Scott Melnyk

Research in Sedimentology and Ichnology

About

I completed my PhD in 2023 with the Ichnology Research Group at the University of Alberta, studying under the guidance of Dr. Murray Gingras. My PhD research focused on how burrowing invertebrates have interacted with their environment through geologic time. I was particularly interested in the environmental factors that influence bioturbation distributions in intertidal environments.

I am currently a postdoctoral research associate working with Dr. Lauren Birgenheier at the University of Utah. My focus is on characterizing Mesozoic outcrops in Dinosaur National Monument to evaluate the Uinta Basin’s potential for carbon sequestration.

Scott Melnyk — CV

scott.melnyk@utah.edu

Interests

Process Ichnology

Process ichnology is an approach that views trace fossils as biogenic sedimentary structures, offering a framework for evaluating physical and chemical stressors in ancient sedimentary environments. It is particularly useful for constraining environmental parameters including salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, water turbidity, substrate consistency, and sedimentation rate. In this way, process ichnology significantly enhances sedimentological models and enables more refined interpretations of paleoenvironments.

Neoichnology

Neoichnology is the study of present-day traces left behind by burrowing organisms. By studying how these organisms interact with their surroundings, we can better interpret trace fossils in the rock record. In particular, by examining modern depositional settings, paleoenvironmental proxies can be established based on ichnological characteristics such as the intensity, diversity, size, and depth of bioturbation. My research has focused on the temperate intertidal zones of North America, which are among the most densely populated invertebrate habitats in the world.

Conservation Paleobiology

Conservation paleobiology is an interdisciplinary field that uses the geohistorical record to elucidate historical adaptation patterns. Using insights from throughout the Phanerozoic, we can better understand and manage ecosystems in the present and near future. Intertidal environments are spatially and temporally dynamic, providing unique testing ground for investigating how invertebrates respond to shifts in their local environment.

Drone Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is a method that uses georeferenced imagery to construct 3D models, enabling detailed observations and precise spatial measurements. With the continuous advancement and increased accessibility of drone technology, photogrammetry is becoming an integral part of field work, offering applications to both modern and outcrop studies. Part of my research focuses on developing new approaches for building quantitative datasets that cannot be obtained solely through conventional field methods.

Geologic Carbon Storage

An increasingly relevant aspect of sedimentology is its application to Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). My postdoc is focused on evaluating the potential of the Uinta Basin in Utah for this purpose. This research includes characterizing outcrops to determine reservoir properties, connectivity, and heterogeneity. Ultimately, the goal is to integrate these findings with subsurface data to assess the feasibility of the eolian Entrada Sandstone and other Mesozoic strata as targets for CO₂ sequestration.