Brandon Shuck

Brandon Shuck is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology & Geophysics at Louisiana State University (LSU), part of the College of Science. His research focuses on solid-earth geophysics, particularly tectonic processes within plate boundaries and mature tectonic settings. He uses active-source seismic reflection and wide-angle ocean-bottom seismometer data to image subsurface lithospheric architecture and integrate interdisciplinary datasets including bathymetry, borehole logs, and geodynamic models.

Education: Ph.D. in Geological Sciences (2021) from the University of Texas at Austin; B.S. in Geology (Petroleum Emphasis) and Mathematics (2015) from Western Colorado University. Previously served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University (2021–2024).

Research Interests: Tectonic evolution of the lithosphere at plate boundaries, feedbacks between lithospheric stress and fluid-rock interactions, geologic hazards related to subduction zones, and mantle dynamics during continental breakup. Active projects include studies of subduction initiation in the Tyrrhenian Sea, megathrust fault segmentation in Cascadia, and water content in the Cocos Plate offshore Mexico.

Current opportunities include an NSF-funded PhD position (starting Fall 2025) investigating mantle dynamics during early Atlantic seafloor spreading, involving seismic data acquisition on the R/V Langseth. His group emphasizes collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches combining seismic imaging, field geology, and modeling.

Awards: None explicitly listed, though his work has been supported through NSF funding and institutional grants.

Lab/Team: Directs the LSU Solid-Earth Geophysics Research Group, which integrates geophysical data analysis with field observations to address tectonic questions at multiple scales.