Dr. ANDREW H. WULFF joined the WKU faculty in 2002 after being on the faculties of University of Iowa and Whittier College. He received his BA from Oberlin College, M.S. from University of Maryland, and PhD. from University of Massachusetts.

Prior to his academic appointments, he worked with the Maryland Geological Survey on projects ranging from mapping lands for potential mineral resource development to investigating strategic mineral abundances in offshore sediments and measurement of radon concentrations in soil. He has also worked for in the minerals exploration industry, primarily investigating disseminated gold deposits in igneous rocks.

Early research was centered on styles of structural deformation of liquid-crystal mushes, particularly in syn-orogenic plutons in northwestern Maine. He mapped the Sugarloaf gabbroic massif and modeled the petrogenesis of the gabbro-norite-troctolite-anorthosite bodies associated with the intrusion.

Recent research interests include the petrogenetic history of volcanic rocks in the Chilean Andes and Mojave Desert, the health effects of residential radon airborne particulate quartz dust, and connections to anthropology/archeology such as the sourcing of chert artifacts using trace element signatures, and the modeling paleoenvironments associated with early hominid finds in Java. More recent directions include ore petrogenesis and the use of dripwater chemistry (in particular at Diamond Caverns, KY) to investigate vadose zone plumbing and potential cave water contamination.

These research interests involve quantitative analysis of a wide variety of geological materials using XRF, XRD, ICP-MS, SEM and electron microprobe, and he is pleased to have both undergraduate and graduate students as colleagues in all aspects of these investigations.

Dr. Wulff also has a strong interest in developing innovative teaching strategies for all levels and is active in contributing to the earth science curricula in the local school district. He is active in training and leading workshops for pre-and in-service earth science teachers.

To date, Dr. Wulff has served as advisor for five undergraduate Honors students, and twenty eight undergraduate research projects. Students are expected to become proficient in analytical techniques, write grants, abstracts, and papers – and present research results at professional meetings. Students on these projects have so far received 42 grants from different sources.

You may contact Dr. Wulff at 270-745-5976; andrew.wulff@wku.edu