Background

Miguel is a geologist with a broad background in stable isotope geochemistry, petrology/mineralogy, structural geology, and tectonics. Miguel previously completed a postdoc at ETH Zurich and a PhD at the University of Texas at Austin.

At ETH Zurich, Miguel worked in the Structural Geology and Tectonics Group to better understand subduction zone and crustal processes, and worked with students on numerical modeling to constrain how visco-elastic rheologies affect strain of minerals. At UT-Austin, Miguel worked on rocks from Syros (Greece), and used stable isotope geochemistry, chronology, new thermobarometry techniques, and field measurements to trace fluid and rock movement in the crust. At LLNL, Miguel is measuring site-specific stable isotopes of uranium oxides for nuclear forensics applications.

Ph.D., Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin 2018

M.S., Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin 2013

B.S., Geology, Univeristy of California Los Angeles

A.A., Chemistry, Oxnard College

Cisneros, M., Behr, W.M., Platt, J.P., Anczkiewicz, R., 2022. Quartz-in-garnet barometry constraints on formation pressures of eclogites from the Franciscan Complex, California. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrolrology 177, 1–23.

Cisneros, M., Barnes, J.D., Behr, W.M., Kotowski, A.J., Stockli, D.F., Soukis, K., 2021. Insights from elastic thermobarometry into exhumation of high-pressure metamorphic rocks from Syros, Greece. Solid Earth 12, 1335–1355.

Cisneros, M., Befus, K.S., 2020. Applications and Limitations of Elastic Thermobarometry: Insights From Elastic Modeling of Inclusion-Host Pairs and Example Case Studies. Geocheistry. Geophysics Geosystems 21, e2020GC009231.

Cisneros, M., Ashley, K.T., Bodnar, R.J., 2020. Evaluation and application of the quartz-inclusions-in-epidote mineral barometer. American Mineralogist 105, 1140–1151.

Befus, K.S., Lin, J.-F., Cisneros, M., Fu, S., 2018. Feldspar Raman shift and application as a magmatic thermobarometer. American Mineralogist 103, 600–609.

Barnes, J.D., Prather, T.J., Cisneros, M., Befus, K., Gardner, J.E., Larson, T.E., 2014b. Stable chlorine isotope behavior during volcanic degassing of H2O and CO2 at Mono Craters, CA. Bulletin of Volcanology 76, 805.

Barnes, J.D., Beltrando, M., Lee, C.-T.A., Cisneros, M., Loewy, S., Chin, E., 2014a. Geochemistry of Alpine serpentinites from rifting to subduction: A view across paleogeographic domains and metamorphic grade. Chemical Geology 389, 29–47.

Barnes, J.D., Eldam, R., Lee, C.-T.A., Errico, J.C., Loewy, S., Cisneros, M., 2013. Petrogenesis of serpentinites from the Franciscan Complex, western California, USA. Lithos 178, 143–157.

Barnes, J.D., Cisneros, M., 2012. Mineralogical control on the chlorine isotope composition of altered oceanic crust. Chemical Geology 326–327, 51–60.

Google Scholar Profile

Research Grants

• ETH Zurich SEED Grant: An experimental calibration of the quartz inclusions in epidote barometer (Cisneros, M., 2020)
• National Science Foundation Grant: Retrograde Metamorphism in the Greek Cycladic Islands as a Window into Exhumation Mechanisms of High Pressure Terranes. (J.D. Barnes, D.S. Stockli, W.M. Behr, 2018 - Present) Significantly contributed to the conception of the project and writing of this grant.
• Geological Society of America Mineralogy: Geochemistry Petrology and Volcanology Division Student Grant Award (Cisneros, M., 2017)
• Geological Society of America: Student Grant (Cisneros, M., 2017)
• Jackson School of Geosciences SEED Grant: The timing, nature, and fluid history of retrograde metamorphism on Syros and Tinos, Greece as a window into exhumation mechanisms of high-pressure terranes. (Barnes, J.D., Behr, W.M., Cisneros, M. , Kotowski, A.J., 2016)

Awards

• 2016: Jackson School of Geosciences Petrography Contest 1^st place
• 2014: Dean’s Prestigious Fellowship Supplement
• 2013-2018: Ford Foundation Fellowship
• 2012, 2013: NSF Fellowship Honorable Mention
• 2011-2012: University of Texas Graduate School Diversity Recruitment Fellowship
• 2010: GSA Travel Grant
• 2010: UCLA Clem Nelson Summer Field Award