Marie Jackson

Marie Jackson is a Research Professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, where she has held academic appointments since 2016. Her work bridges volcanology, materials science, and archaeological geology, with a focus on hydrothermal alteration in young basaltic systems (e.g., Surtsey volcano) and the mineralogy of ancient Roman concrete. She leads interdisciplinary collaborations across Europe and the U.S., including the ICDP SUSTAIN drilling project.

She holds a BS in Earth Sciences from UC Santa Cruz (1976), a Doctorat d'Universite from the University of Nantes (1979), and a PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Johns Hopkins University (1987). She is fluent in French and Italian.

Her research explores pyroclastic volcanism, mineral cementation in basaltic tephra, and sustainable concrete analogs inspired by Roman engineering. Key themes include:

• Hydrothermal-microbial interactions in submarine volcanic deposits
• Durability mechanisms in historical materials
• Geochemical fluxes in seawater-basalt systems
• Innovative material testing (e.g., arc-fracture for concrete ductility)

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals strong trends in micro-scale mineralogical processes: 73% focus on Surtsey volcano's time-lapse alteration, while 27% examine Roman concrete durability. Dominant methodologies include synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction, drill core petrography, and geomicrobiological assays.

She has received 11 scientific honors, including:

• Fellow, American Ceramic Society (2020)
• Science Highlights from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (2013, 2017, 2021)
• Geoarchaeology Journal's 25 Best Articles award (2010)

Her grants support high-impact projects:

• DOE-funded "SELF-SUSTAINING CONCRETES" (2019-2022)
• ICDP "SUSTAIN" drilling at Surtsey (2014-2018)
• Current work on biocompatible concrete (2023-2025)

She mentors graduate/undergraduate researchers in concrete science and volcanic processes.

She co-leads the SUSTAIN subsurface observatory at Surtsey, deploying in situ experiments to monitor microbe-mineral interactions in basaltic tephra at temperatures up to 127°C.