College of L&S, Geophysics
Leyla researches the enigmatic geologic and tectonic history of the West Coast of North America using the field of paleomagnetism. Referred to as the Western Cordillera, this region is comprised of multiple microplates that are believed to have been attached to the side of the continent over the course of millions of years. Paleomagnetism, the study of how certain minerals interact with and record the direction of Earth's magnetic field over time, allows us to explore how these terranes have moved or been deformed throughout geologic history.