Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2013
  • M.S., Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2009
  • B.S., Geological Sciences, Salem State University, 2006
Licenses & Certifications
  • Licensed Professional Geologist (TX)
  • Licensed Professional Geologist (NH)
  • Licensed Professional Geologist (GA)
  • Licensed Professional Geologist (PA)
Academic Appointments
  • Visiting Lecturer, Department of Geological Sciences, Salem State University (2013-2018)
  • Visiting Lecturer, Environmental Sciences Program, Stonehill College (2014-2018)
  • Visiting Lecturer, Environmental Science Program, Endicott College (2017)
Professional Honors
  • AGU Voices for Science Fellow 2024-2025
Professional Affiliations
  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • Geological Society of America (GSA)
  • Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG)
  • Women in Mining (WIM)
  • Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)
  • Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME)

Dr. Murdock is a geologist with experience in geophysics, mineralogy, soil and rock-related construction failures, landslides, environmental geology, and site characterization by means of field mapping, aerial photo analysis, and subsurface investigations. She has technical experience in geophysical methods used in various investigations including mining exploration and resource assessments, temperature estimations, and natural hazard mapping. She is also experienced with optical and petrographical methods of rock and mineral identification, cross section and geologic map preparation and analysis, and surveying sites using aerial photographs, aeromagnetic maps, and gravitational anomaly maps. 

While at Exponent, Dr. Murdock has worked on projects related to infrastructure, including commercial and residential properties, oil and gas incidents, roadways, and construction issues. She has also worked on contamination issues, thermal incidents, and natural hazards. She is licensed as a Professional Geologist in four states.

Dr. Murdock has used ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity for near-surface investigations, as well as interpreted geochemical data for rock, sediment, and soil analysis. She also has expertise in rock magnetism as a nondestructive tool for mineral identification, including its application to geologic reconstructions of past environments, variations in sediment transport, climatic changes, and tectonic events. Her doctoral work focused on using rock magnetic measurements to determine changes in mineralogy of Arctic lakes that could be used to determine environmental and climatic shifts in the region over the past million years. Additional areas of interest for Dr. Murdock include rock mechanics, ore and mineral quality assessment, oil and gas recovery and transport, and the evaluation of landslides.