D.

Sarah Stamps, PhD

NSF EAR Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Assistant Adjunct Professor
National Geographic Explorer

University of California, Los Angeles

Geology Building, 3687A
dstamps@ucla.edu
cell: 901-825-8653

SUMMARY
My broad research interests include lithospheric dynamics, mantle-lithosphere interactions, and
active tectonics that I investigate by (1) collecting and analyzing high precision GPS
observations and (2) using modern numerical methods for computational modeling of
geophysical processes. Presently my work addresses problems continental rifting, volcanic
deformation, and post-seismic processes.
EDUCATION AND POSITIONS HELD
Assistant Adjunct Professor
UCLA
07/2014 -present
NSF EAR Postdoctoral Research Fellow
UCLA
06/2014- present
NSF EAR Postdoctoral Research Fellow
MIT
06/2013 - present
PhD, Geophysics/Geodesy
Purdue University
05/2013
Bachelor of Science, Earth Science
The University of Memphis
12/2007
Magna Cum Laude with Honors Thesis
major: geology minor: mathematics
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS AND DATA PRODUCTS (citations = 246 H-index=4)
1. Sachau, T., D. Koehn, D.S. Stamps, M. Lindenfield, (in review), Fault kinematics and
stress fields in the Rwenzori mountains, Uganda, Int. Jrl. Earth Sci. Special Publication
on the Rwenzori Mountains.
2. Stamps, D.S., G. Iaffaldano, E. Calais (2015), Role of mantle flow in Nubia-Somalia
divergence, Geophy. Res. Lett.
3. Stamps, D.S., L.M. Flesch, E. Calais, A. Ghosh (2014), Current kinematics and
dynamics of Africa and the East African Rift, Jrl. Geophy. Res.,
doi: 10.1002/2013JB010717.
4. Saria, E., E. Calais, D.S. Stamps, D. Delvaux, C.J.H. Hartnady (2014), Present-day
kinematics of the East African Rift, Jrl. Geophy. Res., doi: 10.1002/2013JB010901.
5. Fernandes, R., Miranda, J. M., Delvaux, D., D.S., Stamps, E. Saria (2013), Re-evaluation
of the kinematics of Victoria Plate using continuous GNSS data, Geophys J Int., doi:
10.1093/gji/ggs071.
6. Stamps D.S., (2012), Madagascar Uganda 2012: Madagascar 2012, UNAVCO, GPS
Data Set, doi:10.7283/T5HX19S6
7. Calais E., Stamps D.S., (2012), Madagascar Uganda 2012: Uganda 2012, UNAVCO,
GPS Data Set, doi:10.7283/T5HX19S6
8. Stamps, D.S., (2010), Tanzania Madagascar Uganda 2010: Madagascar, UNAVCO, GPS
Data Set, doi:10.7283/T5000052

 D. Sarah Stamps, PhD

NSF EAR Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Assistant Adjunct Professor
National Geographic Explorer

9. Stamps, D.S., L.M. Flesch, E.Calais (2010), Lithospheric buoyancy stresses in Africa
from a thin sheet approach, Int. Jrl. Earth Sci., Special Publication on Continents in
Extension, 99(7), doi: 10.1007/s00531-010-0533-2.
10. Calais, E., N. dOreye, J. Alberic, A. Deschamps, D. Delvaux, J. Deverchere, C. Ebinger,
R.W. Ferdinand, F. Kervyn, A.S. Macheyeki, A. Oyen, J. Perror, E. Saria, B. Smets, D.S.
Stamps, C. Wauthier, (2008) Aseismic strain accommodation by slow slip and dyking in
a youthful continental rift, East Africa, Nature, doi:10.1038/nature07478.
11. Stamps, D.S., E. Calais, E. Saria, C. Hartnady, J.-M. Nocquet, C.J. Ebinger, and R.
Fernandes (2008), A kinematic model for the East African Rift, Geophy. Res. Lett., 35,
L05304, doi:10.1029/2007GL0327 81.
12. Smalley, R. Jr., I.W. Dalziel, M.G. Bevis, E. Kendrick, D.S. Stamps, E.C. King, F.W.
Taylor, E. Lauria, A. Zakrajsek, and H. Parra (2007), Scotia arc kinematics from GPS
geodesy, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L21308, doi:10.1029/2007GL031699.
13. Stamps, D.S., R. Smalley, Jr. (2006), Strings and Things for Locating Earthquakes,
Seismo. Res. Ltrs, Vol. 77, No. 6, pp.677-683., doi:10.1785/gssrl.77.6.677.
FUNDED AND PENDING PROPOSALS
Pending

Constraints on the spatial extent of rift-parallel surface motions

NSF Tectonics Program, PI, $254,996
Pending
Developing a near-real-time GPS-MET network for eastern Africa by
enhancing AfricaArray
NSF Major Research Instrumentation, Co-I, $229,856
January 2015
Enhancing field experiences for Geologic Maps course
UCLA Office for Instructional Development, PI, $600
March 2014-present An investigation of plate boundary formation in Madagascar
National Geographic Society CRE, PI, $25,056
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/bios/d-sarah-stamps/
Dec 2013

Synoptic investigations of the East African Rift System AGU 2013 Part II
of GeoPRISMS Mini-workshop, Leader, NSF GeoPRISMS Program,
collaborators: Wendy Nelson, Rob Moucha, Andy Nyblade
June 2013-present
An investigation of continental rift-parallel deformation, PI,
NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, $170,000
Dec 2011-Apr 2013 Kinematic constraints on the Lwandle-Somalia plate boundary across
Madagascar from GPS Geodesy Is Madagascar Breaking Apart, PI,
National Geographic Society Waitt Program, $15,000
Dec 2010
Kinematic constraints on the Lwandle-Somalia plate boundary across
Madagascar from GPS Geodesy, PI, Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of
Research, $500
Dec 2009
Kinematic constraints on the Lwandle-Somalia plate boundary across
Madagascar from GPS Geodesy, PI, ExxonMobil Geoscience Grants,
$7,500
June 2009May 2013 Testing rifting models in the East African Rift, PI, NSF Graduate
Research Fellowship, $100,000
2

 D. Sarah Stamps, PhD

NSF EAR Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Assistant Adjunct Professor
National Geographic Explorer

COMPUTATIONAL SKILLS
GAMIT-GLOBK
GMT
Matlab
(T)DEFNODE
LaTeX
SHELLS (Kong and Bird, 1995) spline codes in Fortran (Holt and Haines, 1993; Flesch et al., 2001)
ASPECT
AWK
Coulomb 3.3 Basics: C++, Fortran, deal.ii, Pylith
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Geologic Maps, EPSS 61
January-March, 2015
Lead Instructor and Developer, Introduction to GPS Geodesy and High Precision Observations,
University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
July 2014
http://www.unavco.org/education/advancing-geodetic-skills/short-courses/2014/gps/gps.html

Instructor and Developer, GPS Geodesy and Applications in Geodynamics Short-Course,

University of Bukavu, Democratic Repubic of Congo
March 2014
Guest Lecturer, Introductory Geophysics, Boston University
Nov 2013
Instructor, Physical Geology Laboratory, Purdue University
Sum 2010-Spring 2012
Teaching Assistant, Geosciences in the Cinema, Purdue University
Fall 2011
University of Antananarivo, GPS Training Program
June 2012
Guest Lecturer, A Dynamic Earth, Purdue University
October 2010-2012
Student Teacher, Center for Earthquake Research and Information
Spring 2007-Fall 2007
Instructor, Environmental Geology Laboratory, Univ. of Memphis
Spring 2005
PUBLICATIONS AND DATA PRODUCTS IN PREPARATION

Stamps, D.S., D. Koehn, K. Burke, B. Hager, X. Rui, Faulting, Footwall Uplift, and
Horizontal Rotation of the Rwenzori Mountains in the East African Rift
Rui X., D.S. Stamps, B.H. Hager, C. Weifeng, L. Hua, Continued slip along the
Longmen Shan 4 years after the Wenchuan 2008 earthquake
K. Arredondo, J. Austermann, W. Bangerth, J. Dannberg, M. Fraters, R. Gassmoeller, A.
Glerum, R. Grove, T. Heister, I. Rose, D.S. Stamps, C. Thieulot, I. van Zelst, and Siqi
Zhang, Geodynamical modeling using ASPECT
Stamps, D.S. and G. Rambolamanana, 2014 Madagascar GPS Campaign
Stamps, D.S. and F. Tugume, 2014 Uganda GPS Campaign (submitted)
Stamps, D.S. and E. Saria, 2014 Tanzania GPS Campaign (submitted)

STUDENTS
Tahiry Rajaonarison, Masters II, August 2013, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
Determining Correction Parameters for Precise GPS Positioning in Madagascar
Herimitsinjo Nia, Masters I, in progress, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
SERVICE
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting Session
EarthCube Science Standing Committee, Use-Cases Sub-Committee
Publication Reviewer
NSF Tectonics Proposal Reviewer
UNAVCO Education and Outreach Steering Committee
American Geophysical Union Geodesy Executive Committee

Co-chair, 2014
2014-present
2010-present
2013-present
Member, 2009-2012
Member, 2008-2010
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 D. Sarah Stamps, PhD

NSF EAR Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Assistant Adjunct Professor
National Geographic Explorer

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Seismological Society of America
Sigma Xi The Scientific Research Society
COLLABORATORS AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS
International Collaborators: Xu Rui (Sichuan Earthquake Bureau), Nicolas DOreye
(European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology, Luxembourg), Giampiero Iaffaldano
(Australia National University, Australia), Daniel Koehn (University of Glasgow, Scotland),
Elifuraha Saria (Ardhi University, Tanzania), Gerard Rambolamanana (University of
Antananarivo, Madagascar), Chris Hartnady (UMVOTO, South Africa), Fred Tugume
(Geological Survey and Mines, Department Ministry of Natural Resources of Uganda), Ronald
Wesonga (Uganda Meteorological Department, Uganda)
U.S. Collaborators: Andy Nyblade (Penn State), Brad Hager (MIT), Wolfgang Bangerth (Texas
A&M), Ji Kang Hyeun (University of Alabama)
Graduate Advisor: Eric Calais, Ecole Normale Suprieure (formerly Purdue University)
Major Postdoctoral Advisor: Brad Hager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
Feb 2015*

University of Oklahoma, OK, Departmental Colloquium

Continental Rift-Parallel Surface Motions in Africa

Jan 2015

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

Crustal Deformation Studies with GPS and Numerical Modeling: examples from
East Africa

Oct 2014

University of California, Los Angeles, CA Departmental Colloquium

Neotectonics of the East African Rift System

Mar 2014

UNAVCO Science Workshop, Denver, CO

Haiti 2010 Education and Community Engagement from a Young Investigators
Perspective

Jan 2014

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Evidence of Rift-Parallel Deformation Along the Western Branch and Main
Ethiopian Rift?

Dec 2013

University of California, Los Angeles, CA

Evidence of Rift-Parallel Deformation Along the Western Branch and Main
Ethiopian Rift?

Nov 2013

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

Rift-Parallel Deformation Along the East African Rift

Nov 2013

Active Volcanism and Continental Rifting Conference, Rwanda

Keynote: Kinematics and Dynamics of the East African Rift
Boston University, Boston, MA
Rift Parallel Deformation Along the East African Rift

Oct 2013

 D. Sarah Stamps, PhD

NSF EAR Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Assistant Adjunct Professor
National Geographic Explorer

Aug 2013

deal.ii 4th Workshop, Texas A&M, College Station, TX

Kinematics and Dynamics of the East African Rift: system-wide results and
research outlook for rift-scale processes

Oct 2012

NSF GeoPRISMS East African Rift Planning Workshop, New Jersey

Role of Mantle Flow on Rifting in East Africa

June 2012

Queen Elizabeth National Park 2012 Research Symposium, Uganda

GPS Experiments in the East African Rift

Nov 2011

University of Memphis Memphis, TN

The East African Rift: kinematics and dynamics

Aug 2010

University of Antananarivo, Madagascar

Kinematics of the Lwandle-Somalia Plate Boundary from GPS Geodesy: Is
Madagascar Breaking Apart?

Oct 2010

IGCP 565 Workshop on separating hydrologic and tectonic signals in geodetic

data: GPS Experiments in the East African Rift Reno, NV
GPS Experiments in the East African Rift

Aug 2009

Advanced Workshop on Monitoring, Evaluating, and Communicating Seismic

and Volcanic Hazards in East Africa
Present-day Strain Rates and Large-scale Dynamics of the East African Rift

Apr 2009

European Geosciences Union Vienna, Austria

Present-day Strain Rates and Dynamics of the East African Rift

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

Nov 2014
May 2014
Dec 2005-14
Oct 2012
July 2012
Jan 2011
Oct 2010

UNAVCO Field Education Workshop, USA

ASPECT Hack-a-thon, USA
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, USA
NSF GeoPRISMS EAR Planning Workshop, USA
CIG Mantle-Lithosphere Dynamics Workshop, USA
ExxonMobil Student Scientist Conference, USA
IGCP 565 Workshop on separating hydrologic and tectonic signals in
geodetic data, USA
Jun 2010
AfricaArray Workshop, USA
Aug 2009
Advanced Workshop on Monitoring, Evaluating, and Communicating
Seismic and Volcanic Hazards in East Africa Trieste, Italy
May 2009
NSF MARGINS Rupturing Continental Lithosphere Workshop, USA
Apr 2009
European Geosciences Union, Austria
Feb 2009
Purdue Univ. Sigma Xi Research Forum, USA
Dec 2008
Purdue Univ. Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium, USA
Feb 2008-13 Purdue Univ. Earth & Atmospheric Sci. Graduate Student Expo, USA
Aug 2007
MAERC Research Experiences for Undergraduates, USA
July 2007
International Conference on the East African Rift - Kampala, Uganda
Jun 2006-14 UNAVCO Science Workshop, USA (special session leader, 2012)
Jun 2006
UNAVCO GAMIT/GLOBK Workshop, USA
Feb 2006
Tennessee Honors Council, USA
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 D. Sarah Stamps, PhD

NSF EAR Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Assistant Adjunct Professor
National Geographic Explorer

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

American Geophysical Union GeoPRISMS honorable mention
2012
Travel Award, Women in Science
2011, 2012
Hinze Scholarship
2011
Cedric J. Newby Scholarship
2011
EAS Graduate Student Expo Outstanding Oral Presentation
2011
1st Prize Sigma Xi Graduate Student Research Competition
2009
Travel Award, American Geophysical Union P. F. Low
2008, 2012
2nd Prize Ecological Sciences and Engineering Symposium
2008
Outstanding Scientific Publication Award for Calais et al., 2008, NRF Luxembourg
2008
Outstanding Senior Award in Geology Department of Earth Sciences
2007
1st & 2nd Prize Physical and Applied Sciences U of Memphis Research Forum
2007
1st Prize Education U of Memphis Research Forum
2007
Travel Award, UNAVCO Science Workshop
2006
Excellence in Earth Sciences Phi Beta Delta Honors Award
2006
Lounsbury Scholarship, University of Memphis
2005-2006
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Arkansas
2005
Full Tuition Scholarship University of Memphis Regents Program
1999, 2004-2007
Leadership Award, Mainthia Technologies of NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center
2003
High School research experience in Geology and Geophysics, Jackling II Institute,
1998
University of Missouri, Rolla
FIELD EXPERIENCE
Madagascar
Uganda
La Jolla, California
Tanzania
Haiti
Texas and New Mexico
Black Hills, South Dakota
Death Valley, California
Northern Caribbean
New Madrid Seismic Zone

GPS campaigns, student training, PI 2010, 2012, 2014

GPS campaign, geodesist, PI*
2007- 2010, 2012, 2014*
Sedimentology (ExxonMobil Field Course) 2011
GPS campaign, co-leader, PI*
2006, 2008, 2012, 2014*
GPS campaign, geodesist
2010
Geologic mapping
2010
Geologic mapping
2007
Stratigraphy and mapping
2006
GPS campaign
2005
GPS network maintenance
2005-2007

OUTREACH
Guest Speaker, Sumbawanga Secondary School, Tanzania
August, 2014
Panelist, Purdue Univ. School of Science Deans Leadership Council
November, 2012
Guest Speaker, Soroti Secondary School & Olito High School, Uganda June 2010, June 2012
Teachers Without Borders podcast interviews on Haiti earthquake(2)
February-March 2010
Guest Speaker, Haiti television, radio, and high schools (2)
January-February 2010
Panelist, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
September 2009, 2010
Guest Speaker, Ikizu Seconday School, Tanzania
August 2008
6

 D. Sarah Stamps, PhD

NSF EAR Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Assistant Adjunct Professor
National Geographic Explorer

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (non-academic)

09/03 03/04 Technical Coordinator, Mainthia Technologies, Inc at
NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center
Space Transportation Directorate
Subsystems and Component Development Department (TD60)
Supervisor: Tom Randolph
Understand and coordinate technical activities across directorates, departments and
groups
Proficiency in communication skills and program/project customer relations
Coordinate all responses from TD60 managers into a single TD60 response for the
Center-wide Action Item Tracking System (CAITS)
Coordinate TD60s various technical proposals including:
o Center Director Discretionary Funding (CDDF)
o Internal Research and Development (IR&D) proposals
o University Grants
o NASA Research Announcements (NRA)
Assist in expediting TD60 procurements working with the Center Procurement Office
Maintain a summary of collaborative work commitments at the department level
Serve as delegate for TD60 Safety Supervisors Webpage and ensure requirements are
met by TD60 managers
12/02-09/03 General Clerk IV, Mainthia Technologies, Inc at
NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center
Space Transportation Directorate
Subsystems and Component Development Department (TD60)
Supervisor: Tom Randolph
Briefing preparation
Data entry and analysis
Travel support
Office/file records management
General administrative support