Piret Plink-Bjorklund

Piret Plink-Bjorklund is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at Colorado School of Mines, part of the College of Applied Science and Engineering. She has been at Colorado School of Mines since 2006, after holding positions at Göteborg University in Sweden and conducting post-doctoral research at multiple institutions including the University of Wyoming.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Geology, December 1998, Göteborg University, Sweden
• Fil.Lic. in Geology, May 1996, Göteborg University, Sweden
• M.Sc. in Geology, June 1993, Tartu University, Estonia
• B.Sc. in Geology, 1993, Tartu University, Estonia

Piret Plink-Bjorklund's research focuses on sedimentology and stratigraphy with particular emphasis on understanding how river systems respond to climate variability, especially precipitation patterns. Her work integrates field studies of ancient sedimentary deposits with modern river discharge analyses and experimental flume studies to develop more accurate interpretations of Earth's geological history. She investigates how Froude supercritical flow processes create distinctive sedimentary structures across various environments from rivers to deepwater slopes, and how monsoon precipitation affects river morphodynamics and sedimentary architecture.

Her publication record reveals a strong focus on fluvial systems, particularly examining how discharge variability influences sedimentary architecture. She has made significant contributions to understanding fluvial fans, deltaic systems, and the relationship between hydroclimate and sediment transport processes. Her work connects ancient sedimentary records with modern river behavior to improve flood prediction models and understand climate change impacts on river systems.

Scientific Awards:

• Swedish Research Council CAREER award (received twice)

Piret leads the RioMAR Consortium, a collaborative research program between Colorado School of Mines and UT Austin focused on source-to-sink sediment transport. Her research group includes numerous graduate students working on projects related to river hydrology, sediment transport, and paleoclimate. She has secured funding for studies examining global river discharge variability, modern and ancient fluvial fans, and Paleogene climate conditions. Her work has practical applications for flood prediction and mitigation strategies that account for different river hydrology types.

Her laboratory work involves analysis of sedimentary structures and experimental studies of supercritical flow processes. She collaborates with researchers across multiple disciplines including hydrology, climatology, and engineering to address complex questions about Earth surface processes and their response to climate change.