Curriculum Vitae - Phillip H.
Larson
(Zion
(the dog) at the Minnesota River; See: Larson,
P.H., Dorn, R.I., Faulkner, D.J, Friend,
D.A. (2015). Toe-Cut Terraces: A Review and Criteria to
Differentiate from Traditional Fluvial Terraces.
Progress in Physical Geography. DOI:
10.1177/0309133315582045)
Curriculum
Vitae - Phillip H.
Larson
Phillip
H. Larson, Professor
Co-Director,
EARTH
Systems Laboratory
Minnesota
State University, Mankato
Graduate
Faculty/Adjunct Faculty
University
of Minnesota, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Email:
phillip.larson@mnsu.edu
Office:
5073892617
Website
(Personal): https://www.philliphlarson.com
Website
(Research Group): https://mnimorph.science/
BRIEF BIO:
I was born in Red Wing,
Minnesota, and was raised along the banks of the upper
Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The geography of
my upbringing resulted in a life-long interest in the
physical landscapes around me. This interest in our
planet and the landscapes around us was supercharged
during my childhood as a result of family vacations to
the canyons and incredible landscapes of the southwest
United States, high alpine landscapes of the Rocky
Mountains, and the beautiful juxtaposition of mountains,
volcanism, and coasts in the northwest United
States. Locations like Zion, Olympic, Mt. Rainier,
Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, and others,
instilled a deep appreciation and passion for these
places. Meanwhile, at home, I spent a large part of my
childhood observing and wondering about the landscapes
in the upper Midwest and enjoying the serenity and
beauty within them. Despite these experiences, I grew up
in a small town and had little understanding of science
or what careers exist within understanding our
environment. Upon graduating high school, like most in
my family before me, I worked in a factory (building
cast iron fire hydrants and valves). Creating things
with my hands and working my tail off on the assembly
line was, indeed, rewarding. But, I often found myself
desiring for something “more.” I decided to go
back to school as a first-generation student to see what
other opportunities were out there.
When I entered my undergraduate degree pursuits, first
at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and
finishing at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, I
initially found myself overwhelmed and confused about
how to determine a path in life. Thankfully, I
took introductory courses in Physical Geography and
Physical Geology and was encouraged by inspiring
professors that I, too, could be a geoscientist. It,
quite literally, blew my mind! And, suddenly, the
childhood passion for the landscapes and natural world
around me was rekindled, and it turned into a life-long
pursuit of learning, educating, and scientific research
in the geosciences. I continued these academic pursuits
into graduate work (both Master’s and Ph.D.) at Arizona
State - which was an incredible experience.
Today, I consider myself so incredibly fortunate to be
geoscientist - with profound and passionate interest in
using geomorphic systems to: 1) address fundamental
questions about earth surface processes, 2) understand
the impact climatic change (both past and present) has
on these systems, 3) understanding how environmental and
climatic variability impacts humanity in the present and
in the past (geoarcheology!), and 4) understand
anthropogenic activities and natural hazards impact
communities and the environment. I previously served as
the Director of Earth Science Programs (merged with
Geospatial Sciences to become Earth and Geospatial
Sciences Program in 2025), founded the AGES (now EARTH
Systems) Laboratory, and continue in my duties as
Professor in the Department of Anthropology and
Geography at Minnesota State, where I have taught
nearly thousands (~5,000 as of 2025) of students.
I am also Graduate Faculty in the Department of Earth
and Environmental Sciences at the University of
Minnesota-Twin Cities where I work closely with faculty
there and have worked with Dr. Andrew Wickert to found
our merged faculty-student research group – MNiMORPH (click
here
to learn more).
RESEARCH AND
TEACHING SYNOPSIS:
Summary of research interests:
Utilizing geomorphic systems and
earth surface processes to understand
climate/environment change (both past and
present), fluvial system and drainage basin
evolution, erosional (primarily fluvial processes) and
hillslope processes and hazards (e.g. landslides, debris
flows, rock falls, etc.), river/watershed science and
water resources, and human-environment interactions
(both past and present - have begun branching into
geoarcheology).
Skills/Methods utilized in research: I am
primarily a field-based and experimental geoscientist. I
typically compile field-collected data and incorporate
remotely sensed data to address scientific questions
and/or problems impacting humanity per the research
interests outlined above. I often utilize field
mapping/surveying, global navigation satellite systems,
ground penetrating radar, geochronologic methods (e.g.
optical stimulated luminescence, cosmogenic
radionuclides), sedimentologic and surficial geologic
observations and measurements (coring, mapping,
description, interpretation, geochemical fingerprinting,
particle size analysis), and geographic information
systems to compile field data with remotely sensed data
sets (e.g. LiDAR, satellite imagery). I am currently
working on professional growth into a new approach (for
me) to address questions/problems through implementation
of physical experiments/physical models in the
laboratory. I hope that this will become a significant
component of future research and teaching endeavors.
My research and
teaching interests are intertwined. At the most
fundamental level, I am guided by the philosophy of
being a “Teaching Scholar.” In the simplest
sense, this philosophy drives an approach of integrated
teaching, research, and student mentorship.
Integration begins through learner-centered, applied,
and experiential learning in teaching and mentorship,
both in direct-contact and virtual classrooms. I achieve
the learner-centered, applied, and experiential approach
by integrating my research, both theoretical and
applied, with classroom pedagogy and by supplementing
this with development of extracurricular mentoring and
research experiences with the students. In other
words, my research is my teaching and vice versa - they
are a "fused" endeavor. Students I work with, at
any level in their education, are engaged in real
problems, real questions, and real science - often
funded externally through state or federal-level
grants/contracts. They learn not only what we
know, as is traditionally pursued in the classroom via
lecture and/or a textbook, but they also learn how the
scientific process unfolds and obtain methodological
expertise through conducting the science themselves
under my guidance. In this way, I stay current,
while addressing important questions in my field. And,
often, this work serves the community by helping those
impacted by or impacting the natural world around them.
Importantly, through this, my students obtain a unique
and highly impactful experience that allows them to stay
at a competitive advantage in the workforce or to
progress further in academia when they graduate.
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS:
Professor of Geography, Earth Science
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN. 2021-Present
Graduate Faculty:
University
of Minnesota, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
2019-Present
Graduate Program Coordinator -
M.S. Geography:
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN. 2019-2021; 2024
Associate Professor of Geography, Earth Science:
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN. 2018-2021
Assistant Professor of Geography, Earth Science:
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN. 2013-2018
Director of Earth Science Programs:
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN. 2014-2025
(Program was merged into Earth and Geospatial Sciences
in 2025)
Founder and Co-Director, AGES Laboratory (now EARTH
Systems Laboratory)
Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN.
2016-2021.
Full Course Instructor:
School of Geographical Science and Urban Planning –
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. 2010-2013
Taught Geography 101 (Intro Physical Geography),
Geography 211 (Landform Processes)
Lead Graduate Teaching Assistant:
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning -
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. 2009-2013.
EDUCATION:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
in Geography, August 2013.
Arizona State University, School of Geographical
Sciences and Urban Planning, Tempe, AZ
Dissertation: “Desert
fluvial terraces and their relationship with basin
development in the Sonoran Desert, Basin and Range:
Case studies from south-central Arizona.”
Master of Arts (M.A.) in
Geography, May 2011
Arizona State University, School of Geographical
Sciences and Urban Planning, Tempe, AZ
Research Exam (Anthony J. Brazel
Award Winner 2010-2011)
Bailey Research Scholarship (2010)
Master's Research: "Landform development in the South Mountains
Metamorphic Core Complex."
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), University of Wisconsin - Eau
Claire
Major 1: Geography-Resource
Management (May 2008)
Major 2: Geology (August 2025)
JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS:
* denotes graduate student authors, authors in italics indicate
undergraduate
authors. TBS = to be submitted (author orders are
placeholders)
In Preparation:
Seong, Y.B., Skotnicki, S.J.,
Dorn, R.I., Schmeeckle, M., Larson,
P.H., Yong Yu, Byung, (TBS
Fall 2025). Initiation of exotic rivers across North
America’s Sonoran Desert. Nature.
*Shandonay, K.L., Senf, G. Bowen,
M.W., Larson, P.H., Running, G.L.
(TBS Fall 2025). Late Quaternary records of
environmental change in sand stringers of the upper
Midwest, USA. Boreas.
Swanson, M.*, Larson,
P.H., Wickert, A.W., Jennings, C.. (TBS
Spring 2026) . Hillslope processes,
characteristics, and hazards in proglacial flood derived
landscapes: Minnesota River Valley, USA. Landslides.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Being Revised, Submitted:
Larson, P.H., Dorn, R.I., Douglass, J.C., Rittenour, T.M., Seong, Y.B., Jeong, A. (being revised, TBS Spring 2025). Aggradational piracy as an underappreciated process of drainage integration and landscape evolution. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.
Larson, P.H., Millett, J.*, Running,
G.L., Faulkner, D.J., Rittenour, T., Burds, L.*,
Schirmer, R., Schaetzl, R. (being revised, TBS Summer
2025). The origin, geomorphology, and
paleoenvironmental significance of cliff-top dunes in
the upper Mississippi River basin: A review and case
study from the Chippewa River valley, Wisconsin,
USA. Quaternary Science Reviews.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Published or In Review:
*Penprase, S.B., Wilwerding,
A.C., McKenzie, M., Wickert, A.D., Larson,
P.H., Rittenour, T.M. (In Review,
2025). Slackwater sediments reveal time-variable glacial
meltwater routing down the Upper Mississippi River at
the Younger Dryas-Holocene transition. Climate
of the Past.
*Penprase, S., Wickert,
A., Larson, P.H., Wood, J., Larsen,
I., Rittenour, T. (2025). Plow vs. ice age: Erosion rate
variability from glacial-interglacial climate change is
an order of magnitude lower than agricultural erosion in
the upper Mississippi River Valley. Geology.
https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/doi/10.1130/G52585.1/653452/Plow-versus-Ice-Age-Erosion-rate-variability-from
Triplett,
L., Hammer, M.N., Delong, S.B., Gran, K.B., Jennings,
C.E., Engle, Z.T., Bartley, J.K., Blumentritt, D.J.,
Breckenridge, A.J., Day, S., Kohout, M.A., Larson,
P.H., Mcdermott, J.A., Richard, E.M. (2025).
Landslide occurrence and susceptibility dictated by
glacial activity and post-glacial fluvial network
development in Minnesota, USA. Natural
Hazards. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-025-07262-8
2023-2024: This gap is the result
of post viral and bacteria illness and recovery (Lyme
disease and COVID19 complications). Work continued on
grants, with students, and with conference
presentations (as seen elsewhere in the C.V.), but
mental and physical capacity was severely limited
during this time. Please ask if you have questions.
*Shandonay, K.L., Bowen, M.W., Larson, P.H., Running,
G.L., Rittenour, T., *Mataitis, R. (2022). Morphology
and stratigraphy of aeolian sand stringers in southeast
Minnesota and western Wisconsin, USA. Earth
Surface Processes and Landforms. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5428
Larson,
P.H., Dorn, R.I., Skotnicki, S.,
Seong, Y.B. Gootee, B. (2022). Drainage integration in
extensional tectonic settings and the revival of the
great rivers of Arizona. Geomorphology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.108082
Schaetzl, R., Running, G., Larson,
P.H., Rittennour, T., Yansa, C., Faulkner,
D. (2021). Luminescence dating of sand wedges
constrains the late Wisconsin permafrost interval in the
upper midwest, USA. Boreas. https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.12550
Larson,
P.H., Dorn, R.I., Skotnicki, S.,
Seong, Y.B., DePonty, J. (2020). Impact of drainage
integration on basin geomorphology and landform
evolution: Case study along the Salt and Verde Rivers of
the Sonoran Desert, USA. Geomorphology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107439
Skotnicki, S., Seong, Y.B., Dorn, R.I., Larson,
P.H., Deponty, J. (2020). Drainage
integration of the Salt and Verde Rivers in a Basin and
Range extensional landscape, central Arizona, USA. Geomorphology.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107512
*Hilgendorf, Z, *Wells, G., Larson,
P.H., *Millett, J., *Swanson, M. (2020).
From basins to rivers: Understanding the revitalization
and significance of top-down drainage integration
mechanisms in drainage basin evolution. Geomorphology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.107020
Dorn, R., Larson,
P.H. (2019). Forward: Episodic forward
prolongation of trunk channels in the Western United
States. Geomorphology, 343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.06.010
Oh, J.S., Seong, Y.B., Larson, P.H., Hong,
S.C., Yu, B.Y. (2019). Asymmetric hillslope retreat on
Rock Peak, San Tan Mountains, Arizona, USA: Assessing
caprock lithology control on landscape evolution. Annals
of the American Association of Geographers. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2019.1624421
Donovan, M., Belmont, P., Notebaert, B., Coombs,
T., Larson, P.H., Souffront, M.
(2019). Accounting
for uncertainty in measurements of river channel
migration. Earth Science Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.04.009
Schaetzl, R., Larson, P.H., Faulkner,
D.J., Running, G.L., Jol, H.M., and Rittenour T.
(2018). Eolian sand and loess deposits indicate
west-northwest paleowinds during the Late Pleistocene in
western Wisconsin, USA. Quaternary Research. 89:
769-785. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2017.88
Yuan, F., Larson, P.H., Mulvihill,
R., *Libby, D., Nelson, J., Grupa, T., Moore, R. (2017).
Mapping and Analyzing Stream Network Changes in Watonwan
River Watershed, Minnesota, USA. International
Journal of Geo-Information. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi6110369
Larson, P.H., Meek, N., Dorn, R.I., Douglass, J., Seong, Y.B.,
(2016). How Rivers Get Across Mountains: Transverse
Drainages. Annals of the American Association of
Geographers. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2016.1203283
Larson,
P.H., Kelley, S., Dorn, R.I.,
Seong Y.B. (2016). Pace of Landscape Change in the
northeastern Sonoran Desert, United States. Annals
of the American Association of Geographers. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2016.1201420
GK
GILBERT AWARD RECIPIENT – American Association of
Geographers Geomorphology Specialty Group:
Faulkner, D., Larson, P.H., Jol,
H.M., Running, G.L., Loope, H.M., and Goble, R.J.
(2016). Episodic Incision and Terrace Formation
Resulting from Abrupt Late-Glacial Base-Level Fall,
Lower Chippewa River, Wisconsin, USA. Geomorphology. 266:
75-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.04.016
Seong, Y.B., Larson, P.H., Dorn, R.I.
and Yu, B.Y. (2016). Evaluating process domains in small
arid granitic watersheds: Case study of Pima Wash, South
Mountains, Sonoran Desert, USA. Geomorphology.
255: 108-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.12.014
Larson, P.H., Dorn, R.I., Faulkner,
D.J, Friend, D.A. (2015). Toe-Cut Terraces: A Review and
Criteria to Differentiate from Traditional Fluvial
Terraces. Progress in Physical Geography. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133315582045
Larson, P.H. and Dorn, R.I. (2014).
Strath Development in Small Arid Watersheds: Case Study
of South Mountain, Sonoran Desert, Arizona. American
Journal of Science. 314: 1202-1223. https://doi.org/10.2475/08.2014.02
Larson, P.H., Dorn, R.I., *Palmer,
R.E., *Bowles, Z., *Harrison. E., *Kelley S.,
Schmeeckle, M. W., Douglass, J. (2014).
Pediment Response to Drainage Basin Evolution in
South-Central Arizona. Physical Geography. https://doi.org/10.1080/02723646.2014.931089
Dorn, R.I., Dorn, J., *Harrison, E., *Gutbrod, E., Gibson,
S., Larson, P.H.,
Cerveny, N., Lopat., N., Groom, K.M., Allen, C.D.
(2012). Case Hardening Vignettes from the Western USA:
Convergence of Form from a Divergence of Hardening
Processes. Association of Pacific Coast
Geographers Yearbook. 74: 112.
Larson, P.H. and Dorn, R.I. (2012).
Painting Yosemite Valley: A Case Study From the Rock
Coatings Encountered at Half Dome. Physical
Geography 33: 165-182. https://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3646.33.2.165
Larson, P.H., Dorn, R.I, Douglass, J.,
Gootee, B.F., Arrowsmith, R. (2010). Stewart Mountain
Terrace: A New Salt River Terrace with Implications for
Landscape Evolution of the Lower Salt River Valley,
Arizona. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy
of Science 42: 26-35. https://doi.org/10.2181/036.042.0105
PUBLISHED
DATA INVENTORIES, REPORTS
* denotes graduate student
authors, authors in italics indicate undergraduate
authors.
England, H.O., Brown,
A.B., Larson, P.H., Hilgendorf, Z.T.,
*Rowen, J.K. (2025). Whitewater River Planform Change
Analysis. University Digital Conservancy: Data
Repository for the University of Minnesota (DRUM).
Product of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on
Minnesota Resources - Environment and Natural Resources
Trust Fund project entitled: "Land-use and climate
impacts on Minnesota's Whitewater River"
https://conservancy.umn.edu/items/dc96bf08-6d6d-46b8-8f5f-8f0a941a7ac4
DeLong, S.B., Engle, Z.T., Hammer, M.N., Jennings, C.E.,
Gran, K.B., Bartley, J.K., Blumentritt, D.J.,
Breckenridge, A.J., Day, S., Larson, P.H.,
McDermott, J.A., Triplett, L.D., Wickert, A.D., Richard,
Emilie, M., *Swanson, M.A., Allison, M.,
Dahlseid, A., Dahly, D.T., Dean, B.A., Endres, M.,
Kurak, E., Link, S., Matti, B., Rehwinkel, R.W.,
Sockness, B., VanBerkel, J., Willard, J.G., and
Williams, A.B., (2021). Inventory of landslides in the
northwestern, northeastern, southern, and southeastern
parts of Minnesota: United States Geological Survey data
release. https://doi.org/10.5066/P94KF6OM
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/61439ca0d34e0df5fb951655
Larson, P.H., Belmont, P., Water Resources Center. (2018). Final Report - Minnesota River Invasive Carp Prevention Workplan: Minnesota DNR. Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council through Minnesota DNR - Minnesota River Invasive Carp Workplan.
https://geo.mnsu.edu/geo/DNR-InvasiveCarp/FinalReport-InvasiveCarpWorkplanFinal.docx (username: landforms ; password: rock)
BOOKS, BOOK CHAPTERS,
EDITOR/SPECIAL ISSUES:
* denotes graduate student authors, authors in italics indicate
undergraduate
authors
Larson, P.H., Ritter, M. (current) “The Physical
Environment.” 4th edition. Online digital textbook for
introduction to Physical Geography and Earth
Science. Utilized by introductory students at
Minnesota State and Arizona State.
Dorn, R.I., Larson,
P.H., Jeong, A. (in review, 2020-2024).
“Landforms on Faulted Rocks” in Essentials
of Geomorphology. Cambridge University Press.
Schaetzl, R., Marston, D., Eds.
Larson, P.H., Dorn, R.I., Seong, Y.B., Gootee, B. (2022).
Special Issue: "Drainage Integration in Extensional
Tectonic Terrains." Geomorphology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/geomorphology/special-issue/10769TKL6KQ
Hargitai, H. and Larson,
P.H. (2015). "Valley Terrace" in The
Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_629-1
Larson, P.H. and Dorn, R.I. (2015).
"Radiometric dating/techniques" in The
International Encyclopedia or Geography: People, the
Earth, Environment and Technology. Wiley
Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118786352.wbieg0077
Larson, P.H., *Harrison, E.J., and
*Palmer, E. (2013). "Introductory Physical Geography
Laboratory Manual", 10th edition, Hayden McNeil:
Michigan.
Larson, P.H. (2012). "Introductory
Physical Geography Laboratory Manual", 9th
edition, Hayden McNeil: Michigan.
NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS,
REPORTS, and/or PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS:
* denotes graduate student authors, authors in
non-bold italics indicate undergraduate
authors
(Invited: Session Recent
Advances in Glacial Geology, Geomorphology, and
Chronology) Larson, P.H., Rowen,
J.K., Breckenridge, A., Fischer, A., Seong, Y.B.,
Wickert, A.D., Olson, L., Hurner, N., England, H.,
Hilgendorf, Z. (2025). Revisiting the origins of
megaflood bedforms in rapidly draining glacial lake
basins: Insights from the Camas Prairie (Glacial Lake
Missoula) and Christmas Dunes (Glacial Lake Duluth).
Rowen, J. Larson, P.H.,
Olson, L., Hurner, N., Seong, Y.B., Laaksonen, M.,
England, H., Breckenridge, A., Hilgendorf, Z. (2025).
Revisiting megaflood landforms of the Camas Prairie and
the drainage of Glacial Lake Missoula, Montana, USA.
Abstracts with Programs: Geological Society of America
fall meeting.
England, H., Schirmer, R.C., Larson,
P.H., Fisher, B., Brown, A., Feinberg, J.M.
(2025). Characterizing anthropogenic impacts and
modification of soils to aid in interpreting shallow
geophysics in archeology. Abstracts with Programs:
Geological Society of America fall meeting.
Davis, J.T., Schirmer, R.C., Larson,
P.H., Brown, A.A. (2025). Comparing
geophysical methods in Archeology, an investigation of
burial mounds at 21GD72 The Belle Creek Site. Abstracts
with Programs: Geological Society of America fall
meeting.
Penprase, S. Wilwerding, A., McKenzie, M., Wickert, A., Larson
P., Rittenour T. (2024). Slackwater
sediments reveal time-variable glacial meltwater routing
down the upper Mississippi River at the Younger
Dryas-Holcene transition. Abstracts with Programs:
American Geophysical Union fall meeting.
Wickert, A.D., Clubb, F.J., Larson, P.H.,
Riedesel, S., Peffekover, A., Penprase, S.B., Rittenour,
T.M., Barefoot, E.A., Wood, J., Kuchta, M., Mitchell,
P., Hassenruck-Gudipati, H.J., Jones, J.C., Larsen,
I.C., Glade, I., Kurak, E., Schirmer, R.C., Jennings,
C.E. (2024). Meltwater floods and isostatic adjustment
shaped the Upper Mississippi Valley. Abstracts with
Programs: American Geophysical Union fall meeting.
Jones, J., Libby, D., England, H., *Rowen,
J., Larson, P., Hilgendorf, Z.,
Brown, A., Wickert, A. (2024). A Tale of Three Rivers:
Anthropogenic Influence and Planform Change Across
Scales in Minnesota, USA. Abstracts with Programs:
American Geophysical Union fall meeting.
*Penprase, P. Wilwerding, A., McKenzie, M., Wickert,
A., Larson, P.H., Rittenour, T.
(2024). Slackwater Sediments Reveal Time-Variable
Glacial Meltwater Routing Down the Upper Mississippi
River at the Younger Dryas–Holocene Transition.
Abstracts with Programs: American Geophysical Union fall
meeting.
*Delikowski, H., Larson,
P.H., Johnson, M., Wickert, A.,
Rittenour, T.M. (2024). Evidence for an outburst flood
drainage of Glacial Lake Grantsburg and its role in the
formation of the St. Croix River valley, WI/MN, USA.
Abstracts with Programs: Geological Society of America
fall meeting.
(https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2024AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/404426)
*Rowen, J.K., England, H.O., Larson,
P.H., Hilgendorf, Z., Brown, A., Wood,
J., Wickert, A. (2024). Assessing historical planform
channel change: Whitewater River basin, Minnesota, USA.
Abstracts with Programs: American Geophysical Union fall
meeting.
(https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2024AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/404247)
Senf. G., *Shandonay, K., Larson,
P. (2024). Distribution, chronology and
paleoenvironmental significance of aeolian sand
stringers beyond the ice margin, southeastern Minnesota
and western Wisconsin, USA. Abstracts with Programs:
Geological Society of America fall meeting.
(https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2024AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/402766)
*Delikowski, H., *Uchytil, G.,
*Rowen, J., *Fischer, A., Larson, P.H., Johnson,
M., Faulkner, D., Running, G., Rittenour, T., Wickert,
A., Brown, A., Hilgendorf, Z., Schirmer, R.
2024. Assessing the Role of Outburst Floods in the
Formation of the Lower St. Croix River Valley, USA.
Abstracts with Programs: European Geosciences Union
General Assembly 2024.
*Fischer, A., Susnik, C., Stafford, N.,
*Delikowski, H., *Rowen, J., Breckenridge, A., Larson,
P.H., Seong, Y.B., Faulkner, D.,
Ullman, D., Wickert, A., Barefoot, E., Brown, A.
2024. A Sedimentologic, Morphometric, and
Geochronologic Investigation of Ambiguous Dune-like
Landforms: An Indicator of Proglacial Lake Drainage in
the Lake Superior Basin, USA. Abstracts with
Programs: European Geosciences Union General Assembly
2024.
Wickert, A.D., Faulkner, D.J., Larson, P.H., Schildgen,
T.F.,
Turowski, J.M., Malatesta, L.C., Iscen, B.N., McNab, F.,
Hassenruck-Gudipati, H.J., Kwang, J.S. 2023. Geomorphic
Evolution During Rapid Alluvial River Incision.
Abstracts with Programs: American Geophysical Union fall
meeting.
(Invited) *Penprase, S, Wickert,
A., Larson, P., Larsen, I.,
Rittenour, T., Faulkner, D., Running, G. Using Paired
Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Cosmogenic Nuclide
10Be Dating to Understand Changes in Erosion Rate within
a Fill–Cut Terrace Sequence: Whitewater River,
Southeastern Minnesota, USA. 2022. Abstracts with
Programs: American Geophysical Union fall meeting.
*Penprase, S., Wickert, A., Larson, P.,
Faulkner D., Barefoot, E., Wood, J., Jones, J., Dunn,
C., Larsen, I., Rittenour, T., Running, G. 2022. Impacts
of Changing Climate and Glacially Driven Base Level on
an Upper Mississippi River Tributary During the Most
Recent Glacial–post-Glacial Transition. Abstracts with
Programs: American Geophysical Union fall meeting.
Wickert, A., *Jones, J., *Iscen, N.,
Hassenruck-Gudipati, H., *Libby, D., Larson,
P., Barnhart, K., Van Wyk de Vries, M. 2022.
Self-consistently simulating transient and steady-state
river-channel width. Abstracts with Programs: American
Geophysical Union fall meeting.
*Wood, J. Wickert, A. Larson, P.,
Ostermann, K., *Cervantes de Bois, C., Running, G,
Faulkner, D., Svien, L., Christianson, D., Thompson, B.
2022. Buried in Bluff Country: Reshaping southeastern
Minnesota's Whitewater River Valley (USA) Through
Catastrophe, Conservation, and Climate Change. Abstracts
with Programs: American Geophysical Union fall meeting.
Penprase, S., Wickert, A., Larson, P.,
Larsen, I.J., Rittenour, T. (2022). Using paired
Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Cosmogenic Nuclide
10Be Dating to understand changes in erosion rate within
a fill-cut terrace sequence: Whitewater River,
southeastern Minnesota, USA. Abstracts with Programs:
Geological Society of America fall meeting.
Wickert, A.D., *Jones, J.,
*Iscen, N., *Libby, D., Larson, P.H., Barnhart,
K.R., *Van Wyk de Vries, M.S., Dunn, C.N. (2021).
Transient width adjustments of straight river channels
with cohesive banks. Abstracts with Programs:
American Geophysical Union fall meeting.
*Penprase, S.B., Wickert,
A.D., Larson, P.H., Dunn, C.N.,
Bezada, M., Running, G.L., Faulkner, D.J., *Jones, J.,
Schewe, J. (2021). Characterizing River Profile,
Concavity, and Sediment Discharge Response to Changes in
Base Level across Timescales: Whitewater River,
Southeastern Minnesota, USA. Abstracts with Programs:
American Geophysical Union fall meeting.
Wickert, A.D., Clubb,
F.J., Larson, P.H., Glade, I. (2021).
Glacial isostatic deformation of the Last Glacial
Maximum Mississippi River terrace. Abstracts with
Programs: Joint Paleo Constraints on Sea Level Rise and
Solid Earth Response and Influence on Cryospheric
Evolution fall meeting.
*Shandonay, K., Bowen,
M.W., Larson, P.H., Running, G.L.,
Rittenour, T.M. (2021) Stratigraphic Investigations of
Aeolian Sand Stringers in Southeast Minnesota and
Western Wisconsin. Abstracts with Programs:
Geological Society of America fall meeting.
Wickert, A.D., Clubb, F.J., Larson, P.H.,
*Glade, I. (2021). Glacial isostatic deformation of the
Last Glacial Maximum Mississippi River terrace.
Abstracts with Programs: Joint Paleo Constraints on Sea
Level Rise and Solid Earth Response and Influence on
Cryospheric Evolution fall meeting.
Wickert, A.D., Schildgen, T.F.,
Tofelde, S., Savi, S., Rojo, Y., Fleagle, S.,
*Callaghan, K.L., Barnes, R., *Penprase, S.B., Larson,
P., Roth, D.L. (2020). Self-consistently
matching sediment supply, water discharge, and channel
slope: Lane's balance at the catchment scale. Abstracts
with Programs: American Geophysical Union fall meeting.
*Burds, L., Schirmer,
R.C., Larson, P.H., Running, G.L.,
Wickert, A.D., Brown, A., *Anton, A.T., *Wiitanen-Eggan,
A.K. (2020). Evaluation and application of geophysical
methods in identifying potential Native American earthen
mounds in the upper Mississippi basin, USA. Abstracts
with Programs: Geological Society of America annual
meeting. Connects Online.
*Shandonay, K.L., Bowen,
M.W., Larson, P.H., Running,
G.L. (2020). Stratigraphy and geomorphic
evolution of sand stringers in the upper Mississippi
River Basin. Abstracts with Programs: Geological Society
of America annual meeting. Connects Online.
Engle, Z.T., DeLong, S.B.,
Bartley, J.K., Blumentritt, D., Breckenridge, A.J., Day,
S.S., Gran, K.B., Jennings, C.E., Larson,
P.H., McDermott, J.A., Triplett, L.D.,
Wickert, A.D. (2020). Towards design of a landslide
inventory geodatabase for Minnesota. Abstracts with
Programs: Geological Society of America North-Central
annual meeting, Duluth, Minnesota.
Jennings, C.E., Gran, K.B.,
DeLong, S.B., Bartley, J.K., Blumentritt, D.,
Breckenridge, A.J., Dahly, D.T., Day, S.S., Engle, Z.,
Hammer, M., *Kurak, E., Larson, P.H.,
McDermott, J.A., Richard, E.M., *Swanson, M., Triplett,
L.D. (2020). A landslide inventory for Minnesota.
Abstracts with Programs: Geological Society of America
North-Central annual meeting, Duluth, Minnesota.
Schaetzl, R.J., Running,
G.L., Larson, P.H., Rittenour, T.M.
(2020). Sand wedges point to permafrost and
aeolian activity in the Chippewa Valley ca. 18-13 ka.
Abstracts with Programs: Geological Society of American
North-Central annual meeting, Duluth, Minnesota.
*Shandonay, K.L., *Mataitis,
R.J., *Burds, L., Larson, P.H.,
Bowen, M.W., Running, G.L., Schaetzl, R.J., Rittenour,
T. (2020). Geomorphology of aeolian sand stringers in
western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota. Abstracts
with Programs: Geological Society of American
North-Central annual meeting, Duluth, Minnesota.
*Burds, L., Larson,
P.H., Schirmer, R.C., Running, G.L.,
Faulkner, D.J., Rittenour, T., *Mataitis, R.J. (2020).
Aeolian geomorphology and geoarcheology of the Kiwanis
site, Chippewa River valley, Wisconsin. Abstracts with
Programs: Geological Society of American North-Central
annual meeting, Duluth, Minnesota.
*Gardner, D., *Penprase, S., Larson, P.H.,
Wickert, A.D., Faulkner, D.J., Blumentritt, D.,
Schirmer, R.C. (2020). Landscape evolution
and stream terraces of the Whitewater River valley,
Minnesota: Preliminary Results. Abstracts
with Programs: Geological Society of American
North-Central annual meeting, Duluth, Minnesota.
*Penprase, S.B., Wickert, A.D., Larson, P., Clubb,
F.J.,
*Kurak, E. (2019). Isolating climatic and glacial
impacts on river morphology: a paired-catchment study in
the upper Mississippi River watershed. Abstracts with
Programs: American Geophysical Union annual meeting, San
Francisco, California.
Faulkner, D.J., Larson,
P.H., Running, G.L., Jol, H.M. (2019).
The paraglacial lower Chippewa River, west-central
Wisocnsin, USA. Abstracts with Programs: Geological
Society of America annual meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.
Larson, P.H., *Millett, J., *Burds, L., *Mataitis, R.J.,
Running, G.L., Rittenour, T.M., Nelson, M.S., Schaetzl,
R.J., Faulkner, D.J., Schirmer, R.C. (2019). Defining
the geomorphology of cliff-top dunes: Case study of the
Chippewa River valley, WI, USA. Abstracts with Programs:
Geological Society of America annual meeting, Phoenix,
Arizona.
*Mataitis, R.J., Larson,
P.H., Running, G.L., Schaetzl, R.J.,
Bowen, M.W., Faulkner, D.J., Rittenour, T.M., Nelson,
M.S., *Burds, L., Schirmer, R.C. (2019). Revisiting the
distribution and geomorphology of sand stringers beyond
the ice margin. Abstracts with Programs: Geological
Society of America annual meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.
Schaetzl, R.J., Larson,
P.H., and Running, G.L. (2019). Dominance of
strong northwest winds across the midwest in the
postglacial period. Abstracts with Programs: Geological
Society of America annual meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.
Schaetzl, R.J., Running,
G.L., Larson, P.H., Rittenour,
T., Faulkner, D., Knauff, J., Baisch, C., and Kaplan, S.
(2019). Loess deposition and remobilization in an
ice-marginal landscape. Abstracts with Programs:
International Union of Quaternary Research annual
meeting, Dublin, Ireland.
Marcou, N., Slade, A.,
*Mataitis, R., *Millett, J., Larson, P.H., Faulkner,
D., Schaetzl, R., Running, G., Bowen, M. (2019). Sand
stringers of southeastern Minnesota and west-central
Wisconsin: A progress report. Abstracts with Programs:
American Association of Geographers annual meeting,
Washington D.C.
*Swanson, M., *Kuehl, K., Bergstrom-Conley, R.,
*Millett, J., Wickert, A., Jennings, C.,
Bowen, M., Larson, P.H. (2019).
Revisiting the post-glacial landscape evolution of the
Minnesota River valley: Preliminary Results.
Abstracts with Programs: American Association of
Geographers annual meeting, Washington D.C.
Faulkner, D., Larson, P., Adams,
H., *Kuehl, K., *Hilgendorf, Z., Jol, H., Running, G.
(2019).
The Chippewa River: Paragon of a Paraglacial Fluvial
System. Abstracts with Programs: American
Association of Geographers annual meeting, Washington
D.C.
Larson, P.H., Belmont, P., Water
Resources Center. (2018). Final Report - Minnesota River
Invasive Carp Prevention Workplan: Minnesota DNR.
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council through Minnesota
DNR - Minnesota River Invasive Carp Workplan.
*Oubre, M., Escobar, L., Larson, P. (2018). Habitat Suitability for Four
Species of Invasive Carp in the Minnesota River,
South-Central Minnesota, USA. Abstracts with Programs:
American Fisheries Society annual meeting, Atlantic
City, Spring 2018.
*Millett, J., *Anzalone, C., Coonen, K., Jansen,
E., Gardner, D., Larson, P.H., Running,
G., Faulkner, D., Schirmer, R. (2018). Sandy Aeolian
Deposition in Southeaster Minnesota and Western
Wisconsin: A Forgotten and Poorly Understood Sandy
Aeolian Landscape. Preliminary Results. Abstracts
with Programs: American Association of Geographers
annual conference, New Orleans, Spring 2018.
*Oubre, M., Escobar, L., Larson, P.,
Water Resources Center. (2017). A Framework for Moedling
the Risk of Biological Invasions. Abstracts with
Programs: American Fisheries Society annual conference,
Tampa Bay, Fall 2017.
*Oubre, M., Escobar, L., Larson, P.,
Water Resources Center. (2017). Predicting Invasion Risk
for Invasive Carp in the Minnesota River. Abstracts with
Programs: American Fisheries Society annual conference,
Tampa Bay, Fall 2017.
Yuan, F., Larson, P.H., Mulvihill,
R., Nelson, J., Grupa, T., Moore, R. (2017).
Stream Network Changes and Environmental Impacts in
Watonwan River Watershed. Abstracts with Programs:
American Association of Geographers annual conference,
Boston, Spring 2017.
Arnold, S., Brown, A., Larson, P.H.,
Schirmer, R.C. (2017). A machine-learning geospatial
methodology for identifying Native American burial
mounds and earthworks from high resolution LiDAR
datasets, Minnesota, USA: Implications for research in
Geoarcheology and Geomorphology. Abstracts with
Programs: American Association of Geographers annual
conference, Boston, Spring 2017.
*Hilgendorf, Z.T., Moore, R., *Swanson,
M., *Salfer, J.T., *Libby,
D., Larson, P.H., Richards,
M., Batzlaff, B. (2017). Refining and
evaluating a method of hydro-modification of LIDAR
derived DEMs in agricultural land-use dominated
watersheds. County Ditch 57 watershed, Minnesota, USA.
Abstracts with Programs: American Association of
Geographers annual conference, Boston, Spring
2017.
Yuan, F., *Mulvihill, R., Larson,
P.H., *Libby, D., and *Hilgendorf,
Z. (2016). Mapping and Analyzing Stream Network Changes
in Watonwan River Watershed. Minnesota GIS/LIS
Consortium Annual Meeting, Duluth, Fall 2016.
*Libby, D.J. and Larson, P.H. (2016).
Assessing Historical Planform Channel Change Within an
Altered Watershed: Minnesota River, Minnesota, USA.
Abstracts with Programs: Geological Society of America
annual conference, Denver, Fall 2016.
*Libby, D.J., Larson, P.H., *Hilgendorf,
Z., *Williams, V.A., *Chadwick-Camp,
M., Howell, D.W., Aeikens, A.L., Scheeler, D.J.,
Millett, J.J., and Rothmeier, K.P. (2016).
Assessing Error and Uncertainty in Remote Analysis of
Channel Change Dynamics and Morphology. Case Study:
Minnesota River, Minnesota, USA. Abstracts with
Programs: Association of American Geographers annual
conference, San Francisco, Spring 2016.
*Hilgendorf, Z., Larson, P.,
and Hoppie, B. (2016). Analysis of nonpoint source
pollution mitigation strategies within an agricultural
watershed: Cobb River watershed, Minnesota River Basin,
south-central Minnesota - Premliminary Results.
Abstracts with Programs: Association of American
Geographers annual conference, San Francisco, Spring
2016.
*Libby, D.J., Larson, P.H.,
Belmont, P., Faulkner, D.J. (2016). Quantifying Historic
Channel Change Dynamics of the Minnesota River,
south-central Minnesota, USA. Abstracts with Programs:
Association of American Geographers annual conference,
San Francisco, Spring 2016.
*Hilgendorf, Z., Larson, P. and
Hoppie, B. (2015). County Ditch 57: Understanding the
Implications of Intensive Agricultural Practices within
First-Order Drainages and their Effects on the Larger
System. Abstracts with Programs: Association of American
Geographers: West Lakes Regional Conference, Fall
2015
*Brown, A., *Smith, C., Schirmer, R.,
and Larson, P. (2015).
Archeology and Landscape
Geomorphology in Three Dimensions: Integrating
Photogrammetrically and LiDAR Derived Point Clouds for
Multi-Scale 3D Analysis. Abstracts with Programs:
Association of American Geographers annual conference,
Chicago, IL. Spring 2015.
*Smith, C., *Brown, A., Larson,
P.H, and Wittkop, C. (2015). The
Significance of Alluvial Fans in the Landscape Evolution
of the lower Minnesota River Valley: Preliminary
Results. Abstracts with Programs: Association of
American Geographers annual conference, Chicago, IL.
Spring 2015.
Williams, V. and Larson, P.H. (2014).
Geostatistical
and Geospatial Analysis of I/I into Wastewater Treatment
Infrastructure. Presented at the Association of American
Geographers annual conference, Tampa Bay, FL. Spring
2014.
Larson, P.H., Dorn, R.I., *Kelley, S.
(2013). Reconstructing Paleotopography, Geomorphic
Processes and Landscape Evolution in Response to
Drainage Basin Integration - Salt and Verde Rivers,
Basin and Range, Arizona: Preliminary Results. Abstracts
with Programs. Presented at the Geological Society of
America annual conference, Denver, CO. Fall 2013.
Larson, P.H. (2011). Landform and
Drainage Development in a Metamorphic Core Complex,
Basin and Range, South-Central Arizona. Abstracts
with Programs. Presented at the Association of
American Geographers annual conference, New York, NY.
Spring 2011.
Larson, P.H., Dorn, R., *Gutbrod,
E., Gibson, S., Harrison, E., Schmeeckle,
M. (2009). Introduction to Geomorphology: An Online SQ
Experience. Presented at the Assocation of American
Geographers annual conference, Las Vegas, NV. Spring
2009.
Olson, L.M., Larson, P.H.,
Hupy, J., Jol, H.M., Faulkner, D.J., Running, G.L.
(2007). Late Quaternary Eolian Dunes and Fluvial
Terraces of the Lower Chippewa River Valley. Presented
at the Association of American Geographers annual
conference, Boston, MA, Spring of 2008.
Larson, P.H., Dryer, W.P., Mc
Donald, J., Baker, A., Running, G.L.,
Faulkner, D.J., Jol, H.M.
(2007). Geomorphology of Cliff-Top Parabolic Dunes
within the Lower Chippewa River Valley, Upper Putnam
Park, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Presented at the
Association of American Geographers annual conference,
Boston, MA, Spring of 2008.
Larson, P.H., Mc Donald, J.M.,
Dryer, W.P., Pascal, E.G., Jol, H.M., Craig,
M., Warnke, D.A., Teitler, L., (2007). High
Resolution GPR Investigation of a Lake Manly Shoreline
Deposit, Death Valley, California. Presented at the
Geological Society of America annual conference, Denver,
CO, fall 2007.
Speer, D.M., Larson, P.H., Faulkner,
D.J., Running, G.L., Jol, H.M., (2007).
Post-Glacial History of the Lower Chippewa River,
Western Wisconsin: A Progress Report. Presented at the
Association of American Geographers annual conference,
San Francisco, CA, spring 2007.
HIGHER EDUCATION TEACHING
EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE:
Minnesota State University – Courses
Geog101 - Introduction to Physical Geography (GE-3;
GE-10 @ MNSU) (online and in-person)
Geog313 - Natural Disasters (GE-2 @ MNSU)
Geog315 - Geomorphology
Geog409/509 - Water Resources
Geog440/540 - Field Methods
Geog440 - Physical and Cultural Landscapes of Hawai'i (study away field course on Hawai'i Island)
Geog440 - Variable titles - focused on
environmental issues, geoscience, and geoarcheology in
the Southwest (study away field course in
Arizona/Utah)
Geog416W/516 - Fluvial Geomorphology and Hydrology
(Writing Intensive)
Geog417/517 - Quaternary Environments and Climate Change
Geog500 - Geomorphology &
Earth Surface Processes
Geog610 – Advanced Geomorphology and
Geoarcheology/Desert Geomorphology/Arid
Environments
Geog610 – Issues in Physical
Geography
Geog677 – Advanced Fluvial Geomorphology/Sediment
Transport
Arizona State University
- Courses
GPH 211-Landform Processes (online)
GPH 111-Introduction to Physical Geography
K-12 Outreach/Service
AVID tutor (Math and Science)-
Connolly Middle School, Tempe, AZ
Arizona Geographic Alliance Summer Workshop
Co-Instructor
National Geographic Geography Bee Judge (Minnesota State
Championship 2017)
Director of Earth Science Programs/Earth Science Ed
Major, Minnesota State University (2014-present)
Earth-Space Science Teaching Reaccreditation (EPPAS),
Minnesota State University (2016, 2018, 2020, 2023)
University, Community, and
Discipline-Focused Service
Director of Earth Science
Programs, Minnesota State University (2014-2025)
Co-Director and Founder of AGES
(now EARTH Systems) Laboratory (2016-present)
Created Geomorphology &
Earth Surface Processes Certificate in Earth Science
Prog. (2018)
Collaboratively Created
Geoarcheology Certificate in Anthropology Program
(2018)
Graduate Program Coordinator,
Geography (2019-2021; 2024)
Graduate Faculty, University of
Minnesota (2019-present)
Serving as co-advisor/committee
member for PhD students at premiere research institution
in the state of Minnesota
Southern Minnesota Landslide
Hazards Research and Outreach (2017-present)
Minnesota River Basin Invasive
Carp Research and Outreach (2015-2019)
Curriculum Restructuring for
Earth Science and Geography B.S. (2019-2020)
Led the redesign of the entire
Geography B.S. and Earth Science B.S. to make degrees
more inclusive, flexible, and contemporary to the
science of today
Applied for and Offered Study
Away Courses for Students:
Geog 416W/516: Fluvial
Geomorphology and Hydrology
Geog 440: Hawai'i; Southwest USA
Geog 610: Advanced Geomorphology
and Geoarcheology/Desert Geomorphology/Arid Environments
Served on and co-led Hiring
Committee for Soils Geomorphologist position in
Geography
Hosting, updating, and
maintaining “The Physical Environment” digital
intro-physical geography textbook. This is
offered to students free of charge at several
universities. See book publications above.
Served on Research committee with in Social and
Behavioral Sciences at MNSU
HONORS/AWARDS:
Distinguished Faculty Scholar (2025) – Minnesota
State University, Mankato: Awarded to tenured
faculty whose cumulative body of scholarly achievement
warrants distinction
Douglas R. Moore Research
Lectureship (2022) - Minnesota State
University, Mankato: Most prestigious research award for
a singular research topic conferred by Minnesota State
University, Mankato
GK Gilbert Award for
Excellence in Geomorphological Research (2019)
– American Association of Geographers, Geomorphology
Specialty Group (Faulkner et al., 2016)
Dr. Duane Orr Teacher of the
Year Award Nomination (2018) - Minnesota State
University Student Association
Advisor Recognition Award
Nomination (2018; not
eligible to win because of prior win) - Minnesota
State University
Presidential Teaching Scholar
Fellowship (2016) - Minnesota State
University: Awarded to a selected proposal that enhances
teaching and learning at Minnesota State University,
Mankato
Advisor Recognition Award (2016) - Minnesota State
University
Innovation with Technology
Award (2015) – Minnesota
State University
Anthony J. Brazel Research
Exam Award (2010-2011) – Arizona
State University
Mathew G. Bailey Scholarship
Award (2010) – Arizona State
University
Undergraduate Excellence in
Research Award (2008) – University of
Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Eau
Claire Outstanding Senior Award (2008)
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
INVITED TALKS:
·
Geological Society of
America Annual Meeting - Topical Session: Recent Advances in Glacial
Geology, Geomorphology, and Chronology. Revisiting
the origins of megaflood bedforms in rapidly
draining glacial lake basins: Insights from the
Camas Prairie (Glacial Lake Missoula) and
Christmas Dunes (Glacial Lake Duluth) (Oct
2025)
·
Earth Science Seminar Series. University
of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Proglacial Lake Drainage
and its Geomorphic Impact: Comparing Lake Duluth to
Lake Missoula (Sept 12, 2025)
·
Douglas R. Moore Research Lectureship (2022): https://president.mnsu.edu/faculty-research-lecture/:
Minnesota State University, Mankato. How Rivers Are
Born and Evolve: A Paradigm Shift in Earth Science.
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyFJDHT574Q
· Earth
Science Seminar Series. University of Wisconsin-Eau
Claire. From Bathtub to Base-level: Origin of
Through-Flowing Drainages in Extensional Tectonic
Landscapes Part 2 (April 9th, 2021)
· Earth
Surface
Camaraderie. Colorado School of Mines and University of
Minnesota Earth Surface Group. Drainage
Integration in Extensional Tectonic Terrains (Talk #1)
and The Pediment Problem (Talk #2) (2020)
· Department
of
Earth & Environmental Sciences Seminar. University
of Minnesota-Duluth. From Bathtub to Base-level:
Origin of Through-Flowing Drainages in Extensional
Tectonic Landscapes (2020)
· Soft
Rock
Lecture Series. University of Minnesota, Department of
Earth Sciences. Revival of the Great
Rivers of Arizona (2019)
· Minnesota
State
University Geography Colloquia Series Talk: A
River Runs Through It: Creating Rivers in the Basin
and Range, pt. 2 (2015)
· Midwest
Undergraduate
Geography Symposium. Gustavus Adolphus. Keynote
Address: A River Runs Through It: Creating
Rivers in the Basin and Range. (2015)
· Minnesota
State
University Geography Colloquia Series: Bedrock
Strath Development in Small Arid Watersheds (2013)
· Earth
Science
Seminar Series - University of Wisconsin Eau
Claire: Implications of Strath Development and
Landscape Evolution in Small Arid Watersheds: South
Mountain, AZ. (2013)
MEDIA/PUBLIC
RELATIONS:
Associated
Press
https://apnews.com/general-news-cb76032281504eadb26c9e941dc6524e
CBS News
Claims
Journal
https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/midwest/2018/11/26/287989.htm
KEYC News
Now (local television):
https://www.keyc.com/2025/03/04/local-waterways-subject-pollution-erosion-studies/
KEYC News
Now (local television):
https://www.keyc.com/2024/06/28/experts-explain-why-loose-soil-created-perfect-storm-rapidan-dam/
Minnesota
Public Radio:
Minnesota
Public Radio:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/09/15/climate-change-is-causing-more-landslides-in-minnesota
Minneapolis
Star Tribune:
Minneapolis
Star Tribune:
https://www.startribune.com/mankato-neighborhood-balks-at-tax-hike-to-fix-ravine-drainage/533007242
Mankato
Free Press:
Mankato
Free Press:
Mankato
Free Press:
Mankato
Free Press:
Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel:
Wisconsin
Public Radio
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
· Member,
American
Geophysical Union
· Member,
Geological
Society of America
· Member,
European
Geosciences Union
.
Member,
American Association of Geographers
EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL
RESEARCH FUNDING:
(in preparation) National
Science Foundation: Mid-Career Advancement Award - ~$250,000 -
Tentative Title: Drainage integration: A fundamental
mechanism of reshaping Planetary Surfaces. PI- Phillip
Larson.
(in preparation) National Science Foundation - Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft collaborative proposal - $~1,000,000
- Tentative Title: TBD (investigating spatial controls
on optical stimulated luminescence signatures within a
drainage basin). Andrew Wickert (University of
Minnesota), Svenja Riedesel (University of Cologne), Phillip
Larson
(in preparation) LCCMR
- ENRTF - ~$299,000 - Tentative
Title: Advancing awareness and education of
the geoscience of Minnesota's public lands. PI - Phillip
Larson; Subcontract PI - Andrew Wickert
(University of Minnesota)
(in preparation) LCCMR
- ENRTF
(rejected, 2025) Environment
and Natural Resources Trust Fund - $305,904.
Forecasting Floodplain and River-Channel Change. PI:
Andrew Wickert (Lead), Judy Yang, Jeffrey Marr (Co-PI)
University of Minnesota. Subcontract PI: Phillip
Larson (Minnesota State University,
Mankato). MSU Total: $133,531
(rejected, 2025) Environment
and Natural Resources Trust Fund - $1,892,000. Dam
Failure: Understanding Consequences for Nutrients and
Sediments. PI: Christine Dolph (Lead), Diana Karwan,
Andrew Wickert, Jaques Finlay (Co-PI) University of
Minnesota; Subcontract PI: Phillip Larson (Minnesota
State University, Mankato); Subcontract PI: United
States Geological Survey; Subcontract PI: Freshwater
Society; Subcontract PI: Zachary Hilgendorf
(University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire); Subcontract PI:
Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories. MSU
Total: $251,129.
(rejected, 2024) United States
Geological Survey: Federal Interagency Sedimentation
Project. The influence of particle shape on grain size
distribution analysis using laser diffraction.
University of Minnesota - Jessica Margraff (PI),
Andrew Wickert (Co-PI); Minnesota State, Mankato
- Phillip Larson, Mark Bowen
(Institutional PIs). MSU Total: $14,858
(2024) Faculty Research Grant (MSU) - $6,000 -
Understanding the Process and Impact of Glacial Lake
Outburst Floods (Jokulhaups). A Geophysical,
Geomorphologic, Geochronologic, and Geospatial Analysis
of Glacial Lake Missoula Floods in Camas Prairie, MT. PI
- Phillip Larson
(2024) National Science Foundation: RAPID GLD -
Collaborative Research: RAPID: Quantifying the fluvial
geomorphic response of the Blue Earth River to a
catastrophic avulsive dam failure, Rapidan Dam,
Minnesota. UW-Eau Claire - Zachary Hilgendorf (Lead);
Minnesota State, Mankato - Phillip Larson (Institutional
PI); University of Minnesota - Andrew Wickert
(Institutional PI). MSU Total: $26,558
(2023) McFarlane Consulting, LLC
- $39,888.41. Big Elk Lake Park Development Geophysical
Investigation. PI- Ron Schirmer, Project Director – Andy
Brown, Co-PI -Phillip Larson. MSU Total: $39,888.41
(2022) National Science Foundation: FRES (Frontier
Research in Earth Sciences) - $2,795,159 - Collaborative
Research: Lake Superior basin: Natural geomorphic
experiment, deepwater-terminating ice stream, and
isostatically adjusting rift. PI's: Univ. of
Minnesota - Andy Wickert (Lead), Karen Gran (Co-PI),
Maximilliano Bezada (Co-PI), Keisha Varma (Co-PI);
Minnesota State, Mankato - Phillip Larson (Institutional
PI); Harvard - Jerry Mitrovica (Institutional PI);
UW-Superior - Andy Breckenridge (Institutional PI);
UW-Madison - Luke Zoet (Co-PI), Marianne Haseloff
(Institutional PI). MSU Total: $705,829
(2022) Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund -
$199,000 - Land-use and climate impacts on Minnesota's
Whitewater River. PI - Andy Wickert (UMN); Subcontract
PIs: Phillip Larson (Minnesota State,
Mankato), Dylan Blumentritt (Winona St.); Collaborators:
Lawerence Svien (Minnesota board of Water and Soil
Resources), Sara Holger (Minnesota DNR). MSU
Total: $85,000
(2019) Global Education Faculty Curriculum Development
Grant (MSU) - $2000 - Climate change
research and training driven pedagogical development for
Geography 101, Geog 417/517, and potential new study
abroad exploration - Patagonia, Argentina. (PI - Phillip
Larson)
(2019) Faculty Improvement Grant (MSU) - $2732 -
Training and Research in Solid Earth response of the
Patagonian Andes to post-Little Ice Age glacial retreat.
PI - Phillip Larson
(rejected, 2019) Uncovering links between hydrology,
geomorphology, and aquatic ecology on the Chippewa
River, Wisconsin. United States Geological
Survey. PI- Andy Wickert (UMN), Co-PI- Phillip
Larson. Co-PI- Doug Faulkner (UWEC). Co-PI-
Jeffrey Ziegeweid (USGS). MSU Total: $93,231.
(rejected, 2019) A new template for integrated
watershed-, reach-, and point-scale monitoring of
catchment function through open-source
technology. Department of Energy. PI- Andy
Wickert (UMN), Co-PI- Phillip Larson. MSU
Total: $65,831.
(2017) Landslide Hazards and Impacts on Minnesota's
Natural Environment. Environmental and Natural
Resources Trust Fund (Legislative-Citizen Commission on
Minnesota Resources) – Proposal Total: $500,000. PI- Dr.
Karen Gran (U of Minnesota – Duluth), Dr. Andrew Wickert
(U of Minnesota), Dr. Carrie Jennings (Freshwater
Society, U of Minnesota), Co-PI - Phillip Larson.
MSU Total: $51,964.
(2016) Presidential Teaching Scholar Fellowship (MSU)
- $7,300, PI- Phillip Larson
(2015) Faculty Research Grant (MSU) - $4,900 -
Cosmogenic Nuclide Dating of basin sediment cores,
Arizona. PI - Phillip Larson
(2015)
Minnesota DNR - Invasive Carp/Minnesota River
Geomorphology Project - $424,928 –
Geomorphic/Riparian
analysis of the Minnesota River and floodplain change
history. (Project Director and PI - Phillip
Larson, Co-PI – MSU Water Resources Center;
Subcontract - Patrick Belmont (Utah State)).
(2014) School of Social and Behavior Sciences Special
Funding (MSU) - $3,000 -
Cosmogenic Nuclide Dating in the Salt and Verde
River Valley, AZ. PI - Phillip Larson
(2014) Faculty Improvement Grant (MSU)- $2,500 -
Professional development - Optical Stimulating
Luminescence at Utah State University. PI- Phillip
Larson
(2014) Faculty Research Grant (MSU)- $5,000 -
Optical Stimulated Luminescence dating of fluvial
terraces and aeolian dunes in the Chippewa River Valley,
WI (PI - Phillip Larson). (2011) Mathew G. Bailey
Scholarship Award (ASU) - ~$800 - Field
work on the Salt and Verde River Valleys. (PI -
Phillip Larson)
GRADUATE STUDENTS
SUPERVISED (committee chair unless
otherwise noted)
|
Student - Thesis research chair/advisor
unless otherwise noted |
Undergraduate
Institution |
Thesis Research |
Year Graduated |
Current Position |
|
Carson A. Smith |
Gustavus Adolphus
(Geology) |
Floodplain Inundation
Mapping: An Evaluation of Geospatial Tools on
the Minnesota River, MN. |
2013 - 2016 |
|
|
Andrew Brown |
Minnesota State
University (Anthropology) |
MAID – Minnesota
Archeological Integrated Database |
2014 – 2016 |
EARTH Systems Laboratory
Geospatial Data Research Manager |
|
Devon Libby |
Minnesota State
University (Geography) |
Assessing Historical
Planform Channel Change in an Altered Watershed
with Quantification of Error and Uncertinaty
Present in a GIS/Aerial Photograph-based
Analysis; Case Study: Minnesota River,
Minnesota, USA. |
2014 – 2018 |
|
|
Vinson Williams |
Minnesota State
University (Geography) |
A Geospatial Approach to
Assessing I/I in Wastewater Infrastructure: Case
Study of Minneapolis/St Paul, MN. |
2015 – 2017 |
|
|
Zach Hilgendorf |
University of
Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Geography) |
The Efficacy of Best
Management Practices on Peak Discharge and
Contaminant Loads in Agricultural Drainage
Systems, Blue Earth River Watershed,
South-Central Minnesota, USA. |
2015 - 2018 |
|
|
Melissa Oubre |
Arizona State University
(Geography) |
Predicting Invasive Carp
Habitat Suitability in the Minnesota River
Basin, Minnesota. |
2015 - 2018 |
PhD Student - Bowling
Green (Fall, 2018) |
|
Jason Millett |
Minnesota State
University (Geography) |
Cliff-Top Dunes in the
Lower Chippewa River Valley of West-Central
Wisconsin |
2017 - 2019 |
|
|
Kira Kuehl |
University of
Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Geography) |
Non-thesis (APP) Single-Grain Optical
Stimulated Luminescence Dating at Cambria Pit,
Minnesota River Valley, Minnesota, USA |
2017 - 2020 |
|
|
Melissa Kohout/Swanson |
Minnesota State
University (Earth Science) |
Mass Wasting
Investigation and Assessment in the Midwest:
Case Study of the Minnesota River Valley, New
Ulm to St. Peter, Minnesota, USA |
2017 - 2019 |
|
|
Ricky Mataitis |
University of
Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Geology) |
Distribution,
Geomorphology and Significance of Sand Stringers
in west-central Wisconsin and southern
Minnesota, USA. |
2018 - 2020 |
Magee
Geophysical Services (Reno,
NV) |
|
Luke Burds |
University of
Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Geography) |
The Kiwanis Site: A
Multi-Method Geophysical Approach to
Investigating Mound Features |
2018 – 2021 |
|
|
Alec Anton |
|
|
|
State of South Dakota -
Archeologist |
|
Kenzie Shandonay |
University of
Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Geography) |
Aeolian Sand Stringers
in the Upper Midwest, USA: Morphology,
Stratigraphy, and Paleoenvironmental
Significance. |
2019-2021 |
Normandale
Community College |
|
Owen Lott
|
Minnesota State
University (Earth Science) |
Comparative Analysis of
Water Quality Monitoring Procedures in Small
Minnesota Lake Systems, Bass Lake Watershed,
South-Central Minnesota |
2019-2021 |
Johnson Outdoors |
|
Shanti Penprase
|
Carleton College
(Geology) |
Sediment, water, change:
post-glacial to post-agricultural evolution of
river systems in the Upper Mississippi River
Valley |
2024 (Earth
and Environmental Sciences) |
Post
Doc - Dartmouth |
|
Nilay Iscen |
Middle East Technical
University (M.S., B.S.)
|
TBD |
Current |
PhD Student - University
of Minnesota |
|
Jimmy Wood (Co-advised with Andrew
Wickert, University of Minnesota)
|
University of
Nebraska-Omaha |
Buried in bluff country:
Stream and valley sedimentation in the
Whitewater River Valley, Minnesota (USA) |
2022-2024 |
National Park Service |
|
Hunter Delikowski |
University of Wisconsin
– Eau Claire |
Post-glacial Landscape
Evolution of the Lower St. Croix River Valley:
The Enigma of Glacial Lake Grantsburg, the
Osceola Bench, and the St. Croix Dells. |
2022-2024 |
Schnabel Engineering (Geophysics) |
|
Abi Fisher |
University of Wisconsin
– Eau Claire |
Geomorphology,
Sedimentology, and Depositional Chronology of
the Christmas Dunes and their Implications for
Proglacial Lake Drainage in the Lake Superior
Basin |
2022-2024 (Geography) |
--- |
|
Madie Laaksonen |
St. Norbert |
Geomorphology
and Landscape Evolution of the Brule Spillway of
Glacial Lake Duluth, WI, USA. (tentative title) |
2023-2025 (Geography) |
Fixed Term Faculty at
Minnesota State University, Mankato |
|
Jayda Rowen |
Minnesota State
University (Earth Science) |
Geomorphology and
Sedimentology of Megaflood landforms:
Comparative Study of Proglacial Lake Drainage in
the Camas Prairie and Christmas Dunes (tentative
title) |
2024-current (Geography) |
M.S. Student - MNSU |
|
Emma Trettin |
UW-La Crosse |
Flood
conveyance capacity change on the Whitewater
River, MN, USA. (tentative title) |
2024-current (Geography)
|
M.S.
Student - MNSU |
|
Ella Gould |
University of Wisconsin
– Eau Claire |
TBD |
Spring 2026-current |
M.S. Student -
MNSU |
