Dr. John R. (Rick) Giardino is a process geomorphologist whose research is focused on mass movement and fluvial activity in periglacial environments. He studies rock glaciers, landslides and mountain streams from a system perspective focusing on the transport of mass and energy through these landform systems. Dr. Giardino is Professor in the Geology and Geophysics Department and the Water Management and Hydrological Sciences Graduate Program. He is currently Head of Geology and Geophysics, and he was the former Dean of Graduate Studies at Texas A&M University.