Motyka joined the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, in 1997 after 16 years as senior geologist with the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Survey (ADGGS).  At ADGGS, he first headed their geothermal program (which included studies on volcanoes), then later returned to his first love, glaciers, and headed ADGGS’ glacier hazards program. After joining GI-UAF, Motyka was involved in the Black Rapids Glacier drilling program, and helped characterize the subglacial till. Dr. Motyka’s more recent work has focused on understanding tidewater glacier dynamics through extensive field work and photogrammetry.  He was lead scientist on NSF funded studies of tidewater glaciers that include LeConte, Taku, and Hubbard Glaciers, all located in southeast Alaska.  He is currently collaborating on a NASA funded study on the calving collapse and retreat of Jakobshavn Isbrae in Greenland, and an NSF funded study looking at ocean-glacier interactions near Nuuk, Greenland.  He and colleagues are also studying the thinning and disintegration of several lake-calving glaciers in Alaska including an NSF funded study of Yakutat Glacier. Motyka was the lead scientist in a NSF-funded multi-disciplinary study of uplift, isostatic rebound, and plate tectonics in southeast Alaska, centered on Glacier Bay.  This program used precision GPS, tide gage measurements, dendrochronology, measurements of glacier changes, and modeling to help understand the dynamics between glacier change, isostatic rebound, and regional tectonics.  Although he works for the GI-UAF, Motyka is based in Juneau. There he participates in coordinating field work and also serves as a liaison with University of Alaska Southeast faculty and students, helping to integrate them into GI-UAF glacier research.  He is regularly contacted by the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center (USFS) in Juneau, the Glacier Bay Visitors Center (USNPS) in Bartlett Cove, and the Wrangell St. Elias Visitors Center (USNPS) in Yakutat for scientific advice and for training of interpretive staff.