Dr. Bryce Willems
Dr. Willems in the Field
Professional Background
Dr. Willems received a B.S. degree in Geology from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois in 2002. In 2004 he completed a M.S. degree in Hydrogeology at Illinois State University under the supervision of Dr. David Malone and in 2009 he received his PhD in Geology from Northern Illinois University under the supervision of Dr. Ross Powell. Dr. Willems’ M.S. thesis was on the geology and hydrogeology of the Ticona Channel, a glacially buried valley in central Illinois. His PhD dissertation dealt with the glacial and climatic history of the south-central coastal region of Alaska.
Research
Dr. Willems is interested in multiple aspects of marine and terrestrial glacial strata. He has most recently utilized high-resolution seismic reflection data to constrain glacial dynamics along the south-central coast of Alaska. He is also interested in aquifer and groundwater flow characteristics of glacial aquifers, such as the Cook Inlet Aquifer System. Dr. Willems utilizes a variety of research methods, including traditional sedimentologic, stratigraphic, and hydrologic field practices as well as shallow geophysical techniques.
Selected Publications
- Willems, B.A., Powell, R.D., Cowan, E.A., and Jaeger, J.M., (in prep), Glacial outburst flood sediments within Disenchantment Bay, Alaska: implications of recognizing marine jökulhlaup deposits inthe stratigraphic record.
- Cowan, E.A., Seramur, K.C., Willems, B.A., Powell, R.D., Gulick, S.P.S., and Jaeger, J.M., (in press), Fjords as Temporary Sediment Traps: History of Glacial Erosion and Deposition in Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park, Southeastern Alaska; Geological Society of America Bulletin.
- Berger, A.L., Gulick, S.P.S., Spotila, J.A., Jaeger, J.M., Chapman, J.B., Lowe, L.A., Pavlis, T.L., Ridgway, K.R., Willems, B., and McAleer, R., (2008), Quaternary Tectonic Response to Intensified Glacial Erosion in an Orogenic Wedge; Nature Geoscience, v. 1, p. 793 - 799 (Online: 26 Oct 2008).
- Willems, B.A., Malone, D.H., Pugin, A., 2007, Geologic Characteristics of the Central Stretch of the Ticona Channel, North-Central Illinois; Environmental Geosciences, v. 14, no. 3, p. 123-136.