I conduct research on the origin, development, and structural evolution of the continental crust. My research on the fundamental processes operating in the continental crust is driven by my deep interest in, and the challenges of, unraveling the architecture of the Earth in complexly deformed regions. I am currently working on two processes that have and continue to shape the history of the Earth, Intercontinental collision and Continental break-up. These events generate first-order changes in the distribution, size, and connectivity of continents and ocean basins and are therefore essential to our understanding of how the Earth works.

My contributions to our understanding of intercontinental collision and continental break-up address fundamental questions in the core specialties of tectonics, structural geology, and tectonic geomorphology. My studies are firmly rooted in, and highly dependent upon, field-based studies that focus on establishing the spatial and temporal distribution of deformation at regional and local scales. This geologic framework forms the foundation for my synthesis and interpretation of microstructural, multispectral and radar data, sedimentologic, geomorphic, tracer isotope and geochronologic data (U-Th-Pb, 40Ar/39Ar). GIS database building is a key part of my research activities and serves as the platform for synthesizing diverse data.