Wendy Bohrson

Wendy Bohrson is a Professor in the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. Her research focuses on understanding physical and chemical changes in magmas during crustal storage and transport, with a particular emphasis on open-system thermodynamic modeling. She develops computational tools like the Magma Chamber Simulator (MCS) to track compositional and phase equilibria in evolving magmas. Key research interests include magma mush processes, crustal magmatism, timescales of melt/crystal aggregation, and linking petrologic data with geophysical signals at active volcanoes.

Education background and affiliations: Her academic career includes positions at Colorado School of Mines and collaborations with institutions globally. She has authored/co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles since 2012, focusing on volcanic systems, planetary magmatism, and computational modeling.

Research highlights include studies on the Steens Basalt, Mount Etna eruptive records, and lunar magma ocean dynamics. Her work integrates experimental petrology, geochemical analysis, and computational simulations to unravel magmatic processes. Projects often combine fieldwork with advanced modeling to address questions like crustal contamination, magma mixing, and eruption dynamics.

Grants and funding support her research into flood basalt systems, magma chamber dynamics, and planetary crust formation. She contributes to STEM education initiatives like the Science Talent Expansion Program (STEP) at Central Washington University.

Labs/teams: She leads the Computational Petrology Group at Mines, focusing on open-source tools like MCS. Collaborations include international volcano observatories and planetary science institutions.