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Rick BrazierView profile

Professor

• Geophysics
• Seismicity Analysis
• Tectonic Processes
• +4 more

Rick Brazier is a Professor of Mathematics and Geology at Penn State DuBois and serves as Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research overseeing 14 Commonwealth Campuses within the University College. His role includes managing faculty development, promotions, sabbaticals, and grant proposals. Brazier joined Penn State in 1996 as a research associate in the EMS department before transitioning to teaching and tenure-line faculty roles. His research focuses on seismicity analysis, tectonic processes, and lithospheric dynamics in regions like East Africa, Ethiopia, and West Antarctica. Key areas include crustal seismicity patterns, mantle structure modeling, and the application of genetic algorithms for geophysical data inversion. Brazier has contributed to over a dozen peer-reviewed publications since 1998, addressing topics such as seismic calibration, mantle velocity structures, and stress regimes. His work spans empirical ground-truth criteria development, regional network optimization, and the interplay between Precambrian lithospheric features and modern tectonic processes.

Stephen McKinnonView profile

Professor

• Mining Engineering
• Geomechanics
• Rockburst Analysis
• +7 more

Dr. Stephen McKinnon is a Professor in the Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen’s University, holding a cross-appointment in the Department of Geological Science and Geological Engineering within the Faculty of Arts and Science. He joined Queen’s in 1998 as the Professor and Chair in Mine Design. His expertise spans mine layout design, high-stress geomechanics, and seismic risk analysis in mining environments. He holds a B.A.Sc. and M.A.Sc. from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. from the University of the Witwatersrand. Dr. McKinnon’s research focuses on mining-induced seismicity, rock mass characterization, and numerical modeling of subsidence and stability. His work integrates advanced techniques like LiDAR imaging for fracture mapping and machine learning for rockburst risk prediction. He has extensive international experience in mining geomechanics, working across Sweden, South Africa, Chile, the USA, and Canada. His publications reflect a strong emphasis on bridging geomechanical theory with practical mining challenges, particularly in deep and complex geological settings. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario and actively contributes to industry-relevant research through collaborations and advanced modeling methodologies.

Jörn BehrensView profile

Professor

• Numerical Methods in Geosciences
• Climate Modeling
• Tsunami Simulation
• +5 more

Prof. Jörn Behrens is a Professor of Numerical Methods in Geosciences at the University of Hamburg's Department of Mathematics. His work focuses on computational geoscience, including adaptive numerical methods, tsunami modeling, and multiscale simulations. He leads the Numerical Methods in Geosciences research group and is affiliated with the Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS) cluster of excellence. Education & Positions: Since 2009: Full Professor at University of Hamburg 2012: Visiting Scientist at Isaac Newton Institute, Cambridge 2007–2009: Privatdozent at University of Bremen Extensive experience at Alfred-Wegener-Institut and TU Munich Research Interests: Behrens develops numerical algorithms for geophysical flows, emphasizing adaptive mesh refinement, discontinuous Galerkin methods, and tsunami hazard modeling. His work bridges computational mathematics and geoscience applications, with a focus on environmental challenges like climate modeling and disaster risk assessment. Recent efforts include cloud computing for instant hazard simulations and interdisciplinary projects like the Global Tsunami Model (GTM). Key Publications: Recent work includes bathymetry reconstruction via PDE-constrained optimization, low-rank preconditioning for fluid flow, and tsunami hazard frameworks within EPOS. These reflect his expertise in computational methods and geophysical problem-solving. Grants & Projects: Lead on EU-funded DT-GEO (Digital Twin for Geophysical Extremes) Co-chair of COST Action AGITHAR (Tsunami Hazard Research) Contributions to CLICCS and EPOS infrastructure development Labs & Teams: Leads the Numerical Methods in Geosciences group, collaborating internationally on tsunami modeling, climate systems, and high-performance computing.

Alessandro M. ForteView profile

Professor

• Global Geophysics
• Computational Geodynamics
• Mantle Convection Modeling
• +5 more

Alessandro M. Forte is Professor of Geophysics at the University of Florida, specializing in computational modeling of Earth's deep interior dynamics. His research employs high-performance computing to simulate mantle convection processes, linking deep-Earth mass and heat movement to surface phenomena including plate tectonics, continental drift, gravity anomalies, and sea-level variations. Current investigations focus on the relationship between mantle dynamics and paleoclimate signals recorded in geological markers, particularly sea-level changes during warm periods and Milankovitch cycles in cyclostratigraphic data. Dr. Forte collaborates internationally with the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris to map spatio-temporal connections between internal Earth dynamics and climate proxies. Research applications include explaining continental topography evolution, ocean basin formation, and interpreting seismic tomography through geodynamic constraints. His work advances understanding of how convection-driven processes manifest in Earth's gravitational field, rotational behavior, and long-term surface deformation patterns.

Karl Dunbar StephenView profile

Associate Professor

• Reservoir Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Reservoir Simulation
• +5 more

Karl Dunbar Stephen is an Associate Professor at the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society at Heriot-Watt University, holding a joint affiliation with the Institute for GeoEnergy Engineering. His research focuses on reservoir engineering, enhanced oil recovery, and geomechanical modeling, with significant contributions to fractured reservoir simulation, CO₂ sequestration, and production optimization techniques. He has authored over 215 research outputs, including peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, and technical reports. His expertise aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13). Key research areas include reservoir simulation methodologies, data integration through machine learning, and innovative approaches to history-matching and uncertainty quantification. Dr. Stephen has received the Award for Outstanding Service (2012) and actively participates in international conferences such as EAGE and SEG/SPE workshops. He has served as a peer reviewer for journals like Tectonophysics and organized specialized training programs like the Strategic Reservoir Simulation course. His collaborative projects involve institutions worldwide, focusing on heterogeneous reservoirs, tight gas systems, and carbon capture technologies. Recent research trends emphasize AI-driven reservoir optimization, CO₂-enhanced oil recovery, and fracture stimulation techniques. He has contributed to field studies in Iraq's Sadi Formation and offshore reservoirs, demonstrating practical applications of advanced simulation tools and data mining techniques.

DERFOUL RatibaView profile

Lecturer

• Mathematical Imaging
• Partial Differential Equations (PDE)
• Approximation Theory
• +3 more

Ratiba Derfoul is affiliated with the Modal'X Laboratory at the University of Paris Ouest Nanterre La Defense. She held an ATER position (teaching and research assistant) from October 2013 before transitioning to a permanent engineer role at CGG VERITAS in May 2014. Her research focuses on mathematical imaging, partial differential equations, numerical analysis, and their applications in geosciences and medical imaging. She completed her PhD in 2013 under the supervision of Christian Gout and Carole Le Guyader, funded by IFP Energies Nouvelles. Educational Background: Master of Research in Mathematics and Applications, Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris VI), 2010. Research Highlights: Her work bridges computational mathematics and applied geosciences, including image registration techniques for neuroanatomical mapping, 4D seismic data integration in reservoir models, and optimization methods for history matching. She co-authored patents on reservoir calibration techniques and presented at conferences like SIAM Imaging Sciences and Computational Geosciences. Awards: Finalist for the Labex AMIES 2014 Thesis Prize. Grants & Patents: French patent (2011): Method for oil field exploitation via calibration of production and seismic data. Funding from IFP Energies Nouvelles for her doctoral research. Professional Contributions: Her interdisciplinary approach combines numerical methods with practical applications in energy and biomedical fields, demonstrated through collaborations with institutions like INRIA and TOTAL.

Glyn Williams-JonesView profile

Professor

• Physical Volcanology
• Glaciovolcanism
• Geothermal Systems
• +3 more

Glyn Williams-Jones is a Professor and Co-Director of the Centre for Natural Hazards Research at Simon Fraser University's Department of Earth Sciences. His work bridges physical volcanology, glaciovolcanism, and geothermal systems with Indigenous knowledge integration. Current research explores magma dynamics in the Cascade Volcanic Arc Develops machine learning tools for volcano monitoring Integrates Indigenous oral histories with geological analyses Notable projects include studying Canada's deadliest volcanic eruption (Tseax, ~1700 CE) and developing hazard assessments for glacier-capped volcanoes. His lab employs advanced geophysical techniques like gravity modeling and seismic signal analysis. Students under his supervision work on topics spanning structural geology, glaciovolcanic cave systems, and volcanic risk communication. Recent publications highlight applications of machine learning in volcano-seismic data analysis (2025), Indigenous-Western science co-creation (2024), and glaciovolcanic void dynamics (2024). He actively collaborates with institutions like the Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional in Ecuador.

• Structural Engineering
• Historical Constructions
• Masonry Mechanics
• +4 more

Marialuigia Sangirardi is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Oxford's Department of Engineering Science, affiliated with Mansfield College. Prior to Oxford, she worked at UMinho - ISISE (Portugal), La Sapienza, and Roma Tre (Italy). Her research focuses on masonry constitutive modeling , historic buildings , and soil-structure interaction , with emphasis on low-impact retrofitting strategies and computer vision-based structural monitoring . Current projects include MINT (in-situ testing methods for historic masonry) and collaborations with Professor Sinan Acikgoz. Publications highlight her expertise in lime mortar elasticity , seismic retrofitting , and numerical simulation of historical structures. She serves as a reviewer for international journals in structural preservation and mechanics.

Zach EilonView profile

Professor

• Seismology
• Geophysics
• Mantle Dynamics
• +4 more

Zach Eilon is a Professor in the Earth Science Department at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). He leads the EilonLab , focused on geophysical imaging of the lithosphere and mantle, with expertise in seismic tomography, mantle dynamics, and oceanic lithosphere structure. His work integrates field data collection, advanced computational methods, and interdisciplinary approaches. Research interests include mid-ocean ridge dynamics, continental rifting processes (e.g., East African Rift), Alaska upper mantle structure, and the development of novel techniques for analyzing ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) data. Key projects involve the Pacific ORCA experiment and the Eastern North American Margin seismic experiment. Eilon’s advising spans 13+ graduate and undergraduate researchers since 2017. Notable collaborations include work with Colleen Dalton (Brown University) on surface wave tomography and contributions to international initiatives like the PacificArray. His teaching includes courses like Earth 2 (Physical Geology), Earth 133 (Plate Tectonics), and Earth 175 (MATLAB for Geoscientists). Recent focus areas include imaging small-scale mantle convection beneath the Pacific, quantifying mantle flow at mid-ocean ridges, and developing machine learning tools for earthquake detection. His lab maintains active fieldwork in the Santa Ynez Mountains and oceanic environments.

Mauro BeckerView profile

Professor

• Sedimentology
• Stratigraphy
• Basin Evolution
• +3 more

Mauro Becker is a Professor of the Practice at Texas A&M University, specializing in sedimentology, stratigraphy, and reservoir geoscience. He holds a PhD in Geology from The University of Texas at Austin (1993-1996), an MSc from Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Brazil (1983-1984), and a BSc from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (1977-1981). His research focuses on sedimentological and stratigraphic characterization of deep-water reservoirs, including turbidite systems, fluvial deposits, and carbonate reservoirs. He emphasizes integrating outcrop studies, seismic data, and stochastic modeling to improve reservoir management and field development strategies. Key regions of study include the Campos Basin (Brazil), Gulf of Mexico, and Northeast Brazilian basins. Becker has contributed extensively to reservoir heterogeneity analysis, fluid flow simulation, and the application of geophysical methods like seismic inversion for reservoir characterization. His work bridges academic research and industry needs, with a focus on optimizing oil field development in complex sedimentary systems. His publications span over two decades, addressing challenges in deep-water reservoirs, outcrop analogs, and pre-salt reservoirs in Brazil. Notable projects include the Barracuda and Cascade fields, where he applied advanced geostatistical and geological methods to enhance reservoir understanding and production strategies.

Roger Cameron CreelView profile

Assistant Professor

• Sea Level Geophysics
• Paleoclimate
• Probabilistic Methods
• +7 more

Roger Cameron Creel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Texas A&M University , where he leads the TAMU Sea Level Lab. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Geophysics from Columbia University (2024, 2021) and a B.A. in Geology/English from Amherst College (2013) . Research Interests : Sea level interactions with permafrost, ice sheets, coastlines, and land hydrology Glacial Isostatic Adjustment and Bayesian statistics Carbonate sedimentology across Cenozoic and Paleozoic eras Scalable open-source computational tools for uncertainty quantification Paleoclimate modeling from the Plio-Pleistocene to Holocene Fieldwork in Arctic Alaska, Bahamas, Hawaii, Death Valley , and Maritime Canada Scientific Awards : PNAS Cozzarelli Prize Woods Hole Postdoctoral Scholar Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans Outstanding Reviewer Publications focus on sea level dynamics , permafrost-ice sheet interactions , and inverse theory applications , with recent work in Nature Communications and PNAS . Recruiting : Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers interested in solid geophysics, sedimentology, glaciology, hydrology, or computational sea level research are encouraged to contact him directly.

Benchun DuanView profile

Professor

• Seismology
• Geomechanics
• Tectonophysics
• +4 more

Professor Benchun Duan holds the Francesco Paolo di Gangi/Heep Endowed Professorship in Theoretical Geophysics at Texas A&M University (TAMU), where he is affiliated with the Department of Geology and Geophysics within the College of Geosciences. His research focuses on earthquake source physics, computational seismology, and geomechanics, with a strong emphasis on numerical modeling and high-performance computing. Education: Ph.D. Geological Sciences, University of California, Riverside, 2006. M.S. Applied Geophysics, Ocean University of China, 1994. B.S. Applied Geophysics, Ocean University of China, 1991. Research Interests: Dr. Duan explores dynamic earthquake ruptures on complex faults, megathrust earthquakes, fluid-induced seismicity, and subsurface processes. His work integrates seismic data with physics-based models, focusing on the San Andreas Fault, Japan Trench, Mexico subduction zones, and anthropogenic effects like hydraulic fracturing. He develops advanced numerical tools like EQsimu for simulating fault dynamics. Articles Trends: Recent publications emphasize earthquake cycle modeling, fault geometry effects, and interactions between slow-slip events and tsunamigenic earthquakes. Key topics include induced seismicity, tsunami earthquake mechanisms, and code verification for 3D dynamic simulations. Awards: NSF Career Award (2013) Distinguished Achievement Award for Faculty Research (2010, TAMU) Advising & Grants: Supervised over 10 graduate students and led collaborative projects on fault mechanics. Active in initiatives like the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) and the Seismic Cycle and Earthquake Sequences (SEAS) code verification effort. Labs & Teams: Directs the Earthquake Mechanics and Laboratory for Advanced Modeling (EMLAM), accessible via https://seismotamu.wixsite.com/emlam .

Mark JessellView profile

Professor

• Tectonics
• Metallogenesis
• 3D Geological Modelling
• +5 more

Mark Jessell is a Professor and Western Australian Fellow at the School of Earth and Oceans, University of Western Australia. He leads the WAXI & SAXI Projects and co-leads the MinEx CRC's Automated 3D Geological Modelling Project with Dr. Mark Lindsay. His research focuses on tectonics, metallogenesis, and 3D geological modelling, particularly in the West African and Guyanese Cratons. He has developed open-source QGIS plugins for geological analysis and digital mapping, including Map2Loop and GEOL-QMAPS. Education: MSc (UK), PhD (USA), Postdoc (Melbourne), and positions at Monash University and IRD (France). Research Interests: Microstructure studies, geology-geophysics integration, and structural geophysics. Industrial Relevance: Projects funded by AMIRA, MinEx CRC, and ARC, with a focus on resource exploration and risk analysis. Awards: GSA Bruce Hobbs Medal, Western Australian Fellowship, and MinEx CRC Publication Prizes. Engagement: Co-founded Agate Project Ltd to enhance Earth science education in Africa. Recent work includes multi-disciplinary studies of Paleoproterozoic tectonics in West Africa and advancements in 3D modelling algorithms. His publications span geophysical data fusion, machine learning applications, and lithospheric mantle analysis.

Federico Daniel MunchView profile

Researcher

• Seismology
• Mantle Dynamics
• Geophysics
• +4 more

Federico Daniel Munch is a Researcher affiliated with the Institute of Geophysics at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, under the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. He holds an academic position within the Professorship for Seismology and Geodynamics. His work focuses on mantle dynamics, seismic tomography, electromagnetic methods, and the interplay between seismic and geochemical data to understand Earth's internal structure. Research interests include mantle plumes, lithospheric composition, and the application of advanced inversion techniques to seismic and electromagnetic data. His contributions span high-resolution seismic imaging, magnetotelluric studies, and numerical modeling of Earth's structure and dynamics. Key achievements include studies on asthenospheric fingers in the Atlantic Ocean, mantle water content variations in the US upper mantle, and the development of spectral element methods for seismological computations. His interdisciplinary approach integrates seismology, electromagnetism, and mineral physics to address fundamental questions in geodynamics.

Alexis ShakasView profile

Lecturer

• Geophysics
• Seismic Anisotropy
• Geothermal Energy
• +2 more

Dr. Alexis Shakas is a Lecturer at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zürich. His research focuses on geophysical methods for subsurface characterization, geothermal energy systems, and seismic hazard analysis. He specializes in integrating field experiments with numerical modeling to understand fractured reservoirs and geothermal resource optimization. His key research interests include seismic anisotropy, hydraulic stimulation, subsurface monitoring, and geomechanical modeling. Shakas utilizes advanced technologies like ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and seismic tomography to investigate fault dynamics and fluid-rock interactions in crystalline rock formations. Shakas's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on geophysical applications in energy and hazard mitigation. Articles frequently involve interdisciplinary approaches combining geology, engineering, and computational methods to address challenges in geothermal energy extraction and induced seismicity.