Kristina Butler

Kristina Butler is an Assistant Professor at the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, The University of Texas at Dallas. Her research bridges sedimentary geology, geochemistry, and critical mineral resources through studies of earth surface processes and tectonic evolution.

• Education: PhD in Geosciences (The University of Texas at Austin, 2022), BS in Geosciences (University of Alaska Anchorage, 2017)

Her research focuses on:

• Critical Mineral Resources: Investigating lithium brine systems in Chile and Nevada, oil field brines in Canada, and lithium-rich clays across the Americas
• Tectonic Evolution: Reconstructing uplift mechanisms in the Central Andes and Cretaceous mountain-building in Patagonia
• Hydroclimate Records: Using terrestrial proxies to decode paleoenvironmental conditions in arid regions

Recent publications highlight her work in lithium resource sustainability, volcano-sedimentary deposits, and paleoelevation reconstruction using novel isotope techniques. Her research spans Quaternary climate shifts in the Great Basin (2024) to Cretaceous-Paleogene basin evolution in Patagonia (2020).

• Scientific Awards: NSF EAR Postdoctoral Fellowship

She mentors undergraduate students, particularly from underrepresented communities, and contributes to DEI initiatives in geoscience education through academic book clubs and science communication platforms like futureROCKdoc and Science Y’all.