Cin-Ty A. Lee

BA UC Berkeley, Geology, 1996

PhD Harvard University, Geochemistry, 2001

Post-doctorate Caltech, 2001-2002

curriculum vitae

Google Scholar

ctlee@rice.edu;  713-348-5084

I am a geologist/petrologist/geochemist who investigates how our planet has evolved with time, from the deepest parts of the Earth's mantle to the continental crust and to the atmosphere.  I combine field mapping and sampling with state of the art analytical tools (mass spectrometry, x-ray spectrometry, electron probe microanalysis) and simple analytical and numerical modeling.  I have worked on continent formation and destruction, redox evolution of the Earth's interior, the origin of various ore deposits, the petrological structure of volcanic margins, and the origin of granites.  I also study the geochemical interactions between the deep Earth and oceans/atmospheres in order to better understand what controls long term climate evolution. I am currently working on crystal growth kinetics and how understanding rates of crystal growth can tell us more about the internal workings of volcanoes, how large gem quality minerals form, and how economic deposits of strategic metals form.

I also spend time doing research on birds. I work on bioacoustic monitoring of birds and other wildlife with a particular emphasis on tracking the migration of birds in the night, which is when most of the birds migrate. We have continuous monitoring stations and through a team of analysts, we are developing a record of migration, which will be useful for understanding the effects of land use and climate change on the natural environment. I am also working on a three part field guide series on the identification of North American flycatchers.

More details on my research interests can be found on my Research and Publications pages.

When I'm not doing geology, I am spending time with my wife and son. On my spare time, I am usually out looking for birds, bugs or plants in Houston and beyond, sitting in my studio painting and drawing, or writing/consulting about birds and the environment. I run two blogs. One is purely on Earth science and one is more free-form on anything related to natural history.  I also help my wife run a natural history design company. 

Take a look at my father's thoughts about growing up in Taiwan and immigrating to the United States at Wandering in Rock Country. I am an immigrant myself and am a proud citizen of the United States.