Leonardo Macelloni

Dr. Leonardo Macelloni serves as Director of the Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute (MMRI) and the Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology (CMRET) at the University of Mississippi, alongside his role as Associate Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering. His academic journey includes a BS/MS from La Sapienza University of Rome (2001) and a PhD in Earth Science (2005). His expertise spans geophysics, marine robotics, and mineral resource exploration, with a focus on subsurface imaging and deep-sea exploration.

Dr. Macelloni’s research emphasizes ecological characterization of marine critical minerals, lithium deposits in Mississippi, and offshore reservoir characterization using advanced remote sensing. He previously served at the University of Southern Mississippi and has over 20 years of cross-sector experience in Earth Sciences, including roles in coastal engineering, oil and gas exploration, and ocean acoustics.

He leads key initiatives at the National Center for Physical Acoustics and collaborates across interdisciplinary teams. His educational contributions include affiliations with undergraduate and graduate programs in Geology, Geological Engineering, and Engineering Science.