Laura M. Wallace

Laura M. Wallace serves as a Research Professor at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) with a joint appointment at GNS Science in New Zealand. Her pioneering work focuses on geodetic analysis of crustal deformation at plate boundaries, particularly slow slip events in subduction zones like New Zealand's Hikurangi Margin. In 2018, she co-led IODP Expedition 375 aboard the JOIDES Resolution, drilling into active slow slip zones to install long-term monitoring observatories.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz
• B.S. in Geology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Research Focus: Wallace's work centers on tectonics and crustal deformation, utilizing land-based GPS and seafloor geodetic instruments to study subduction zone dynamics. Her 2002 discovery of slow slip events at Hikurangi revolutionized understanding of fault behavior, revealing how fluid pressure and lithological heterogeneity control slip patterns. She integrates geodetic data with seismic and drilling results to model earthquake cycles.

Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) analyzes spatiotemporal evolution of slow slip using multi-instrument approaches (GNSS, InSAR, seafloor sensors), with emphasis on New Zealand's seismic hazard models. Key themes include fluid-mediated fault weakening, seamount subduction effects, and probabilistic forecasting of megathrust events.

Leadership & Grants: Wallace secured major funding through IODP for Expedition 375, enabling core sampling and observatory deployment at Hikurangi. She contributes to national hazard assessments for New Zealand, developing geodetic strain rate models and deformation frameworks for seismic hazard maps.

Collaborative Infrastructure: She leverages UTIG's geodetic networks and GNS Science partnerships, utilizing JOIDES Resolution drilling data and SMART subsea cable initiatives for real-time offshore monitoring. Her lab integrates field observations with numerical modeling to predict subduction zone behavior.