Biography
I am a broadly-trained geologist who specializes in glacial and fluvial geomorphology. My current research focuses on measuring microplastics concentrations in the Blackstone River watershed. I am also interested in the glacial history of Massachusetts, the effects of human activity on sediment transport in urban rivers, the effects of development on surface and subsurface hydrology, and the linkages between geomorphology, hydrology, and ecology, particularly in river environments.
Sample Courses
- Introduction to Geology
- Geohazards
- Geomorphology
- Watershed Hydrology
- Paleoclimatology
Current Research Project
Analyzing microplastics concentrations in the Blackstone River watershed
Publications
Mitchell, S.G. and *Humphries, E.E., 2015. Glacial cirques and the relationship between equilibrium line altitudes and mountain range height. Geology, v. 43, p. 35-38.
Kelly, M.H., Anders, A.M., and Mitchell, S.G., 2014. Influence of bedding dip on glacially-eroded steps, Uinta Mountains, USA. Geografiska Annaler, Series A: Physical Geography, v. 96, no. 2, p. 147-159.
Mitchell, S.G. and Ober, K.A., 2013. Evolution of Scaphinotus petersi (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and the role of climate and geography in the Arizona Sky Islands, USA. Quaternary Research, v. 79, is. 2, pg. 274-283.
Anders, A.M., Mitchell, S.G., and Tomkin, J.H. 2010. Cirques, peaks, and precipitation patterns in the Swiss Alps: Connections between climate, glacial erosion, and topography. Geology, v. 38, p. 239-242.
Student Research
Christina Marciano, Spring 2024, Relationship between discharge and microplastics concentrations in the Blackstone River in Millbury, Massachusetts. Christina is currently working as an environmental technician for a consulting company in the Boston area.
Samuel Weikle, Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, Microplastic concentrations in Tatnuck Brook, Worcester Massachusetts. Sam is a staff geologist for a consulting firm in Atlanta, Georgia.
Anna Gibbons, Spring 2022, Microplastics concentrations in the Upper Tatnuck Brook watershed, Worcester Massachusetts. Anna is a M.Sc. student in biodiversity and ecology at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
William (Quinn) Moore, Spring 2022, Microplastic concentrations in the Blackstone River watershed, Millbury and Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Quinn is currently a master’s student in environment and development at the University of Edinburgh.
Charlie McCallum-Green, Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, Comparing microplastics concentrations between urban and forested catchments in Worcester Massachusetts. Charlie is currently an environmental scientist for a consulting company in the Boston area.
Livia Graham, Fall 2021, Microplastic concentrations in the Blackstone River, up- and downstream of the Upper Blackstone Clean Water treatment plant. Livia formerly ran a $500k cranberry bog restoration project for the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, and is currently an M.Sc. student in Environmental Science at Villanova University.
Kate O’Donnell, Spring 2021, The impact of road salt application on the salinity and the suspended sediment concentration of the Middle River, Worcester, Massachusetts. Kate is currently an environmental scientist for an environmental consulting company in the Worcester area.
Alexandra Nazzaro, Fall 2020, Impact of beaver dams on stream temperature in the Knife River Watershed, Minnesota, USA. Alex was the 2021 Undergraduate Poster Winner for her presentation at the North-Central Geological Society of America meeting in Spring 2021, and is currently a geologist for an environmental consulting company in the Boston area.
Xinyi Zeng, summer and fall 2016 and spring 2017, GIS-based analysis of the presence and distribution of ice-filled cirques. Xinyi presented her honors thesis work at the annual Geological Society of America conference in fall 2016, and received her M.Sc. and MBA at Boston College in 2019. Xinyi is currently a program officer at a non-profit climate organization.
Benjamin Ritter, Fall 2015 and Spring 2016, Geomorphological responses to amplified Arctic warming on the Sagavanirktok River, Alaska. Ben volunteered in the Peace Corps in Guinea after graduation, and received his Master’s in International Affairs, Energy and Environment from Columbia University in 2023. Ben has long experience working with international NGOs and non-profits, and most recently worked for USAID.
Hannah Yeates, Summer 2015, Locating the source of suspended sediment in the upper Blackstone River Watershed, Massachusetts. Hannah is a senior environmental scientist and project manager at an environmental consulting company in the Boston area.
Nicholas Bradley, Summer and Fall 2014, Suspended sediment during storm events in the Blackstone River, Millbury, MA. Nick received his M.Sc. in geospatial science from Missouri State University in 2017, worked as a geomorphologist for several years, and now is a vice president for a Bay Area company that consults with the insurance industry on climate risk.
Elizabeth (Humphries) Altenau, Summer and Fall 2012, Global analysis of glacial cirque altitudes. Elizabeth presented her work at the 2012 national Geological Society of America conference in Minneapolis, MN. Elizabeth received her Ph.D. student in the Geological Sciences program at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill in hydrology 2018 and is currently a research specialist at UNC.
Renee Harkins, Summer 2009 to Spring 2010, Sediment transport in central Massachusetts streams. Renee presented her work at the 2009 national Geological Society of America conference in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from the Oregon State University with a M.Sc. degree in Horticulture in 2013. Renee is a marketing manager for a biotech company.
Neil Shea, Spring and Summer 2008, GIS analyses of glacial cirques in Glacier National Park, and sediment mobilization in Beaver Brook, Worcester Massachusetts. Neil presented his work at the 2009 Northeastern Geological Society of America conference in Portland, Maine, and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a M.Sc. degree from the Integrative Geosciences program in 2013. Neil worked for several years as a geomorphologist for Tulalip Tribes in Washington State, and is currently the restoration program director for the Ipswich River Watershed Association.