AMANDA NICOLE HUGHES
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Harvard University, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138
(617) 495-0427 ahughes@fas.harvard.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in applying a variety of different data and modeling techniques to the study of structural geology
and active tectonics. Specific projects that I have worked on involve the development and use of discreteelement-based mechanical modeling, kinematic modeling, and observations from seismic reflection data,
seismicity, paleoseismology, and geodetic data sets in the study of the mechanics and kinematics of contractional
fault-related folds and fold-and-thrust belts.
EDUCATION
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
PhD., expected May 2012, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, GPA: 3.8
Advisor: John H. Shaw
Dissertation: A Study of Contractional Fault-related Folding Kinematics and Mechanics and Comparison with
Observations from Seismic Reflection Data
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA
B.S. with Honors in Geology, June 2006, summa cum laude, GPA: 4.0
Advisor: Christopher D. Connors
Honors thesis: Fold simplification and fault estimation for inverse modeling of fault-bend folding
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Harvard University, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Cambridge, MA
Graduate Student, 2006-2011
 Derived theoretical expectations for displacement distributions on reverse faults for different fault-related
folding styles, and compared with natural structures imaged in seismic reflection datasets.
 Developed Discrete Element Models (DEM) of contractional fault-related folds to investigate the
mechanical circumstances that lead to the transition between different fault-related folding styles.
 Compared DEM models of emergent structures with observations of fault-propagation fold geometry
observed in seismic reflection data.
 Explored evidence for discrete co-seismic folding in GPS and paleoseismic data.
Carnegie Institute of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism
Washington, DC
Research Intern, 2005
Identified fault planes for deep subduction zone earthquakes in the Tonga-Kermadec region by observing the
directivity of the rupture. These fault plane orientations were used to distinguish between competing hypotheses
of deep earthquake rupture processes.
Washington and Lee University, Department of Geology
Lexington, VA
Research Assistant, 2004-2006
Collaborated on a team study of regional strain throughout the central Blue Ridge, using Skolithos worm burrows
to observe the magnitude, orientation, and timing of finite strain. Quantified strain heterogeneity at a single
extensive rock outcrop. Led initial investigations of detailed field mapping and 3D structural analysis of the
Sequatchie anticline in Tennessee.
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Harvard Geoclub, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Co-President, 2008-2010. Organized and planned activities for department graduate students.
Co-Field Trip Planner, 2008. Planned and led an academic field trip to Wyoming and Montana for a group of
16 graduate students.
Agassiz lecture committee member, 2008-2009. Worked as a group to organize a student-nominated visiting
lecturer for a week-long visit each semester.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Teaching Fellow, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 2007-2011
 Earth Resources and the Environment (Spring 2011, Spring 2009): Worked as a team to write new
labs, lead lab exercises, and grade assigned work. Planned and coordinated a new field trip to New York,
Pennsylvania, and New Jersey for the course and wrote the accompanying field guide. Taught 2 lab
sections of 14 students both times.
 Structural Geology (Fall 2009): Developed new labs, revised existing labs, and graded assigned work.
Coordinated a field trip to southern Vermont and New York. Taught lab sections.
 Natural Hazards (Fall 2007, Fall 2008): Collaborated with a group of teaching fellows to write problem
sets and exams, and grade assigned materials in this non-majors course. Conducted weekly lecture and
problem-solving sessions for two sections of 15 students each time and a guest lecture to 100 students.
Research Advisor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 2011
Advised an undergraduate student in a summer research project that used the discrete element modeling
approach to investigate the role of mechanical properties in fault-related folding as part of the Harvard
PRISE Undergraduate Research Program.
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HONORS AND AWARDS
AAPG Student Oral Presentation Finalist, June 2009
Harvard Bok Center Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, 2009, 2011
Goldwater Scholarship 2005, Phi Beta Kappa 2005, Omicron Delta Kappa 2006
American Institute for Professional Geologists Scholarship, 2005
Christian A. Johnson Fellow, R.E. Lee Research Program, 2004
George Washington Honors Scholar, Washington & Lee Univ. 2002-2006
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OUTREACH
Participation in the family lecture series with the Harvard Museum of Natural History
Science outreach with Gloucester Middle School
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SKILL SETS
Quantitative interpretation of complex structures in 2- and 3D seismic reflection data.
Detailed understanding of different kinematic fault-related folding models.
Discrete element modeling and other numerical modeling methods.
Structural field mapping and finite strain analysis.
Exposure to processing seismic reflection data, finite-element-based mechanical modeling, numerical
inverse methods, and modeling geodetic data.
Academic field trip planning and coordination.
SOFTWARE KNOWLEDGE
Matlab, Kingdom Suite, Landmark/Openworks Seisworks 2D and 3D, Particle Flow Code (PFC), ProMAX,
GoCAD Earth Decision Suite, Seismic Analysis Code (SAC), ArcGIS, and Unix.
PUBLICATIONS
Hughes, A.N., N.P. Benesh, and J.H. Shaw, Mechanical Conditions that Lead to the Transition between FaultBend and Fault-Propagation Folds: A Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) Approach (in prep).
Hughes, A.N., and J.H. Shaw, A Comparison of Mechanical Models of Emergent Contractional Fault-related
Folds, Kinematic Models, and Observations from Seismic Reflection Data (in prep).
Hughes, A.N., and J.H. Shaw, Fault Displacement-Distance Relationships as Indicators of Contractional Faultrelated Folding Style (in prep).
Hughes, A.N., Book Review of Structural Geology, Pure and Applied Geophysics, May 2011, DOI
10.1007/s00024-011-0305-3.
Warren, L.M., Hughes, A.N. and Silver, P.G., “Earthquake Mechanics and Deformation in the Tonga-Kermadec
Subduction Zone from Fault-Plane Orientations of Intermediate- and Deep-Focus Earthquakes,” Journal of
Geophysical Research, v. 112, B05314, doi:10.1029/2006JB004677, 2007.
FIELD GUIDES
Hughes, A.N., EPS 109 2011: Economic geology of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Northern New Jersey, 36 p.
Hughes, A.N. and H. Close, eds., 2008, Graduate Student Field trip to Northwestern Wyoming and Southwestern
Montana, Harvard University Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 104 p.
SELECTED ABSTRACTS AND PRESENTATIONS
Hughes, A.N., N. P. Benesh, R. Alt II, and J.H. Shaw, A Discrete Element Modeling Approach to exploring the
transition between fault-related folding styles, AGU Annual Conference, December, 2011, San Francisco, CA.
Hughes, A.N., N.P. Benesh, R.Alt II, and J.H. Shaw, Mechanical Modeling of Fault-propagation folds and
comparison with observations from seismic reflection data and analog models (oral), GSA Annual Meeting,
September, 2011, Minneapolis, MN.
Benesh, N.P., A.N. Hughes, R. Alt II, and J.H. Shaw, Mechanical basis of fault-bend folding (oral), GSA Annual
Meeting, September, 2011, Minneapolis, MN.
Hughes, A.N., and J.H. Shaw, Variations in slip as an Indicator of Fault-related folding Style (oral), AAPG
Annual Meeting, June, 2009, Denver, CO.
Connors, C.D., Levy, S. and Hughes, A.N. “Forward and Inverse Modeling of Fault-Bend Folding” AAPG
Annual Conference, April 2007, Long Beach, CA.
Hughes, A. N., Warren, L. M., Silver, P. G. “Do Old Faults Ever Die? Fault Plane Orientations of Intraslab
Earthquakes in the Tonga-Kermadec Subduction Zone,” American Geophysical Union Meeting (poster),
December 2005, San Francisco, CA.
Hughes, A. N., Bacastow, A. L., Hannah, P. T., Connors, C. D. “Quantifying Strain in the Blue Ridge Using
Skolithos as a Strain Marker,” National Conference on Undergraduate Research (poster), April 2005.
REFERENCES
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Dr. John H. Shaw (dissertation research advisor), Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard
University, 20 Oxford Street, Cambridge MA 02138 email: shaw@eps.harvard.edu
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Dr. Christopher Connors (B.S. thesis and research advisor), Washington and Lee Department of Geology,
Lexington, VA 24450 email: connorsc@wlu.edu
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Dr. Linda Warren (research advisor), Saint Louis University, Department of Earth and Atmospheric
Sciences, 3642 Lindell Blv., 202 O’Neill Hall, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108 email: lwarren8@slu.edu