Curriculum Vitae

Benjamin W. Hallett

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

110 8^th Street, Troy, New York 12180

benwhallett@gmail.com

Education

Ph.D. in Geology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, May 2012

Focus: Metamorphic Petrology, Geochronology, Tectonics

Dissertation: “Metamorphic history and timescales of cooling and exhumation of partially melted rocks: studies in the North American Cordillera”, Advisor: Frank Spear

M.S. in Geosciences, University of Idaho, August 2005

Focus: Tectonics, Geochronology, Structural Geology

Thesis: “Timing and development of the Storstrømmen Shear Zone, North East Greenland

Caledonides”, Advisor: William McClelland (presently at University of Iowa)

B.S. Cum Laude with honors in Geology, Bucknell University, May 2002

Honors Thesis: “Timing of partial melting and regional deformation in Proterozoic migmatites of

the Rincon Range, North-central New Mexico: application of monazite U–Th–Pb

chemical dating”, Advisor: Chris Daniel Minor: Geography

Teaching Experience

Adjunct Professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Fall 2012

Instructor for Field Methods: field based, writing/communication intensive course.

Data Mining Supervisor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Summer 2012–Spring 2013

Trained and supervised 11 undergraduate students in efforts to mine and upload petrologic data to MetPetDB: the Database for Metamorphic Petrology.

Teaching Assistant, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2008–2010

Prepared labs and field trips, assessment, and helped teach Structural Geology and Earth Materials classes.

Teaching Assistant University of Idaho, 2003–2004

Prepared curriculum, assessment, and helped teach Advanced Field Camp based in Dillon, Montana, Physical Geology for Science Majors, and Physical Geology.

Teaching Assistant Bucknell University, 1999–2002

Helped teach university level courses: Plate Tectonics, Physical Geology, and Engineering Geology.

Grants and Awards

- NSF Research Grant, EAR #1019768 (co-wrote proposal and led investigation as assistant to PI Frank Spear), 2010-2012.

- Geological Society of America Graduate Student Research Grants (2), 2004 and 2009

- Teaching / Research Assistantship, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2007–2012

- Teaching / Research Assistantship, University of Idaho, 2003–2005

- Savage / Stearn Scholarships, University of Idaho, 2003–2005

- Branson Field Camp Scholarship, University of Missouri, summer 2002

- PricewaterhouseCoopers Undergraduate Research Fellowship, summer 2001

Professional Experience

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2012–present

Performed collaborative research in petrology and geochemistry. Planned and provided technical oversight of development of MetPetDB: the database for metamorphic petrology.

Field Geologist, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, 2005–2007

Completed independent geologic mapping of six USGS 7.5 minute quadrangles as part of a hydrogeologic characterization project in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico. Carried out field analysis and assessment of hydrogeologic potential of alluvial fans in the Tularosa basin. Also, performed independent geologic mapping in the Sangre de Cristo Range, northern New Mexico, funded by the STATEMAP program.

Laboratory Technician / Researcher, US Geological Survey, 2002–2003

Completed textural and carbonate analyses in support of government funded marine and coastal geology research at Woods Hole field center at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts. Also performed petrographic analyses on crystalline bedrock cores, publishing a peer-reviewed regional scientific paper and USGS open file report.

Publications (Peer Reviewed)

Hallett, B.W., Spear, F.S., 2013, Monazite, zircon, and garnet growth in migmatitic pelites as a record of prograde and retrograde metamorphism and partial melting in the East Humboldt Range, Nevada, American Mineralogist (in review)

Hallett, B.W., Spear, F.S., 2013, The P–T history of anatectic pelites of the northern East Humboldt Range, Nevada: evidence for tectonic loading and anatexis, Journal of Petrology (in review)

Hallett, B.W., Spear, F.S., 2011, Insight into the Cooling of the Valhalla Complex, British Columbia, Lithos, v. 125, p. 809–824.

Spear, F. S., Hallett, B., Pyle, J. M., Adali, S., Szymanski, B. K., Waters, A., Linder, Z., Pearce, S. O., Fyffe, M., Goldfarb, D., Glickenhouse, N., and Buletti, H., 2009, MetPetDB: A database for metamorphic geochemistry: Geochemistry, Geophysics, and Geosystems, doi:10.1029/2009GC002766.

Hallett, B.W., Poppe, L.J., Brand, S.G., 2004, Petrography and character of the bedrock surface beneath western Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Northeastern Geology and Environmental Science, v. 26, no. 3, p. 230–241.

Geologic Maps / Open File Reports

Hallett, B.W., 2009, Preliminary geologic map of the Bluff Springs quadrangle, Otero County, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file Geologic Map OF-GM 137, scale 1:24,000.

Hallett, B.W., 2007, Preliminary geologic map of the Harvey Ranch quadrangle, Otero County, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file Geologic Map OF-GM 154, scale 1:24,000.

Hallett, B.W., 2007, Preliminary geologic map of the Mayhill quadrangle, Otero County, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file Geologic Map OF-GM 155, scale 1:24,000.

Aby, S. and Hallett, B.W., 2007, Preliminary geologic map of the Tres Ritos quadrangle, Taos County, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Open-file Geologic Map OF-GM 145, scale 1:24,000.

Koning, D.J., Hallett, B.W., and Shaw, C., 2007, Preliminary geologic map of the Alamogordo North 7.5-minute quadrangle, Otero County, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file Geologic Map OF-GM 153, scale 1:24,000.

Hallett, B.W., 2006, Preliminary geologic map of the Cloudcroft quadrangle, Otero County, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file Geologic Map OF-GM 135, scale 1:24,000.

Hallett, B.W., 2006, Preliminary geologic map of the Rogers Ruins quadrangle, Otero County, New Mexico, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Open-file Geologic Map OF-GM 139, scale 1:24,000.

Hallett, B.W., Paskevich, V.F., Poppe, L.J., Brand, S.G., Blackwood, D.S., 2004, A pictorial survey of the bedrock beneath western Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S. Geological Survey open file report 03-221, CD-ROM.

Presentations / Abstracts

“Making MetPetDB a tool for reconnaissance studies of metamorphism and metamorphic rocks,” American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, December 2012.

“The accessory mineral record of metamorphism and protracted melt crystallization in a metamorphic core complex,” V. M. Goldschmidt Conference (Geochemical Society), Montreal, Canada, June 2012

“Linking metamorphic monazite growth to the P–T path using major and trace element zoning in garnet and monazite from migmatitic pelites of the East Humboldt Range, Nevada,” Geological Society of America National Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 2011.

“The tectonic record preserved in growth and diffusion zoning patterns in garnet from migmatitic pelites of the East Humboldt Range, Nevada,” Geological Society of America National Meeting, Denver, Colorado, October 2010.

“Petrologic constraints on core complex emplacement, Valhalla Complex, British Columbia,” Geological Society of America National Meeting, Portland, Oregon, October 2009.

“Comparison of cooling rates determined from modeling diffusion in garnet from migmatitic paragneisses of the Valhalla Complex, British Columbia,” American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, December 2008.

“Timing of displacement on the Storstrømmen Shear Zone, North East Greenland Caledonides,”

Geological Association of Canada National Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 2005.

“Petrography and character of the bedrock surface beneath western Cape Cod, Massachusetts,” Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, October 2003.

“ ~1.4 Ga partial melting and regional deformation in Proterozoic migmatites of the Rincon Range, north-central New Mexico: application of monazite U-Th-Pb chemical dating,” Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Meeting, Springfield, Massachusetts, April 2002.

Field Experience

- Ph.D. dissertation research field observations, petrologic and geochronologic sampling in a metamorphic terrane: Ruby Mountains / East Humboldt Range, Nevada, Summer 2009

- Led or co-led informal field trips for RPI students/postdocs in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, Summers 2008, 2009, 2011

- Proterozoic / Paleozoic mapping for New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources in Sangre de Cristo and Sacramento ranges, New Mexico, Summer 2005 – Winter 2006–2007

- Fieldcamp instruction, deformed Paleozoic sequence, southwestern Montana

- Intrusive complex mapping and geochronologic sampling project, Weepah Hills, Nevada, Summer 2004

- M.S. thesis field mapping / structural analysis / sampling (oriented and geochronologic), North-East Greenland Caledonides, Summer 2003

- University of Missouri field camp, Phanerozoic sequence and basement mapping, Wind River Range, Wyoming, Summer 2002

- Field analysis / oriented sample collection, Proterozoic basement, Rincon Range, New Mexico, Summer 2001

Professional Memberships

- American Geophysical Union

- Geological Society of America

- Mineralogical Society of America

- Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society

Honors, Activities, and Service

- Writer/contributor to Rensselaer E&ES Department Newsletter, 2011

- Rensselaer School of Science Graduate Council, 2009

- Rensselaer Symphony (double bassist)

- University of Idaho Graduate Student Association

- University of Idaho Symphony

- Brockton Symphony Orchestra (Brockton, MA)

- Dunedin Sinfonia (New Zealand)

- Dean’s List, Bucknell University, 1998-2001

- Bucknell University Jazz Ensemble

- Bucknell University Symphony

- Bucknell University Geological Society

- Bucknell Outing Club