Robert K. Goldhammer

Dr. Robert K. Goldhammer (1957–2003) was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences. His career bridged academia and industry, marked by expertise in carbonate sequence stratigraphy. A gifted educator, he received prestigious teaching awards, including the G. Moses and Carolyn G. Knebel Distinguished Teaching Award (2002) and the College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence Award (2003).

Goldhammer earned his Ph.D. in Geology from Johns Hopkins University (1987), following a master’s (University of Oklahoma, 1982) and bachelor’s (Colgate University, 1979). His early career included roles at Exxon Production Research, Shell Development, and Texaco, where he conducted global fieldwork and authored influential papers. His 1994 SEPM Award-winning paper on West Texas sequence stratigraphy highlighted his research impact.

He advanced professional geoscience through editorial roles (e.g., Journal of Sedimentary Research) and leadership in AAPG. His legacy includes field-based teaching methods and the Robert K. Goldhammer Memorial Grant, supporting student research in carbonates.