Michael J. Nicholl
Associate Professor of Geology
Vadose Zone Hydrology, Environmental Fluid Mechanics, and Geological Engineering
Office: LFG 227
Telephone: (702) 895-4616
Mailstop: 4010
E-mail: michael.nicholl@ccmail.nevada.edu
Education:
Ph.D. – University of Nevada Reno
Research:
Dr. Nicholl’s areas of expertise include vadose zone hydrology, environmental fluid mechanics, and geological engineering. His research currently focuses on the study of fluid flow in fractured rocks, with particular emphasis on two-phase flows (i.e., air/water, water/NAPL, and brine/petroleum). This is a highly active area of research, with important implications to a number of high-profile applied problems. Dr. Nicholl and his students are working to develop a fundamental understanding of two-phase flow in fractured rock through a combination of laboratory, field, and numerical experimentation.
Selected Research Publications (*Student):
*Jayakody, J.A. and M.J. Nicholl, Hydraulic bridges in unsaturated coarse granular media: Influence of bridge size and conductivity on flow through clasts, Advances in Water Resources, 96, pp. 202-208, 2016, DOI: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.07.014.
*Thaw, M., Nicholl, M. J., Acharya, K., Sensitivity of post-settlement Dreissena rostriformis bugensis to UVB radiation at Earth surface intensity levels, Journal of Great Lakes Research, 40(4), 934-939, 2014, DOI: 10.1016/j.jglr.2014.09.001.
*Schwaebe, L., K. Acharya, and M.J. Nicholl, Comparative efficacy of Dreissena rostriformis bugenis (Bivalve: Dreissenidae) spawning techniques, Aquatic Invasions, 8(1), pp. 45-52, 8, 2013, doi:/10.3391/ai.2013.8.1.05.
Acharya, K., L.. *Schwaebe, and M.J. Nicholl, What induces Dreissena bugenis to spawn under laboratory conditions?, Journal of Shellfish Research, 31(1), 258, 2012.
Courses taught:
Undergraduate:
GEOL 101 – Introductory Geology: Exploring Planet Earth
GEOL 474 – Hydrogeology
GEOL 485 – Engineering Geology
CEE 432 – Geological Engineering
Graduate:
GEOL 674 – Hydrogeology
GEOL 685 – Engineering Geology
GEOL 701 – Research Methods in Geoscience
GEOL 709 – Field Methods in Hydrogeology
CEE 632 – Geological Engineering
WRM 706 – Research methods in Water Resources Management