Kate Leary

Kate Leary, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Hydrology in the Earth & Environmental Science department at New Mexico Tech. She holds a Ph.D. in Geology from Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration. Her research focuses on bedform kinematics, fluvial geomorphology, and sediment transport, with a particular emphasis on experimental approaches and field investigations in the Colorado River (Grand Canyon). She collaborates with the U.S. Geological Survey on projects involving high-resolution bed elevation data analysis. Beyond academia, Leary actively engages in science communication through AGU’s Earth & Planetary Surface Processes social media platforms, including the #WisdomWednesday initiative and EPSP Connects virtual seminars. Her work bridges field observations, analog modeling, and numerical computations to elucidate Earth’s surface processes.

Research Interests: Leary’s experimental studies explore particle trajectories and 3D bedform dynamics, while her fieldwork integrates spatially resolved data from rivers to understand sediment transport mechanisms. Her recent studies address topics like paleohydrology, coastal aquifer dynamics, and the geomorphic impacts of rapid sedimentation. She emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, linking fluid dynamics and sediment transport to stratigraphic records.

Articles Trends: Her publications (2014–2024) consistently investigate bedform behavior, sediment transport quantification, and paleohydraulic reconstructions. Key themes include 3D bedform evolution, spatiotemporal transport patterns, and the influence of splat events on flow structures. Recent work (2022–2024) explores modern applications like coastal seawater entrapment and high-resolution bedload mapping via acoustic surveys.

Awards: No specific scientific awards mentioned in the text. Grants and funding sources are not detailed here.

Lab/Teams: Collaborates with USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring & Research Center on fluvial projects. Engages with AGU communities for science outreach. Part of 500WomenScientists and 500QueerScientists advocacy networks.