Sebnem Duzgun

H. Sebnem Düzgün is a Fred Banfield Distinguished Endowed Chair and Professor of Mining Engineering at Colorado School of Mines, with a joint appointment in Computer Science. She serves as Associate Department Head and leads the mineral supply chain pillar of the Mines Global Future Initiative. Her expertise spans geosciences, systems engineering, AI, and sustainability, with a focus on decarbonization, mineral supply chains, and disaster resilience.

Education:

• B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from Middle East Technical University (Turkey)
• Diploma in Analysis and Management of Geological Risks from University of Geneva

Research Interests: She pioneers interdisciplinary research in autonomous mining systems, big data analytics, geothermal exploration AI, and sustainable mineral supply chains. Her work integrates VR/AR technologies for safety training and disaster response, with emphasis on mitigating environmental impacts and improving workforce preparedness.

Awards:

• 100 Globally Inspiring Women in Mining (2020)
• Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship (2014)
• Resilience Fellow at TU Delft

Advancing Innovation: Founder of an AI-driven resource exploration startup, she coordinates the geoscience section of the Data Science program and directs the GIS and Geoinformatics initiative. Her research bridges academia and industry through projects like methane prediction in coal mines and geothermal exploration algorithms.

Labs & Collaborations: Leads interdisciplinary teams in VR-based hazard training, geothermal AI models, and mineral supply chain transparency. Her work interfaces with global initiatives like the Global Future Initiative and the 4TU-Resilience Federation.