Associate Professor
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Christopher Andronicos studies structural geology and tectonics. He is primarily interested in how mountain belts evolve and how the processes of mountain building relate to processes of crustal growth and destruction.

His fascination with mountains began early, Andronicos explains. He grew up in the southern Rocky Mountains, with the Sandia and Sangre de Cristo mountains forming the backdrop and playground of his childhood. “I was told when I was little,” he says, “that the mountains had come up during one catastrophic earthquake. Even then, I suspected that was not quite the full explanation and thought things might have taken a lot longer to happen.”

At the University of New Mexico, Andronicos, a Native American, declared a major in physics—influenced by nearby Los Alamos National Labs and friends’ parents who worked there. But during sophomore year, he took Introduction to Geology and was reminded of the mountains. “I realized I could do science and be outside in the places I love—so I was hooked on geology,” he says. He also cites the influence of Jeff Grambling, his undergraduate mentor at UNM, who introduced him to the idea that rocks can flow like putty given the right conditions and enough time. “I was so fascinated by the chemical and physical changes that occurred deep in mountains—understanding these processes remains the primary focus of my research,” he says.

Andronicos currently leads a collaborative project—funded by the National Science Foundation (United States) and Natural Resources Canada—studying how the crust of western Canada was formed. He also continues research in southwest Colorado, where rocks record about 1.8 billion years of North America’s history and represent the upper two-thirds of the crust of southwest North America—“a super natural laboratory,” he says.

Andronicos teaches Field Methods (EAS 210). This spring, he will teach an introductory geology class. He sees teaching as a way to share his love of geology and to help his students become critical thinkers. By telling his own story, he also hopes to motivate students and help them achieve success. “I come from a modest background with hard-working parents. I am the first member of my family to graduate high school. I hope to serve as a role model for others,” he says.

Prof. Andronicos's web page