Andrew Valentine

Dr Andrew Valentine is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham University, a position he has held since 2023. Previously, he served as Assistant Professor at Durham (2021-2023), Fellow at the Research School of Earth Sciences at The Australian National University (2016-2021), and Postdoctoral Researcher at Utrecht University (2011-2016). He holds significant leadership roles including Director of Education for the Department of Earth Sciences (2025-present) and Secretary of the IUGG Commission on Mathematical Geophysics (2023-present).

• DPhil in Earth Sciences, University of Oxford (2006-2010), supervised by Prof. J.H. Woodhouse
• BA/MSci in Natural Sciences (Physics), University of Cambridge (2002-2006)

Valentine's research focuses on mathematical and statistical tools for extracting information from observational data, with expertise in geophysical inverse theory, global seismology, and machine learning applications in Earth Sciences. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical geophysical problems, developing novel approaches to data analysis and interpretation. He has made significant contributions to probabilistic inversion methods, seismic tomography, and the application of deep learning to geoscience problems.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating machine learning with traditional geophysical methods. His work spans from theoretical developments in Bayesian inference and optimal transport to practical applications in seismic modeling, mantle dynamics, and volcanic processes. A notable pattern is his focus on uncertainty quantification in geophysical models and the development of efficient computational frameworks for complex inverse problems. His research increasingly incorporates neural networks and other AI techniques to address longstanding challenges in Earth Sciences.

• Harold Jeffreys Lectureship, Royal Astronomical Society (2025)
• ARC DECRA Fellowship (2018-2021)
• Multiple Geophysical Journal International Outstanding Reviewer citations
• Geophysical Journal International Student Author Award (2010)

Valentine has supervised numerous PhD students including Buse Turunçtur, Matthias Scheiter, Suzanne Atkins, Paul Käufl, and Ralph de Wit, with thesis topics spanning sparsity-constrained inversion, Monte Carlo methods, mantle convection patterns, and probabilistic source inversion. His supervision extends to current students Arijit Chakraborty, Charlotte Aulton, Hanna-Riia Allas, Isaac Abbott, and Ugurcan Cetiner. He has served on various editorial boards including as Editor for Geophysical Journal International (2020-2025) and has been involved in major collaborative projects through organizations like CIG.

As Director of InLab since 2018, Valentine leads a research group focused on developing innovative computational approaches to geophysical problems. His team has produced influential open-source software like pyprop8 for seismic modeling and has pioneered applications of deep learning to problems ranging from glacial isostatic adjustment to volcanic glass properties. The group maintains strong international collaborations, particularly with researchers at The Australian National University where Valentine holds an Honorary Senior Lecturer position (2021-2025).