Daria Holdenried-Chernoff

Daria Holdenried-Chernoff is a Research Fellow in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, hosted by Prof. Bruce Buffett. She holds a B.A. and M.Sci. in Natural Sciences (Physics) from the University of Cambridge and a Ph.D. in Geophysics from ETH Zürich. Her research focuses on theoretical models of Earth’s magnetic field evolution, short-timescale wave dynamics in the outer core, and magnetohydrodynamics. In 2024, she received the Doornbos Memorial Prize for her work on Earth’s deep interior.

Her research interests span planetary magnetic field generation, geophysical fluid dynamics, and Earth’s evolutionary history. Recent work includes stochastic models for magnetic field variability, turbulent magnetic diffusion analysis, and plesio-geostrophic dynamics in the outer core. These studies bridge core dynamics with surface manifestations and long-term planetary evolution.

Hosted in the EPS department, Daria’s postdoctoral fellowship is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation Mobility Program. Her contributions advance understanding of core-mantle interactions and geodynamo processes, with implications for paleomagnetic data interpretation and planetary science.