Mel Rodgers

Mel Rodgers is a Research Assistant Professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. (2009–2013) and M.Sci. (2000–2004) from the University of South Florida and University of Durham, respectively.

Her research focuses on volcanic processes and hazards, employing geophysical methods such as seismology, photogrammetry, and machine learning. Key projects include studies on volcanoes in Colombia, Montserrat, Nicaragua, and Italy, with an emphasis on improving hazard mitigation through advanced monitoring techniques and community outreach. She has pioneered UAV-based surveys for topographic change detection, magnetic anomaly mapping, and wetland monitoring.

Rodgers has received the Richard A. Davis Endowed Fellowship in Geology (2013) and contributed to interdisciplinary grants, including a $1.5M initiative for coastal climate-risk apps. Her work bridges academia and public engagement, as seen in her podcast appearance (Calling: Earth #041) and collaborations with volcano monitoring institutions.

• Key Projects: Blackfoot Reservoir volcanic field studies, UAV applications in geosciences, and eruption forecasting via machine learning.
• Grants: $1.5M NSF grant for coastal hazard assessment tools.
• Labs/Teams: Collaborates with international volcano monitoring groups and utilizes USF’s geology field station resources.