BLAISE MURPHY
PhD Candidate
Department of Geography and the Environment
University of Texas at Austin
ABOUT ME
I am a doctoral candidate in the in the Department of Geography and the Environment at the University of Texas at Austin. I study human-environment relations in anthropogenic landscapes and their iterative impacts on land use patterns and slope stability. My doctoral research looks at how human practice and perceptions along with the environment alter the use and form of terraced landscapes in the Andes of Southern Peru. I take a relational approach to better understand the co-production of these anthropogenic landscapes by integrating multiple perspectives and multiple lines of evidence. This includes ethnographic interviews, participatory observation and land cover and slope failure mapping to analyze the changing relations between humans and geomorphic form and process.
When not working on my dissertation, I conduct archaeological survey and excavation as well as write technical reports for cultural resource management projects throughout Texas and Oklahoma. I have also worked on other historic and prehistoric archaeological projects in the Andes and the western U.S.
EDUCATION
DOCTORAL CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Department of Geography and the Environment
Fall 2018 - Present
Doctoral thesis titled: Terracing in the Valley of the Volcanoes: Management of a Spasmodic System in Southern Peru.
My PhD project uses interviews, participatory observation and mapping to understand the co-production of a terraced landscape in southern Peru. I use qualitative social data to provide crucial context for mapping land cover change (e.g. terrace abandonment and rehabilitation) and geomorphic processes (e.g. mass wasting, wall collapse, and surface erosion) in this steep mountain valley experiencing rapidly altering environmental and social processes and forces. Understanding the relation between terrace patterns and extent as well as landform change resulting from hydrogeomorphic events and human action can then further inform the complexities of local perceptions and practices.
MA, UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Department of Geography and the Environment
June 2017
Thesis titled: Terracing, Land Management and Agricultural Soils in the Andagua Valley of the Southern Peruvian Andes. My master’s research evidenced the productive soil properties of the agricultural terraces, potentially the result of long-term sustainable agricultural practices in combination with the natural fertility of the volcanic soil.
AB, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Department of Anthropology
June 2012
Honors thesis entitled: An Anthropological and Historical Examination of Showman’s Rest in Woodlawn Cemetery
FIELD, RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Fall 2015 - Present
I have taught and created lesson plans for discussion sections in the Department of Geography and the Environment at the University of Texas and the University of Denver for both physical and human geography courses including Field Techniques, Latin America: Environmental History and Sustainability, Landscapes of Mexican and Caribbean America, Landscape Ecology, The Natural Environment, This Human World: Intro to Human Geography, Environmental Systems, Our Dynamic Earth and the Ecuador study abroad course South America: Nature, Society, and Sustainability,
Summer 2019
Semi-structured interviews and participant observation of agricultural practices and local perceptions of social and environmental change in an agropastoral community in the southern Peruvian Andes for the first phase of dissertation field research.
Summer 2019
Architectural analysis of pre-Inca, Inca and colonial archaeological sites under the direction of Dr. Alexander Menaker through the University of Texas at Austin.
2016 - 2017
Completed lab work on soil samples including analyzing particle size using laser diffraction, pH, electrical conductivity and organic matter content using the Walkley-Black Method.
Summer 2016
Soil sampling of used and disused agricultural terraces for the self-directed project towards the completion of a masters degree in the Department of Geography and the Environment at the University of Denver on the impact of use, reconstruction and abandonment on agriculturally relevant soil properties of terraces in an agropastoral community in the southern Peruvian Andes
Summer 2016
Excavations, site-mapping and survey as part of Proyecto Arquelogico del Valle Andagua funded by the National Science Foundation under the direction of Dr. Alexander Menaker through the University of Texas at Austin, and Lic. Victor Falcon Huayta.
Fall 2014
Inventory and creation of collection images of historical American artifacts for museum database at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum.
Summer 2014
Completed historical archival research and archaeological site reconnaissance in Arequipa, Peru and surrounding agropastoral communities under the direction of Dr. Alexander Menaker through the Department of Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin.
Fall 2011
Analyzed 18th – 20th century historical artifacts in the Archaeology Lab for Dr. Shannon Dawdy at the University of Chicago.
Summer 2010
Excavated and analyzed artifacts from a prehistoric archaeological site in the Salmon River Valley, Idaho under the supervision of Dr. Loren Davis from the Oregon State University Geoarchaeological Field School.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
January - February 2021
CULTURAL RESOURCE DATA RECOVERY
Archaeological excavation for historic African American Freedman's blacksmith shop and historic hotel along the Chism Trail in Denton County, Texas for Cox|McLain Environmental Consulting, Inc on behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation.
2020 - Present
CULTURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH, REPORT WRITING AND TECHNICAL EDITING
Cultural resources report research, writing and technical editing for Cox|McLain Environmental Consulting, Inc, now Stantec, on behalf of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Transportation, energy companies, the City of San Antonio, the City of Austin, and others, including projects that fall under regulatory requirements such as the National Environmental Policy Act.
2020 - Present
CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY
Cultural resources survey and shovel testing for Cox|McLain Environmental Consulting, Inc on behalf of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Transportation, energy companies, the City of San Antonio, the City of Austin, and others, including projects that fall under regulatory requirements such as the National Environmental Policy Act.
January - June 2015
TEXAS CONSERVATION CORP BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS CREW MEMBER
Constructed hiking trails and engaged in conservation projects in Texas State Parks as a Texas Conservation Corps Member under the supervision of American YouthWorks, an AmeriCorps Program.
AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS
AWARDS
2022, University of Texas at Austin Graduate School Summer 2022 Fellowship
2022, Mauna Kea Doctoral Student Presentation Award from the Mountain Geography Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers
2020, Fellowship from the Karl W. Butzer Excellence Fund
2019, Robert Veselka Endowed Fellowship for Graduate Research Travel
2017, Association for Women Geoscientists Outstanding Student Award
2017, Laurence C. Herold Teaching Award
2016, William M. Denevan CLAG MA Field Study Award
2016, Laurence C. Herold Fund for Student Research Award
MEMBERSHIPS
Graduate Association of Geography and the Environment (GAGE)
American Association of Geographers (AAG)
Conference of Latin Americanist Geographers (CLAG)
Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG)
American Geographical Society
Mountain Geography Specialty Group
Geographies of Food and Agriculture Specialty Group
Rural Geographies Specialty Group