Chester Weiss

Chester "Chet" Weiss is an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Mexico's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. He also serves as a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories. His research focuses on computational geophysics, particularly in subsurface monitoring, well integrity assessment, and electromagnetic field modeling. He holds a Ph.D. in Geophysics from Texas A&M University (1998).

Key research interests include:

• Electromagnetic responses in wellbore environments
• Orphan well detection and environmental impact mitigation
• Fractured porous media modeling
• Nuclear safeguards verification via electropotential analysis
• Development of advanced numerical methods for subsurface characterization

Recent work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining geophysics with engineering (e.g., autonomous sensor systems) and policy (e.g., energy transition initiatives). His publications frequently address technical challenges in detecting subsurface features at sub-wavelength scales and improving computational efficiency for complex models.

Notable achievements include developing the MagMapper app for citizen scientist participation in orphan well mapping and pioneering the use of fractional differential operators for geophysical feature detection. Awards include his Distinguished Technical Staff role at Sandia National Laboratories.

Current projects involve real-time subsurface event assessment (RESEAD), advanced finite element methods (Hi-FEM), and collaboration on nuclear facility design verification. He maintains close ties with industry through practical applications in oilfield infrastructure monitoring and environmental remediation.