southern Alpine Fault and implications for the New Zealand plate boundary,” Journal of Structural Geology Special Issue: Continental Transpressive Fault Zones, doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2013.08.009
• Barth et al. (2013) “Slip localization on the southern Alpine Fault, New Zealand,” Tectonics, doi: 10.1002/tect.20041
• Barth et al. (2012) “Scale dependence of oblique plate-boundary partitioning: New insights from LiDAR, central Alpine fault, New Zealand,” Lithosphere, doi: 10.1130/L201.1 (Most read Lithosphere article – December 2012)
• Barth et al. (2010) “Strain within the Ultrahigh-Pressure Western Gneiss Region of Norway Recorded by Quartz CPOs,” Continental Tectonics and Mountain Building: the Legacy of Peach and Horne, Geological Society of London, doi: 10.1144/​SP335.27
• Langridge et al. (accepted) “Developing and interpreting sub-5m LiDAR DEMs along forested parts of the Alpine and Hope faults, South Island, New Zealand,” Journal of Structural Geology Special Issue: Continental Transpressive Fault Zones, doi: 10.X/j.jsg.X
• Barth (in preparation) “Main divide capture in a tectonically-active orogen, Southern Alps, New Zealand”

• Science Instructor for Upward Bound Program, New Mexico Tech            2013
• Geological Consultant for GNS Science, interpreted LiDAR data               2011
  for the central Alpine Fault, New Zealand
• Teaching Fellow, University of Otago- Department of Geology                   2010-2011
• Graduate Student Researcher and Teaching Assistant, UCSB                  2007-2008
• Consulting Geologist for BreitBurn Energy Company, Ltd., mapped           2007
  detailed field geology of S. Orcutt Hill Oil Field, Santa Maria, CA
• Lab Technician, UCSB Geological Sciences                                                 2005

• Geology, Upward Bound, New Mexico Tech, Science Instructor                         2013
• Structural Analysis of Deformed Rocks (Geol 351), Teaching Fellow                   2010 & 2011
• Advanced Field Studies (Geol 302), Teaching Fellow                                            2010 & 2011
• Sedimentary Processes and Materials (Geol 273/373), Student Demonstrator     2009
• Structural Analysis of Deformed Rocks (Geol 351), Student Demonstrator        2009
• Field Studies and New Zealand Geology (Geol 252), Student Demonstrator      2009
• Spring Field (Geol 104B), field-based class, Teaching Assistant                          2008
• Igneous Petrology (Geol 102B), Instructional Aide                                              2008
• Earth Materials (Geol 114A), Teaching Assistant                                                  2007
• Earth Materials (Geol 114A & B), Course Designer, 300+ hours                          2007
  • Created course materials, labs, lectures, websites; chose textbooks
• Geology of Yosemite (Geol 19), field-based class, Teaching Assistant                 2007
• Geology of Death Valley (Geol 18), field-based class, Teaching Assistant           2007

• Sciences Outreach Certificate in recognition of > 60 hours of geology-              2009-2012
  related public outreach, Division of Sciences, University of Otago                          
• Conservation & Research Officer for the New Zealand Speleological                2010-2012
  Society addressing national issues pertaining to proposed infrastructure
  development on karst, illegal trade of fossil bones from public lands, and
  the protection of caves                                                                                     
• Speaker on geology, caving and UC Education Abroad Program at                      2010-2011
  various community/non-profit clubs and events                               
• Hands-on teacher/guide for 1st-8th grade students about geology at                   2004-2008
  various UCSB-affiliated events and school science fairs, > 50 hours                    

National Geographic Society

• National Geographic Young Explorer Grant for Ph.D. fieldwork                         2010

University of Otago

• Otago Postgraduate Scholarship for a Ph.D. in geology                                         2009-2011

University of California- Santa Barbara

• Teaching Assistant of the Year awarded by UCSB geology undergraduates           2008
• Preston Cloud Award for talk at the 2007 GSA annual conference in Denver        2008
• Fugro West Scholarship for “educational excellence in engineering geology         2007
  and marine geophysics”                                                                                           
• George Tunell Endowed Fellowship for “special interest in economic                   2007
  geology, mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry or petrology”                                   
• UC Instructional Development Grant to create 2 new Earth Materials classes     2007
• Robert M. Norris Prize in Field Geology for “educational excellence in               2005
  geological field mapping”                                                                  
  

Coast Geological Society

• John Woolley Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship                                           2006

• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Electron Backscatter Diffractometer (EBSD),
  Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD)
• Interpretation of stereopair aerial photographs, LiDAR and differential InSAR imagery
• Tools accessible through colleagues: 40Ar/39Ar radiometric dating, carbonate C/O
  stable isotopes, amino acid racemization dating, rotary shear and double direct shear
  friction apparati, SEM/EBSD/EDS/XRD
• Core logging, water conductivity testing, gravitometer, shallow-ground conductivity,
  basic interpretation of geophysical data, optical microscopy
• Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office suite, ArcGIS suite, MapInfo

• First descent of Gloomy Gorge, New Zealand’s most technical canyon,                  2013
  New Zealand Geographic cover article Sept-Oct 2013
• Fieldwork for Ph.D. thesis in remote South Westland, New Zealand                       2009-2012
  mapping and sampling on and near the Alpine Fault Zone; < 9 day
  backpacking trips, logistics included helicopter/Cessna/jetboat, > 3 months
• Explored, mapped and studied the world’s longest sea cave near                             2012
  Dunedin, New Zealand, > 2 weeks
• Key participant in over a half dozen exploration and survey-focused cave              2008-2012
  expeditions in New Zealand, the United States and Borneo, > 3 months
• Expedition leader for 2011 NZ/US Fiordland Caving Expedition, 2 weeks             2011
• Field Assistant in the Red Hills Ultramafic Massif, New Zealand, 2 weeks            2009
• Traverse of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado by raft and foot, 23 days                 2008
• Surveying and exploring in Lechuguilla Cave, NM, 7 days trip underground          2008
• Fieldwork for Senior Thesis (B.Sc.) in Canterbury, New Zealand, 2 weeks             2006
• Field mapping in Central Otago, New Zealand, 2 weeks                                          2006
• Field Assistant in the Austrian Alps, 6 weeks                                                           2005
• Field Assistant in the Mojave Desert near Barstow, CA, 1 week                             2005
• Field mapping in the White Mtns and Mammoth Lakes region, CA, 3 weeks         2005
• Volunteer for Cave Restoration Foundation (CRF) and National Park                     2001-2008

• Student Member of the AusIMM New Zealand Branch                                          2012-present
• Student Member of the Geoscience Society of New Zealand (GSNZ)                    2009-present
• Student Member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU)                                2009-present
• Student Member of the Geological Society of America (GSA)                               2005-2010
• Member of the New Zealand Speleological Society (NZSS)                                   2009-present
• Member of the National Speleological Society (NSS)                                             2007-present
• Member of the National Geographic Society (NGS)                                               1994-present

• Caving, photography, canyoning, rock climbing, kayaking, coasteering, backpacking

• Publish a journal article currently in preparation on Ph.D. research
• Work on New Zealand Geographic magazine article on active research
  into Alpine Fault hazards and tectonics

 

References available upon request.
Sample geologic maps or geologic reports available upon request.