Jeroen Ritsema

Jeroen Ritsema is a Professor of Geophysics and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EESS), within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). He holds a Ph.D. in Geophysics from the University of California, Santa Cruz (1995) and an M.Sc. in Geophysics from Utrecht University (1988). His research focuses on seismic wave analysis for imaging Earth's interior, including global mantle tomography, 3D seismic modeling, and studies of upper mantle dynamics. He leads projects such as NARS-Baja, analyzing seismic activity in the Gulf of California rift. Ritsema is actively involved in departmental leadership and teaches courses on geology and geophysics at both the Ann Arbor campus and Camp Davis Field Station.

Research Interests
His work integrates field data with advanced computational methods, emphasizing seismic wave propagation, mantle heterogeneity, and the structural evolution of Earth's interior. Notable areas include modeling regional wave behavior using mineralogical upper mantle models and interrogating seismic tomography with synthetic 3D datasets. Recent studies explore wave attenuation mechanisms and the role of subducted oceanic crust in lower-mantle seismic anomalies.

Professional Activities
Ritsema serves as Editor-at-Large for *The Seismic Record* and collaborates on large-scale seismic networks, such as Alaska’s monitoring system. His work bridges academic research with public safety, as seen in analyses of seismic quieting during the pandemic and investigations into lake-erie earthquakes. Despite no explicitly listed awards, his contributions to global seismological frameworks and open-source tool development reflect his scholarly impact.