CADEN JAMES HOWLETT
Postdoctoral Fellow, Earthquake Science and Tectonics
Department of Geosciences
Utah State University, Logan, UT
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2025-present Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Utah State University
2022-2025 Co-Manager, University of Arizona Fission Track Laboratory
2020-2025 Graduate Teaching & Research Assistant, University of Arizona
2018-2020 Graduate Teaching & Research Assistant, Montana State University
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Geosciences, University of Arizona (2025)
M.S. Geology, Montana State University (2020)
B.S. Geology, Honors, Montana State University (2018)
Specialties: Orogenic systems; cordilleran tectonics; structural geology; field geology and mapping; thrust belts and synorogenic sedimentation; fission-track and helium thermochronology; earthquake science; science communication
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
[10] Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., Jones, S., Kohn, B.P., Gleadow, A.J.W., George, S.W.M., Howlett, C.J., Gallagher, K., Frickenstein, A.N., Gehrels, G., Triantafyllou, A., 2025, An Assessment of Monazite Fission‐Track Thermochronology as a Proxy for Low‐Magnitude Cooling, Catalina‐Rincon Metamorphic Core Complex, AZ, USA: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 26, p. e2024GC011881, doi:10.1029/2024GC011881.
[9] Howlett, C.J., Ronemus, C.B., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., 2025, Miocene construction of the High Andes recorded by exhumation of the Frontal Cordillera, La Ramada Massif of western Argentina (32°S), Tectonics, 44, e2024TC008433. doi:10.1029/2024TC008433.
[8] George, S.W.M., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., Jepson, G., Nadoya, H., Tabor, C., Howlett, C.J., Ronemus, C.B., Clementz, M.T., Scheonbohm, L., 2025, Increased moisture availability in the Central Andes during the Miocene Climatic Optimum, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112732.
[7] Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., Reeher, L.J., DeCelles, P.G., Afonso, W.D., Howlett, C.J., Caylor, E.A., Sherpa, T.Z.L., Wang, J.W., and Constenius, K.N., 2025, Regional exhumation of the Laramide Province: GSA Bulletin, doi:10.1130/B37625.1.
[6] Reynolds, A.N., Laskowski, A.K., Howlett, C.J., Orme, D.A., Sundell, K.E., Taylor, M.H., Guo, X., Ding, L., 2024, Kinematic evolution of the Tangra Yumco Rift, south-central Tibet, Tektonika, v. 2.1, 190–222, doi:10.55575/tektonika2024.2.1.42
[5] Ronemus, C.B., Howlett, C.J., DeCelles, P.G., Carrapa, B., George, S.W.M., 2024, The Manantiales basin, Southern Central Andes (~32°S), preserves a record of late Eocene-Miocene episodic growth of an east-vergent orogenic wedge. Tectonics, v. 43, 1-37, doi:10.1029/2023TC008100.
[4] Howlett, C.J., Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., Constenius, K.N., 2024, Late Cretaceous exhumation of the Little Belt Mountains and regional development of the Helena salient, west-central Montana, USA. GSA Bulletin, v. 136, 2256–2280, doi:10.1130/B37081.1.
[3] Sundell, K.E., Laskowski, A.K., Howlett, C.J., Kapp, P., Ducea, M., Chapman, J.B., Ding, L., 2024, Episodic Late Cretaceous to Neogene crustal thickness variation in southern Tibet. Terra Nova, v. 6, 45-52, doi:10.1111/ter.12689.
[2] Howlett, C. J., Reynolds, A. N., & Laskowski, A. K., 2021, Magmatism and extension in the Anaconda metamorphic core complex of western Montana and relation to regional tectonics. Tectonics, v. 40, 1-31, doi:10.1029/2020TC006431.
[1] Howlett, C.J., and Laskowski, A.K., 2021, Determining the source of placer gold in the Anaconda metamorphic core complex supradetachment basin using detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology, Pioneer District, western Montana. Geosphere, v. 17, 154–170, doi:10.1130/GES02226.1.
PEER-REVIEWED GEOLOGIC MAP
[1] Howlett, C.J., Reynolds, A.N., and Laskowski, A.K., 2020, Geologic Map of the Northern Half of the Pintler Lake 7.5' Quadrangle and the Southern Half of the Warren Peak 7.5’ Quadrangle, southwestern Montana: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology EDMAP portion of the National Geologic Mapping Program 13, 1 sheet, scale 1:24,000.
BOOK
Howlett, C.J., 2024, LIFE & SPACE, Philosophical and Scientific Fragments, independently published, 210 p. ISBN-13: 979-8394266355.
INVITED† AND SPECIAL* TALKS
[2] *Howlett, C.J., ROCKY PLANETS AND ICY MOONS: Geology of the Solar System, 16th Gem & Jam Festival Guest Speaker, Tucson, AZ, February 2024.
[1] †Howlett, C.J., Thin- and thick-skinned deformation along the northern margin of the Helena salient, west-central Montana, University of Idaho Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences Seminar Series, February 2024.
CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
[25] Howlett, C.J., Ronemus, C.B., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., Cordilleran Orogenic Wedge Evolution in a Transitional Segment of the South-Central Andes (34.5°S), Chile and Argentina. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 57, No. 6, October 2025. doi:10.1130/abs/2025AM-10438
[24] Ault, A.K., DiMonte, A., Shreedharan, S., Hirth, G.,…Howlett, C.J. et al., Fault Fabric, Friction, and Flux: How Fault Rheology Shapes Shallow Slip Behavior in Strike-slip Fault Systems. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 57, No. 6, October 2025. doi:10.1130/abs/2025AM-10399
[23] Ronemus, C.B., Howlett, C.J., Carrapa, B., Echaurren, A., Barrionuevo, M., Mosolf, J., Foley, M., Crustal Thickness Evolution of the Southern Central Andes (~35 °S): Insights from Igneous Paleomohometry and Zircon Petrochronology. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 57, No. 6, October 2025. doi:10.1130/abs/2025AM-9963
[22] Muller, V.P, Carrapa, B., Thomson, S., N., DeCelles, P.G., Howlett, C.J., Ronemus, C.B., Beck, S.L., Exhumation of the Eastern Cordillera, NW Argentina: a record of competing river incision and fold-and-thrust belt propagation. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 57, No. 6, October 2025. doi:10.1130/abs/2025AM-7197
[21] Howlett, C.J., Ault, A.K., Garcia, L., Newell, D.L., & Balkaya, M., Influence of structural inheritance along the Çardak fault on the Mw7.6 Elbistan earthquake rupture, southeastern Türkiye. Poster Presentation at 2025 SCEC Annual Meeting, SCEC Contribution #14640, September 2025.
[20] Garcia, L., Ault, A.K., Rodriguez Padilla, A.M., Balkaya, M., Howlett, C. J., Shreedharan, S., Newell, D.L., Akciz, S.O., Zabcı, C., & Hirth, G., Links between fault mineralogy, fabric, friction, and rupture behavior of the Mw 7.6 Elbistan earthquake, Türkiye. Poster Presentation at 2025 SCEC Annual Meeting, SCEC Contribution 14380, September 2025.
[19] Beck, S.L., Bradford, J., Mahanti, S.S., Howlett, C.J., Ronemus, C.B., et al., The tale of two mountain belts along the South America Convergent Margin, AGU Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., December 2024.
[18] Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., George, S., Clementz, M., Jepson, G., Feng, R., Nadoya, H., Tabor, C. Ronemus, C.B., Howlett, C.J., Schoenbohm, L., Stevens Goddard, A., Alonso, R., The Foreland Basin Record of Cenozoic Climate from the Central Andes. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 56, No. 5, September 2024. doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-401403.
[17] Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., Reeher, L.J., Howlett, C.J., Sherpa, T.L., Caylor, E.A., Wang, J.W., Constenius, K.N., Regional Exhumation of the Laramide. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 56, No. 5, September 2024. doi:10.1130/abs/2024AM-402757.
[16] Ronemus, C.B., Suriano, J., Howlett, C.J., Muller, V.A.P., The nature of unconformities in the southern Central Andean foreland basin: Constraints from newly described Eocene–Miocene deposits at ~31.75 °S, XIX Reunión de Tectónica, San Juan, Argentina, June 2024.
[15] Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., Jones, S., Kohn, B., Gleadow, A., George, S., Gehrels, G., Howlett, C.J., and Triantafyllou, A.: Monazite fission-track thermochronology as a possible proxy for low-magnitude erosion, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-5153, doi:10.5194/egusphere-egu24-5153.
[14] Howlett, C.J., Ronemus, C.B., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., Age-elevation relationships from Cerro Mercedario (6720m) record exhumation of the La Ramada massif, high Andes of western Argentina, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 55, No. 6, October 2023. doi:10.1130/abs/2023AM-394540. Talk
[13] George, S.W.M., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., Jepson, G., Howlett, C.J., Ronemus, C.B., Intensification of the South American Monsoon at the Start of the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum in the Central Andes as a Modulator of Orogenic Shortening, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 55, No. 6, October 2023. doi:10.1130/abs/2023AM-392282.
[12] Ronemus, C.B., Howlett, C.J., DeCelles, P.G., Carrapa, B., Miocene wedge-top sedimentation adjacent to out-of-sequence thrust faults in the Manantiales Basin, southern central Andes (~32°S), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 55, No. 6, October 2023. doi:10.1130/abs/2023AM-389672.
[11] Sabor, F.S., Ronemus, C.B., Howlett, C.J., Sedimentologic insights into Late Cretaceous–Early Miocene foreland basin development in the southern Central Andes (~36°S), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 55, No. 6, October 2023. doi:10.1130/abs/2023AM-395718.
[10] Howlett, C.J., Ronemus, C.B., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., Age-elevation relationships from Cerro Mercedario (6720m) record exhumation of the La Ramada massif, high Andes of western Argentina, 18th International Conference on Thermochronology. Riva del Garda, Italy, September 2023. Poster
[9] DeCelles, P.G., Constenius, K.N., Gehrels, G.E., Yonkee, A., Wells, M., Howlett, C.J., Geological Constraints for Late Jurassic-Eocene Cordilleran Orogeny in the Western U.S.A.: Review and Actualistic Comparisons. 2023 GSA Cordilleran Section Meeting. Reno, NV, May 2023.
[8] Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., Reeher, L.J., Howlett, C.J., Sherpa, T.L., Caylor, E.A., Wang, J.W., Constenius, K.N., Tracking Laramide Exhumation as a Proxy for Upper Crustal Response to Subduction Processes. 2023 GSA Cordilleran Section Meeting. Reno, NV, May 2023.
[7] Howlett, C.J., Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P.G., Late Cretaceous exhumation of the Little Belt Mountains in relation to regional development of the Helena salient, west-central Montana, USA, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 54, No. 5, October 2022. doi: 10.1130/abs/2022AM-382668. Poster
[6] Howlett, C.J., Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., Low-temperature thermochronology of the Little Belt Mountains of central Montana with implications for models of Laramide tectonism. 17th International Conference on Thermochronology. Sante Fe, NM. September, 2021. doi:10.1002/essoar.10508006.1. Talk
[5] Howlett, C.J., Reynolds, A.N., Laskowski, A.K., Farallon slab removal as a driving force of Cordilleran metamorphic core complex formation: details from the Anaconda Range of western Montana, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 52, No. 6, 2020, doi:10.1130/abs/2020AM-355195. Talk
[4] Howlett, C.J., and Laskowski, A.K., Using detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology to determine the source of placer gold: a case-study from the Pioneer District, western Montana, Geological Society of America, Phoenix, AZ, September 2019. doi:10.1130/abs/2019AM-335775. Talk
[3] Howlett, C.J., Reynolds, A.N., Laskowski, A.K., Geologic Map of the Northern Half of the Pintler Lake 7.5' Quadrangle and the Southern Half of the Warren Peak 7.5’ Quadrangle, Southwestern Montana, Geological Society of America, Phoenix, AZ, September 2019. doi:10.1130/abs/2019AM-331565. Poster
[2] Howlett, C.J., Investigating the Anaconda Metamorphic Core Complex of western Montana—Insights into the extension dynamics of convergent orogenic belts. Himalaya-Karakorum-Tibet (HKT) Conference, Bozeman, MT, June 2019. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3238707. Best student poster award. Poster
[1] Howlett, C.J., and Laskowski, A.K., Determining the source of placer gold in the Anaconda Metamorphic Core Complex supradetachment basin using detrital zircon geochronology, Pioneer District, Western Montana. Geological Society of America, Indianapolis, IN, October 2018. Abstract #286-12.
NON PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Howlett, C.J., 2025, A Thermochronology Transect in the High Andes of Argentina with Caden Howlett: TravelingGeologist.
Howlett, C.J., 2020, Syn-orogenic magmatism, mid-crust exhumation, and placer gold deposition: the Anaconda metamorphic core complex of western Montana. MS thesis, Montana State University, 140 p.
Howlett, C., 2019-2020, recurring weekly column in MSU Exponent (university newspaper), 23 published articles.
Howlett, C., 2017, MSU Geology Club Bridger Canyon Exploration: Montana Geological Society Newsletter, v. 61, no. 10, p. 9-10.
Howlett, C., 2017, MSU Geology Club Paradise Valley Camping Trip: Montana Geological Society Newsletter, v. 61, no. 13, p. 5-6.
Howlett, C., 2017, MSU Geology Club South Fork Deep Creek Exploration: Montana Geological Society Newsletter, v. 62, no. 2, p. 6-7.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant, August 2020-August 2024
University of Arizona
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Geology Field Camp (GEOS414, 5 weeks, Su24)
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Geological Hazards (GEOS218)
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Physical Geology (GEOS251)
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Historical Geology (GEOS255)
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Sedimentology & Stratigraphy (GEOS302)
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Oceanography (GEOS212, twice)
Teaching Assistant, August 2018-May 2020
Montana State University
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GIS and Cartography (GPHY284, twice)
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Advanced GIS & Spatial Analysis (GPHY384)
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Sedimentary Petrology (GEO443, twice)
Space Public Outreach Team (SPOT) Presenter, February 2016-August 2018
Montana Space Grant Consortium/NASA, Bozeman, MT
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NASA presentations to K-12 public schools with the Montana Space Grant Consortium (MSGC).
GRANTS
2024, 2025 John and Nancy Sumner Scholarship, University of Arizona Geosciences ($1900)
2024 American Philosophical Society, Lewis and Clark Field Scholar ($3700)
2023 Graduate & Professional Student Council Travel Grant, UArizona ($1000)
2022 William and Clara Sulzer Scholarship, University of Arizona Geosciences ($2000)
2022 Galileo Circle Scholar, University of Arizona College of Science ($1000)
2021 Bert Butler Scholarship, University of Arizona Geosciences ($1500)
2021 Sibanye-Stillwater/Wheaton Precious Metals Scholar, Tobacco Root Geological Society ($1000)
2019 Graduate Student Grant, Geological Society of America ($2000)
2019 Donald L. Smith Memorial Scholarship, Montana State University Earth Sciences ($2100)
2019 Foster Scholarship, Tobacco Root Geological Society ($1000)
2018 Undergraduate Scholars Program Research Grant, Montana State University ($900)
AWARDS
2023 College of Science Excellence in Service Award, UArizona College of Science
2021 Best Graduate Talk (GeoDaze), University of Arizona Department of Geosciences
2019 Best student poster award, Himalaya-Karakorum-Tibet (HKT) Conference
SERVICE, EXTRACURRICULAR, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Science communication (blog and videography), Spring 2016-present
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Science communication platforms focused on topics in geoscience, astronomy, field-based research, and travel/exploration. Instagram: >90k followers; YouTube: >5k subscribers
University of Arizona
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Department of Geosciences, director of social media (August 2021-February 2025)
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GeoDaze Research Symposium Co-Chair (2024-2025)
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GeoDaze Research Symposium Committee, social media/public outreach (2021-present)
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Assoc. of Women Geoscientists (AWG) Southern Arizona Outreach Coordinator (2023-present)
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AWG Mentorship Program with undergraduate mentee Hannah Howe (2024/25)
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AWG Scholarship Committee (2023)
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AWG Yoga Instructor (2023, 24, 25)
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Epsilon Eta Earth Week Professional Panelist (2023)
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ALFAMARS Team Member, analog astronaut program and Mars life detection team (Feb 2023-present)
Public and Private School Outreach
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International School for Peace Preschool outreach: Rock color, texture, and shapes (February 2025)
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Tucson High School Field Trip co-leader, Catalina Mountains (April 2023)
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Hollinger K-8 School presentation: What is a Geologist? (May 2023)
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Legacy Traditional School 7th grade: Field Geology and Geochronology in the Andes (May 2022)
Montana State University
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Geology Club, President, (2015-2018)
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MSU Earth Sciences Department Colloquium, chair social media/marketing (2018-2020)
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Quaternary Interest Group, (2016-May 2017)
Member
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The Explorers Club (2023-present)
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Geological Society of America (GSA), (2018-present)
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American Geophysical Union (AGU) (2024-present)
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Tobacco Root Geological Society (2019-present)
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Arizona Geological Society (2021-present)
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Association for Women Geoscientists (2024-present)
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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), (2014-2018)
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Montana Brewers Association, (2017-2020)
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Montana State University Geology Club (2014-2020)
Certifications
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Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue Certified (ACA)
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Advanced first aid/CPR (American Red Cross)
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UArizona Radioactive Materials Certification
CONFERENCE CONVENING
[1] “Convergent Margin Systems,” GSA 2023 Annual Meeting Session T160, Pittsburgh, PA. Conveners: Chelsea Mackaman-Lofland, Caden Howlett, Chance Ronemus, Mary Braza.
REVIEWER FOR:
Geophysical Research Letters, Geosphere, Tectonics, Lithosphere, Tectonophysics
FIELDWORK
2025 SE Anatolia; Turkiye. 2 weeks
2024 South-central Andes; Chile (32-34°S). 3 weeks
2024 South-central Andes; Puna Plateau (23-36°S). 7 weeks
2023 South-central Andes, Argentina/Chile (31-36°S). 6 weeks
2023 Alps, Italy/Switzerland. 1 week
2022 South-central Andes, Argentina (31-36°S). 10 weeks
2021 Little Belt Mountains, central Montana. 3 weeks
2020 Northern Laramide, Montana & Wyoming. 4 weeks
2019 Tangra-Yumco Rift, central and southern Tibet. 4 weeks
2019 Flint Creek Range, western Montana. 1 week
2018 Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, Montana. 8 weeks
*References and additional work experience available upon request