Stephen S. Gao

Stephen S. Gao is the Curator's Distinguished Teaching Professor and Department Chair of Geosciences, Geological and Petroleum Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. He also serves as Professor of Geophysics and Earth Sciences and Engineering Chair of the Geology and Geophysics Program. With over 250 scholarly works published throughout his career, Dr. Gao is a prominent figure in geophysics specializing in earthquake seismology, crustal deformation, and Earth's deep interior structure.

Dr. Gao received his educational foundation from prestigious institutions:

• Ph.D. in Geophysics and Space Physics, University of California, Los Angeles (1995)
• M.S. in Geophysics and Space Physics, University of California, Los Angeles (1993)
• B.S. in Marine Geology and Geophysics, Ocean University of China (1984)

Dr. Gao's research integrates multiple scientific disciplines to explore Earth's structure and dynamics. His work combines geology, physics, mathematics, and computer science to investigate Earth's interior using seismic waves generated by earthquakes. His research spans six continents including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Japan, Kenya, Mongolia, Russia, South Africa, the United States, and Zimbabwe. Key research areas include earthquake seismology and hazard prediction, mantle and crustal structure imaging using seismic tomography, seismic anisotropy and mantle flow patterns, continental rifting processes, and application of machine learning to seismic data analysis.

Dr. Gao's recent publications demonstrate continued focus on understanding mantle dynamics and crustal deformation across diverse tectonic settings worldwide. His work increasingly incorporates advanced computational methods including convolutional neural networks for seismic event classification. The research spans from deep Earth structure to practical applications in exploration geophysics for locating oil, gas, and minerals, as well as environmental protection applications.

Dr. Gao has received significant recognition for his contributions:

• Elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America
• h-index of 40 according to citation metrics

As Department Chair and research leader, Dr. Gao oversees multiple research initiatives with substantial funding for geophysical investigations. His work has practical applications in earthquake hazard prediction and mitigation, as well as resource exploration. He maintains active international collaborations across six continents and contributes significantly to the field through his role as an educator, mentoring students and developing curriculum in geophysics and exploration techniques.