My research involves the study of topography and how it relates to lithospheric deformation. I look at the evolution of rivers and other landforms because these systems are a sensitive record of vertical movement of the Earth's surface caused by deformation. Sometimes this deformation occurs very deep in the Earth's crust or upper mantle making direct observation an impossible task. In order to study these deep processes, I develop ways of using topography as a proxy for motion at great depths beneath the continents. I use a variety of tools including field geology, GIS modeling, geodynamic modeling, and thermochronology.