Rachel Brackenridge

Dr. Rachel Brackenridge is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, based at Kings College. Her work integrates sedimentology, petroleum geology, and geohazards research with a focus on sustainable energy solutions aligned with UN SDGs. She specializes in contourite systems, subsurface storage (e.g., hydrogen, CCS), and energy transition technologies. Her teaching includes MSc Sustainable Energy Geoscience program leadership and courses on geophysics, reservoir modeling, and subsurface storage.

Research interests span sediment transport dynamics, paleoceanographic influences on margin evolution, and applying 'Big Data' and machine learning in subsurface characterization. Notable projects include studies on North Sea hydrocarbon prospectivity, Indonesian submarine landslide mechanisms, and basin-scale storage potential in Permian evaporites. She co-authored a special issue on contourites and pioneered virtual field trip methodologies for geoscience education.

Key contributions include defining play fairways in the Mid North Sea High and demonstrating the critical role of contourites in hydrocarbon reservoirs. Her work bridges academia and industry, addressing energy equality and subsurface utilization for renewable energy storage.