Erin Pettit

Erin Pettit is a Professor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) at Oregon State University. Her research focuses on glacier and ice sheet dynamics, ice-ocean interactions, ice rheology, and climate history. She leads field-based studies in Antarctica, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest, investigating processes such as submarine melt dynamics, subglacial discharge plumes, and ice shelf stability. Pettit also directs Inspiring Girls Expeditions, a program that empowers underprivileged young women to engage in field science through wilderness expeditions.

Education: ScB in Mechanical Engineering (Brown University, 1994); PhD in Glaciology/Geophysics (University of Washington, 2003).

Research Themes:
- Ice deformation and fracture mechanisms
- Glacial hydrology and meltwater dynamics
- Climate change impacts on polar ice sheets
- Planetary ice processes (e.g., icy ocean worlds)
- Application of geophysical methods (seismology, radar, acoustics)

Notable Projects:
- Lead investigator for the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC)
- Deployment of seismometers and fiber-optic moorings in Antarctic ice shelves
- Study of meltwater plumes and submarine ice morphology at tidewater glaciers

Awards:
- National Geographic Emerging Explorer
- Teaching Award, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Advising & Outreach:
- Mentor for early-career scientists via Girls on Ice and Inspiring Girls Expeditions
- NSF- and NASA-funded collaborative research teams

Labs/Teams:
- CEOAS Glaciology Research Group
- International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC)
- Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX)