Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Showing 1-100 of 137 Results
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Jood Al Aswad
Ph.D. Student in Geological Sciences, admitted Autumn 2019
BioMy interests are in ecosystem recovery from mass extinction events and hyperthermal periods, spatial and temporal trends in the fossil record, ecophysiology, and taxonomic identification.
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Adel Asadi
Postdoctoral Scholar, Earth and Planetary Sciences
BioAdel Asadi is a Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, in the Doerr School of Sustainability. He is a member of Stanford Mineral-X initiative, a program dedicated to pioneering sustainable critical minerals exploration to facilitate the transition to green energy. Under the supervision of Prof. Jef Caers, Adel's research is focused on mineral exploration, leveraging data science tools and artificial intelligence algorithms. Through the integrated geological data analysis, his goal is to enhance the predictive accuracy of models for discovering high-grade mineral deposits, thereby enabling decision-making with higher certainty. He is currently collaborating with Ero Copper Corporation, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, on discovery of new economic copper and nickel deposits in Brazil.
Before joining Stanford University, Adel was a Postdoctoral Scholar at Tufts University in Massachusetts. There, he conducted research on renewable energy systems at the Offshore Wind Energy group. Under Prof. Babak Moaveni’s supervision, in a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), he exploited multiple-point geostatistics to simulate offshore wind speed and direction in a multi-variate context, using numerical weather models, satellite/radar remote sensing, observational, and geospatial data.
Adel Asadi earned his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a Geosystems specialization from Tufts University. His doctoral work in the Geohazards Research Lab involved a diverse toolkit (computer vision, machine learning, remote sensing, and geographic information systems) to model earthquake-induced ground failure hazards (soil liquefaction) and map post-earthquake ground failure damages (landslides and liquefaction) on global, regional, and event-specific scales. His dissertation research was funded by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGIA).
During his Master's study in Mining Engineering at Michigan Technological University, under Prof. Snehamoy Chatterjee’s supervision, he developed a novel multiple-point geostatistical simulation algorithm for Earth resources modeling and uncertainty quantification. He also worked on a space mining research project aimed at mapping iron and titanium on the lunar surface using remote sensing data and machine learning algorithms. Additionally, he gained one year of professional experience in the copper mining industry in the US through three internships in Sierrita and Morenci operations at Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Arizona. -
Dennis Bird
Professor of Geological Sciences, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsTheoretical geochemistry of reactions among aqueous solutions and minerals in magma-hydrothermal systems; environmental geochemistry of toxic metals in the Mother Lode Gold region, CA, and the emergence of life in the aftermath of the Moon-forming impact, ca. 4.4Ga.
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Kevin Boyce
Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and, by courtesy, of Earth System Science
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsPaleontology/Geobiology; Fossil record of plant physiology and development; Evolution of terrestrial ecosystems including fungi, animals, and environmental feedbacks with the biota
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Gordon Brown
Dorrell William Kirby Professor of Geology in the School of Earth Sciences, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsSurface and interface geochemistry; environmental fate of heavy metals; nanotechnology, applications of synchrotron radiation in geochemistry and mineralogy
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Cerise Burns
Student Services Administrator, Earth & Planetary Sciences
Current Role at StanfordAdministrative Associate, Student Services
Course Scheduling and Field Course Planning
Undergraduates & UG Outreach -
Jef Caers
Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and, by courtesy, of Geophysics
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research focuses on assuring 100% renewable energy through development of geothermal energy and critical mineral supply, developing approaches from data acquisition to decision making under uncertainty and risk assessment.
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Page Chamberlain
Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and of Earth System Science
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsResearch
I use stable and radiogenic isotopes to understand Earth system history. These studies examine the link between climate, tectonics, biological, and surface processes. Projects include: 1) examining the terrestrial climate history of the Earth focusing on periods of time in the past that had CO 2-levels similar to the present and to future projections; and 2) addressing how the chemical weathering of the Earth's crust affects both the long- and short-term carbon cycle. Field areas for these studies are in the Cascades, Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, the European Alps, Tibet and the Himalaya and the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
International Collaborations
Much of the research that I do has an international component. Specifically, I have collaborations with: 1) the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center in Frankfurt Germany as a Humboldt Fellow and 2) the Chinese University of Geosciences in Bejiing China where I collaborate with Professor Yuan Gao.
Teaching
I teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in isotope biogeochemistry, Earth system history, and the relationship between climate, surface processes and tectonics.
Professional Activities
Editor American Journal of Science; Co-Director Stanford Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry Laboratory (present);Chair, Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences (2004-07); Co-Director Stanford/USGS SHRIMP Ion microprobe facility (2001-04) -
Anne Dekas
Assistant Professor of Earth System Science and, by courtesy, of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsEnvironmental microbiology, deep-sea microbial ecology, marine biogeochemistry
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Daniela Dimitrova
Administrative Associate & Program Administrator, Earth & Planetary Sciences
Current Role at StanfordAdministrative Associate & Program Administrator, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences
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Jihui Ding
Physical Science Research Scientist
BioJihui is interested in advancing sustainability by developing geoscience-based solutions. This includes geothermal energy, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), geological storage of renewable energy, and critical mineral exploration. Previously, Jihui utilized various experimental techniques to quantify rock behavior under different geological conditions and used modeling approaches to understand experimental observations. Currently, he is working on integrating artificial intelligence and data science into geological uncertainty quantification for an economical and safe development of geothermal energy.
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Marco Einaudi
Welton Joseph and Maud L'Anphere Crook Professor of Applied Earth Sciences, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOre deposits and exploration; geology and geochemistry of hydrothermal mineral deposits
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Emily Ellefson
Ph.D. Student in Geological Sciences, admitted Autumn 2021
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am a palynologist, that is, I study fossilized pollen and spores! Previously I have worked on Permian-Triassic and Jurassic-Cretaceous palynology, but here at Stanford I'm excited to be exploring a new time interval and will be working on Silurian-Devonian palynology. My research will focus on how the evolution of terrestrial plants affected the marine redox record through palynology, paleobotany, and geochemistry.
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Anton Ermakov
Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and, by courtesy, of Geophysics and of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am interested in the formation and evolution of the Solar System bodies and the ways we can constrain planetary interiors by geophysical measurements.
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W Gary Ernst
The Benjamin M. Page Professor in Earth Sciences, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsPetrology/geochemistry and plate tectonics of Circumpacific and Alpine mobile belts; ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in Eurasia; geology of the California Coast Ranges, the cental Klamath Mountains, and White-Inyo Range; geobotany and remote sensing of the American Southwest; mineralogy and human health.
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Amir Eskanlou
Postdoctoral Scholar, Earth and Planetary Sciences
BioI specialize in mineral processing and computational materials science. At Stanford, I study the electronic structure of critical minerals and mineral-water / mineral-reagent interfaces using AI-accelerated quantum mechanical (QM) computations. My research focuses on developing an intelligent framework for discovering and designing novel chemical reagents and ligands that target the subtle QM properties of minerals and metals. The outcomes of my work aim to enable the selective recovery of critical materials from primary and secondary resources.
In addition, I collaborate on AI-driven optimization and design of mineral processing operations under uncertainty. -
Stephan Graham
Welton Joseph and Maud L'Anphere Crook Professor of Applied Earth Sciences & by courtesy, of Geophysics & of Energy Science Engineering
On Leave from 09/01/2024 To 08/31/2025Current Research and Scholarly InterestsSedimentary basin analysis; petroleum geology
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Martin Grove
Professor (Research) of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsResearch
I study the evolution of the Earth's crust by undertaking petrologic and geochemically-based research that is grounded with fieldwork. I co-direct the Stanford-USGS ion probe laboratory and develop geochronologic methods to constrain crystallization, metamorphic, and metasomatic histories of the middle to deep crust. Similarly, because heat flow characteristically attends mass transfer during crustal deformation, I employ 40Ar/39Ar and (U-Th)/He thermochronology to extract thermal history information from minerals to constrain the timing and magnitude of fault slip as well as erosional and tectonic denudation. Finally, I am heavily involved in provenance studies to constrain aspects of crustal deformation and erosion that are only preserved in the sedimentary record. -
Tianyang Guo (郭天阳)
Postdoctoral Scholar, Geological Sciences
BioDr. Tianyang Guo earned his Ph.D. degree in Rock Mechanics from the Department of Earth Sciences, the University of Hong Kong in 2020. He earned his bachelor's and master’s degree from Wuhan University (WHU) in 2013 and 2016, respectively. He was awarded the National Scholarship for Graduate in 2015 and graduated from WHU as an outstanding graduate. Before joining Stanford, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) under PolyU Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme 2021.
His research interests include (1) Cracking mechanisms and induced microseismicity during the injection of CO2 into reservoir rocks. (2) Application of machine learning in acoustic emission (AE) data interpretation. (3) Microcracking mechanisms of granite based on AE and microscopic observation. -
Susannah Herz
Ph.D. Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Autumn 2023
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am interested in investigating the impacts of ocean anoxia through the end Permian mass extinction. My work utilizes a variety of isotope geochemistry techniques, including investigations of the sulfur, calcium, and thallium systems through both modeling and lab-based approaches.
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George Hilley
Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsActive tectonics, quantitative structural geology and geomorphology; Geographic Information Systems;unsaturated zone gas transport; landscape development;active deformation and mountain belt growth in central Asia, central Andes, and along the San Andreas Fault; integrated investigation of earthquake hazards.
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Else Holmfred
Affiliate, Earth & Planetary Sciences
Visiting Scholar, Earth & Planetary SciencesBioI was awarded the Novo Nordisk Foundation Visiting Scholar Stanford Bio-X Fellowship in 2023 and the Carlsberg Foundation Internationalisation Fellowship in 2022 to conduct my research at Stanford University, USA. My research combines the knowledge and experimental expertise from biogeochemistry with pharmaceutical science. I aim to establish a new pharmaceutical methodology using isotopic and trace elemental analysis to identify non-visual drug counterfeits.
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Stepfan Huntsman
Ph.D. Student in Geological Sciences, admitted Winter 2022
BioI've had an interest in rocks and fossils since I was a small child, amassing a large collection in my youth, but hadn't considered it a viable career path instead starting my path as a social scientist studying gender and sexuality. My interest in a career in paleontology peaked after finishing my first degree, leading me to pursue a second bachelors degree. While working on my undergraduate at Weber State I discovered a true deep love of plants as well as a curiosity about the methods they use to adapt to new environments, which has lead me to pursuing a doctoral degree here at Stanford University.
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James C. Ingle, Jr.
The W. M. Keck Professor of Earth Sciences, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsCurrent research interests include the Neogene stratigraphy, paleoceanography, and depositional history of marine basins and continental margins of the Pacific Ocean with a focus on the California borderland and Gulf of California. Other interests involve study of marine diatomaceous sediments, the sedimentary record of the oxygen minimum zone, and application of benthic and planktonic foraminifera to questions surrounding the history of the global ocean and climate change.
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Amanda Jackson
Ph.D. Student in Geological Sciences, admitted Autumn 2022
BioI’ve long been fascinated with volcanoes, and my research interests broadly include igneous petrology, trans-crustal magmatic systems, high temperature geochemistry, and geo/thermochronology. My first PhD project explores the formation of Catalina Island and investigates pluton assembly in continental rift settings. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking, reading, yoga, and playing with my cat, Carl.
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Simon Klemperer
Professor of Geophysics and, by courtesy, of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI study the growth, tectonic evolution, and deformation of the continents. My research group undertakes field experiments in exemplary areas such as, currently, the Tibet plateau (formed by collision between Indian and Asia); the actively extending Basin-&-Range province of western North America (the Ruby Range Metamorphic Core Complex, NV, and the leaky transform beneath the Salton Trough, CA). We use active and passive seismic methods, electromagnetic recording, and all other available data!
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Jonas Kloeckner
Postdoctoral Scholar, Earth and Planetary Sciences
BioJonas Kloeckner is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, sponsored by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI). He specializes in critical mineral exploration essential for the sustainable energy transition. Utilizing his expertise in artificial intelligence and resource forecasting, Mr. Kloeckner leads initiatives that strive to align with global sustainability goals.
Jonas earned his PhD in Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil, where he later served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Geosciences. His doctoral and postdoctoral research focused on advancing geostatistical methods for Earth resources forecasting, significantly contributing to the field.
Previously, Jonas was a Visiting Research Scholar at Stanford University under the mentorship of Professor Jef Caers. He holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from UFRGS, with additional international studies at Ecole des Mines d’Alès, France, and as a visiting student at Columbia University, USA.
Jonas’s current research integrates spatial data analysis with advanced decision-making processes in subsurface systems, enhancing resource management strategies and supporting sustainable mining practices. Beyond academia, he actively collaborates on various international projects, optimizing resource extraction and minimizing environmental impacts through innovative technology and interdisciplinary collaboration. -
Mathieu Lapôtre
Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and, by courtesy, of Geophysics
BioProf. Lapôtre leads the Earth & Planetary Surface Processes group. His research focuses on the physics behind sedimentary and geomorphic processes that shape planetary surfaces (including Earth's), and aims to untangle what landforms and rocks tell us about the past hydrology, climate, and habitability of planets.
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Andrew Leslie
Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am interested in morphological evolution. I approach this broad topic by investigating how interactions among form, function, and environment have influenced evolutionary patterns in plant reproductive structures over million-year time scales. This approach requires synthesizing information from different disciplines, and my work uses approaches from paleontology, biomechanics, phylogenetics, and biogeography.
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Juhn Liou
Professor of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsPetrochemical processes and tectonics of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terranes
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Zhuo Liu
Postdoctoral Scholar, Earth and Planetary Sciences
BioZhuo Liu is a postdoctoral scholar at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, sponsored by Mineral-X. His expertise is in multi-geophysical data interpretation with both traditional methods and machine-learning-based methods for critical mineral exploration.
Zhuo Liu earned his PhD degree in Geophysics, with a minor degree in Geology, from the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), USA. His doctoral and postdoctoral research focused on advancing geophysical data interpretation methods and incorporating geologic prior information into the interpretation process in machine-learning and geostatistical approaches for mineral resources exploration.
Previously, Zhuo earned his Bachelor's degree in Applied Geophysics from the Central South University, China, and a Master's degree in Geophysics from the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), USA. He also visited the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) as a Student Visiting Scholar under the mentorship of Dr. Xinming Wu in 2021. -
Keith Loague
Professor of Geological Sciences, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsRESEARCH (see PUBLICATIONS), 1980-2017
Process-based characterizations of surface & near-surface hydrologic response, based upon comprehensive field observations and sophisticated numerical simulations.
* Group Members (with degrees earned): John Griggs - PhD, Jennifer Kleveno - MS, Robert Miyahira - MS, Ephraim Leon-Guerrero - MS, Domingo Molina - MS, Robert Abrams - MS, Ricardo Diaz-Diaz - Post Doctoral Fellow, Erik Wahlstrom - MS, Robert Abrams - PhD, Robert Abrams - Post Doctoral Fellow, Jim Blanke - MS CoTerm, Anona Dutton - MS CoTerm, D’Artagnan Lloyd - MS, Melissa Mills - MS, Edzer Pebesma - Visiting Scholar, Iris Stewart - PhD, Luis Ugalde - MS, Joel VanderKwaak - Post Doctoral Fellow, Dennis Corwin - Visiting Scholar, Leigh Soutter - PhD, Robert Abrams - Research Associate, Qihua Ran - MS, Lauren Benson - MS CoTerm, Qihua Ran - PhD, Adrianne Carr - PhD, Christopher Heppner - PhD, Susan BeVille - MS CoTerm, Brian Ebel - PhD, Brian Ebel - Post Doctoral Fellow, Benjamin Mirus - PhD, Mollie Pettit - MS, Kristin Mayer - MS, Matthew Thomas - PhD, & Matthew Thomas - Post Doctoral Fellow
* Invited Reviews, requested by: Academic Press, Advances in Environmental Research, Advances in Water Resources, American Geophysical Union, Hydraulic Engineering, Hydrologic Engineering, Cambridge University Press, Earth & Planetary Science Letters, Ecohydrology, Engineering Geology, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, Environmental Earth Sciences, Environmental Geology, Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Environmental Science & Technology, Geoderma, Geophysical Research Letters, Hydrogeology, Hydrological Processes, Contaminant Hydrology, Environmental Quality, Geophysical Research - Earth Surface, Natural Hazards, National Aeronautics & Space Administration, National Geographic Society, National Science Foundation, National Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada, Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations, Oxford University Press, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Remote Sensing of Environment, Reviews in Geophysics, Science, USDA Water Quality Research Program, USGS National Institutes for Water Resources , US State Department (Science Center), Soil Science Society of America, Vadoze Zone, Water Resources Center (California), Water Resources Research, Water Resources Research Center (Hawaii), & 37 more journals/agencies
TEACHING (courses taught, repeatedly; 89 total), 1985-2017
* University of Hawaii @ Manoa, 1985-1988 (~ 1,000 days): GG455 Groundwater Geology, GG654 Groundwater Contamination, GG655 Groundwater Modeling, & GG656 Transport Modeling
* University of California @ Berkeley, 1988-1994 (2,222 days): FRM109 Wildland Hydrology, SS150 Soil Hydrology, Soil Science Seminar, SS250 Vadose Zone Modeling, & SS251 Hillslope Hydrology
* Leland Stanford Junior University, 1994-2017 (8,431 days): GES-43Q Environmental Problems, GES-130 Environmental Earth Sciences I, GES-131 Environmental Earth Sciences II, GES-130 Soil Physics and Hydrology, GES-131 Hydrologically-Driven Landscape Evolution, GES-140 Geomorphology, GES-230 Hydrogeology, GES-332b Seminar in Hydrogeology, GES-237 Surface and Near-Surface Hydrologic Response, GES-238 Soil Physics, & GES-239 Advanced Geomorphology
SERVICE (US Army - enlisted - 1,096 days active duty), 1970-1973
* Stateside: Fort Wayne MI, Fort Knox KY (D-12-5 "tigers one and all"), Fort Eustis VA, Fort Stewart GA, Hunter Army Airfield GA, Treasure Island CA, & Fort Carson CO
* Vietnam (volunteer - 328 days "in country"): "breathing in" Saigon / Tan Son Nhut AB (via Travis AFB, Alaska, & Yokota AFB), Vung Tau, 611th Trans Company 1st Aviation Brigade @ Vien Long Army Airfield ("Delta Riggers" - crew chief, Tailboard 336 [67N20 / UH-1H (slick)], door gunner, & rigger), Can Tho Army Airfield, F Troop 1st Calvalry Division @ Bien Hoa Air Base (Army side), & "breathing out" Saigon / Tan Son Nhut AB (to Travis AFB) -
Grant Long
Ph.D. Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Autumn 2024
BioGrant was born in a small town in Massachusetts and quickly moved to York, Maine, a small beach town. He earned a BSc in Geology from the University of Vermont in 2022. Grant continued with his MSc degree at Stanford University in 2024, focusing on sediment dynamics in Chile.
Grant joined Stanford as an MSc student in the Fall of 2022 and is a part of the Tectonic Geomorphology Lab group led by George Hilley.
Grant’s focus is on landscape evolution in south-central Chile, making comparisons between the modern and glacial-interglacial timescales. -
Jacob Long
Ph.D. Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Autumn 2023
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsUsing experimental rock physics and monitoring techniques to study the carbonation process and its impact on reservoir porosity, permeability, and other properties in carbon capture and storage projects.
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Donald Lowe
Max Steineke Professor in Earth Sciences, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsClastic sedimentology, deep-water sedimentation mechanics and facies; Archean depositional systems and crustal development
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Leslie Magoon
Adjunct Professor, Earth & Planetary Sciences
BioLes is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Basin and Petroleum System Modeling, a Stanford University Industrial affiliate program that he was one of the three co-originators in 2005. He graduated from the University of Oregon, Eugene, OR with a B.S. in biology in 1964 and a M.S. in Geology in 1966. He worked 8 years for Shell Oil Company in Exploration where he was the lead investigator in the Ventura-Santa Barbara Basin source rock and migration study, the first investigation of its type in exploration for this company. Les worked 30 years for the U.S. Geological Survey where he carried out resource assessment studies in Alaska, Colombia, Venezuela, and Canada. The Alaska studies included the Cook Inlet and North Slope. Since 1981, he has investigated and popularized the petroleum system through talks, courses, and AAPG Memoir 60, The Petroleum System—From Source to Trap, for which he and his co-editor received the R. H. Dott, Sr. Award in 1996. Published in 1994, this popular book was reprinted twice and sold out all 4,000 copies and is now only available in CD. In 2017, he received AAPG Honorary Member Award and in 2021 the AAPG Sidney Powers Memorial Award, the society's third highest and highest award, respectively.
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Katharine (Kate) Maher
Professor of Earth System Science, Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment and Professor, by courtesy, of Earth and Planetary Sciences
On Leave from 04/01/2025 To 06/30/2025Current Research and Scholarly InterestsHydrology, reactive transport modeling and environmental geochemistry
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Gail Mahood
Professor of Geological Sciences, Emerita
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOrigin and evolution of silicic magmas expressed in rhyolitic volcanic centers and shallow plutons; geologic histories of calderas; high-precision Ar-Ar geochronology applied to caldera-forming eruptions and flood basalts; formation of lithium deposits in volcanic environments; volcanic hazards in eastern California and western Saudi Arabia, geothermal systems; geoarchaeology
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Wendy Mao
Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and of Photon Science
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsUnderstanding the formation and evolution of planetary interiors; experimental mineral physics; materials in extreme environments.
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Valerie Breanne Rosen
Ph.D. Student in Geological and Environmental Sciences, admitted Winter 2015
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsNickel Isotopes as a Biosignature for Methanogenic Archaea
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Elizabeth Miller
Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Emerita
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsStructural geology and tectonics. Evolution and deformation of continental crust and its sedimentary cover, plate tectonics and continental deformation, geochronology and thermochronology. Current interests in the Cordillera, northern circum-Pacific, Russia and Arctic regions.
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J. Moldowan
Professor (Research) of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOrganic geochemistry; study of molecular fossils (biomarkers) and their use in petroleum system analysis, reservoir characterization, environmental monitoring, molecular paleontology, global change, petroleum biodegradation in reservoir. Studies of thermal cracking of petroleum by deep burial or catalytic alteration in deep source rocks and reservoirs by using diamondoids. Applications to unconventional petroleun exploration and development.
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Tapan Mukerji
Professor (Research) of Energy Science Engineering, of Earth and Planetary Sciences and of Geophysics
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy students and I use theoretical, computational, and statistical models, to discover and understand fundamental relations between geophysical data and subsurface properties, to quantify uncertainty in our geomodels, and to address value of information for decision making under uncertainty.
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Souradeep Mukherjee
Ph.D. Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Autumn 2023
BioSouradeep is an Exploration Geologist-turned-AI Researcher developing decision-making algorithms to discover high-grade mineral deposits. With almost a decade of experience in on-field exploration of critical & strategic mineral deposits, he is now using his computer to unlock the full potential of mineral discovery.
Souradeep is currently a Doctoral Researcher at Stanford Mineral-X. His current work focuses on fusing multi-element soil geochemistry with 3D geological inference to build predictive models for subsurface intrusion-hosted Ni-Cu sulfide mineralization in the Curaçá Valley, Brazil. By leveraging machine learning, geostatistics, and compositional data analysis, he aims to reduce geological uncertainty and operational costs in mineral targeting, transforming how exploration is conducted in under-explored terrains.
Prior to Stanford, Souradeep held several technical and supervisory roles at the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), Government of India, where he spearheaded multiple national-scale mineral exploration campaigns. He led the exploration and evaluation of uranium-bearing sediments in the Bhima Basin, the mapping of lithium-rich pegmatites in Karnataka, and the delineation of heavy mineral sand deposits across the east coast of India. His work included advanced geological mapping, structural interpretation, kinematic analysis, downhole geophysics, petrological microscopy, and geostatistical modeling—skills that now enrich his algorithmic thinking in research.
His research interests span compositional data analysis, geospatial modeling, machine learning for Earth systems, building intelligent decision making agents for mineral exploration and mineral prospectivity analysis. He is particularly passionate about bridging the gap between traditional geosciences and computational intelligence to power the next generation of resource discovery tools.
When he’s not deep into code or core samples, Souradeep contributes to scientific outreach, mentors young geoscientists, and advocates for data transparency and sustainability in the mining sector. He is also a writer, a poet and loves to write pieces on existential philosophy. -
Ayla Pamukcu
Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and, by courtesy, of Geophysics
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI have long been fascinated by magmas and volcanic eruptions, for reasons ranging from purely academic (trying to understand the magmatic construction of Earth’s crust) to purely practical (developing effective monitoring and mitigation strategies for volcanic eruptions). Consequently, my research revolves around understanding how, when, where, and why magmas are stored, evolve, and ultimately do (or do not!) erupt.
Within this context, I focus on two main themes: (1) the temporal, chemical, and physical, evolution of magmas, and (2) the interplay between magma storage conditions in the crust and magmatic processes. I employ a multi-faceted approach to explore these topics, integrating data from multiple scales and perspectives; my studies capitalize on information contained in field relations, crystal and melt inclusion textures (sizes, shapes, positions), crystal and volcanic glass geochemistry, geochronology, phase-equilibria and numerical modeling, and experiments. As a function of this approach, I am also engaged in the development of novel methods to address petrologic problems in new, better, and more refined ways than is currently possible.
A major focus of my research has been on supereruptions – gigantic explosive eruptions the likes of which we have never seen in recorded human history – but I am continually exploring other kinds of magmatic systems. I am currently particularly interested in the links (or lack thereof) between extrusive (i.e., erupted) and intrusive (i.e., unerupted) magmas, similarities/differences between large- and small-volume eruptions, and similarities/differences between magmas generated at different levels of the crust. I have also had a longstanding interest in the interactions and relationships between humans and their geologic surroundings (particularly volcanoes). -
Nidhi Utkarshbhai Patel
Ph.D. Student in Earth and Planetary Sciences, admitted Autumn 2023
BioPlants display enormous diversity of forms today that, have evolved over geological timescales after plants successfully colonized land. Currently, I am interested in learning more about evolutionary changes in plant structures including specialized reproductive organs of seed plants. I study plant fossil record from deep time and living plants with the aim to develop a better understanding of origins of plant reproductive structures and drivers of morphological evolution in plants. Previously, I have looked at spore-pollen record preserved in sedimentary rocks from Canada. These microscopic fossils and their distribution in space and time can help us elucidate the response of vegetation to past extinction events.
