My research interests lie in understanding physical processes in the fields of volcanology, igneous petrology and geo-materials science. I strive to answer questions posed by field relations via a combined approach of experimental studies and systematic geo-material characterization. I enjoy combining experimental geosciences with applied field and remote sensing studies to generate holistic datasets on the coevolution of magma and lava petrology, their physical properties as well as the rock mechanics of volcanoes. This allows to deduce the processes guiding physical properties and to constrain the timescales of their evolution; both crucial parameters to the accurate assessment of the related risk and hazard.

• ERT 103 Geology for Engineers
• ERT 205  Earth Materials
  
• ERT 407/507 Geological Field Training
• ERT 431/531 Volcanology
• ERT 433/533 Volcanic Rocks
• ERT 470/570  Fracture & Flow of Earth Materials
• ERT 497  Dept Honors Thesis
• ERT 498  Undergraduate Research
• ERT 499  Independent Study
• ERT 597 Geohazards, Volcanics, and Geodynamics Seminar 
• ERT 633  Graduate Research
• ERT 700  Thesis Guidance

Please contact Dr. Kolzenburg for upcoming PhD. and MS. opportunities.

Kolzenburg, S., Harris, M. A., Chevrel, M. O., & Lynn, K. J., 2026. Comprehensive characterization of Mauna Loa basalt rheology based on the 2022 eruption. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 691, 120205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2026.120205

* Saucier, E., Harris, M.E., Kolzenburg, S., 2025 Shear Induced Permeability Heterogeneity of Dome Lavas: A Mechanism for Cyclic Explosive Gas Venting. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL117606

* Harris, M.A., Kolzenburg, S., Chevrel, M.O., 2025 The Viscosity of Multiphase Lava: New Insights from Integrating Laboratory and Field Measurements. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119642

* Kyambikwa, A.M., Maombi, S., Sadiki, A., Ngangu, B., Tedesco, D., Kolzenburg, S., 2025. The May 22nd 2021 eruption of Nyiragongo Volcano, DRC: Field observations and reconstruction of eruption dynamics. Bulletin of Volcanology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-025-01872-7

* Harris, M. A., Chevrel, M. O., Parsons, J.T., Latchimy, T., Thordarson, T., Höskuldsson, A., Moreland, W.M., Payet—Clerc, M., Kolzenburg, S., 2025. Real-time, in-situ viscosity mapping of active lava. Geology; doi: 10.1130/G52558.1

* Harris, M. A., Kolzenburg, S., Sonder, I., & Chevrel, M. O.,2024. A new portable penetrometer for measuring the viscosity of active lava. Review of Scientific Instruments, 95(6); doi: 10.1063 / 5.0206776.

Giordano, D., Vona, A., Gonzalez-Garcia, D., Allabar, A., Kolzenburg, S., Polo, L., Janasi, de Assis Janasic, V., Behrens, H., De Campos, C. P., De Cristofaro, S., Freitas Guimaraesc, L., Freitas, L., Nowak, M., Müller, D., Günther, A., Masotta, M., Roverato, M., Romano, C., and Dingwell, D. B., 2021, Viscosity of Palmas-type magmas of the Paraná Magmatic Province (Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil): Implications for high-temperature silicic volcanism: Chemical Geology, v. 560, p. 119981

Wiebe, R.A., Kolzenburg, S., Rooyakkers, S.M., and Stix, S., 2021, Plutonic record of a caldera-forming silicic eruption: The shatter zone of the Cadillac Mountain granite, coastal Maine: Geo-sphere, v. 17, no. X, p. 1– 22, https://doi.org/10.1130 /GES02252.1. 

Dobson, K. J., Allabar, A., Bretagne, E., Coumans, J., Cassidy, M., Cimarelli, C., Coats, R., Connolley, T., Courtois, L., Dingwell, B. D., Di Genova, D., Fernando, B., Fife, J. L., Fyfe, F., Gehne, S., Jones, T. J., Kendrick, J. E., Kinvig, H., Kolzenburg, S., Lavallée, Y., Liu, E., Llewellin, E. W., Madden-Nadeau, A., Madi, K., Marone, F., Morgan, C., Oppenheimer, J., Ploszajski, A., Reid, G., Schauroth, J., Schlepütz, C. M., Sellick, C., Vasseur, J., Von Aulock, F. W., Wadsworth, F. B., Wiesmaier, S., and Wanelik, K., 2020, Quantifying microstructural evolution in moving magma: Frontiers in Earth Science.

Kolzenburg, S., Hess, K.-U., Berlo, K., and Dingwell, D. B., 2020, Disequilibrium Rheology and
Crystallization Kinetics of Basalts and Implications for the Phlegrean Volcanic District: Frontiers in
Earth Science, v. 8, no. 187.

Kolzenburg, S., Ryan, A.G. and Russell, J.K., 2019. Permeability evolution during non-isothermal compaction in volcanic conduits and tuffisite veins: Implications for pressure monitoring of volcanic edifices. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 527: 115783.

Ryan, A., Russell, J., Heap, M., Kolzenburg, S., Vona, A. and Kushnir, A., 2019. Strain‐dependent rheology of silicate melt foams: importance for outgassing of silicic lavas. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth.

Ryan, A.G., Kolzenburg, S., Vona, A., Heap, M.J., Russell, J.K., and Badger, S. (2019) A proxy for magmatic foams: FOAMGLAS®, a closed-cell glass insulation. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids: X, 1, 100001, doi:10.1016/j.nocx.2018.100001

Kolzenburg, S., Giodano, D., Di Muro, A., and Dingwell, D.B. (2018) Equilibrium Viscosity and Disequilibrium Rheology of a high Magnesium Basalt from Piton De La Fournaise volcano, La Reunion, Indian Ocean, France. Annals of Geophysics, doi: 10.4401/ag-7839

Di Genova, D., Caracciolo, A., and Kolzenburg, S. (2018) Measuring the degree of “nanotilization” of volcanic glasses: Understanding syn-eruptive processes recorded in melt inclusions. Lithos, 318-319, 209-218

Kolzenburg, S., Giodano, D., Hess, K.U., and Dingwell, D.B. (2018) Shear Rate-Dependent Disequilibrium Rheology and Dynamics of Basalt Solidification. Geophysical Research Letters, 45(13), 6466-6475

Kolzenburg, S., Jaenicke, J., Münzer, U., and Dingwell, D.B. (2018) The effect of inflation on the morphology-derived rheological parameters of lava flows and its implications for interpreting remote sensing data - A case study on the 2014/2015 eruption at Holuhraun, Iceland. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 357, 200-212

Kolzenburg, S., Di Genova, D., Giordano, D., Hess, K.U. and Dingwell, D.B., (2018). The effect of oxygen fugacity on the rheological evolution of crystallizing basaltic melts. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 487: 21-32. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.01.023

Di Genova D., Kolzenburg, S., Wiesmaier S., Dallanave E., Neuville D., Hess K.U., Dingwell D.B. (2017) A chemical tipping point governing mobilization and eruption style of rhyolitic magma.; Nature, doi: 10.1038/nature24488

Kolzenburg, S., Giordano, D., Thordarson, T., Höskuldsson, Á., Dingwell, D.B., (2017) The rheological evolution of the 2014/2015 eruption at Holuhraun, central Iceland. Bulletin of Volcanology, doi: 10.1007/s00445-017-1128-6

* Indicates publications by or with graduate students directly supervised by Stephan Kolzenburg.