Dr. Michael Young to serve as Jackson School of Geosciences Associate Dean for Research
August 9, 2023
The Jackson School of Geosciences has appointed Dr. Michael Young as Associate Dean for Research (ADR), effective September 1, 2023. Young is a Senior Research Scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology, the largest of the Jackson School’s three units, having previously served as its Associate Director for Environmental Research from 2010-2020. Prior to his appointment with the bureau, Young built an extensive resume as a professional hydrogeologist and research scientist in soil, water and environmental sciences at the University of Arizona and Georgia Tech. He was a long-time researcher, Deputy Director and Acting Executive Director at the Desert Research Institute (DRI), an organization bringing objective science and solutions to support the economy of the state of Nevada and to inform policymakers, community leaders and community members. Within his roles at DRI and the bureau, Young has been a productive scientist and a proven research leader with more than 100 refereed publications, book chapters, and software development. He is well known on campus and was one of the principal architects of the Bridging Barriers program Planet Texas 2050.
As the Jackson School’s new ADR, Young will bring deep expertise and experience across the entire research enterprise, from conception to design to delivery of results. He has a broad understanding of earth science and a “good nose” for new and important areas of scientific research. Young has worked with stakeholders from community action committees to state and municipal leadership to the federal government. He has deep research relationships with Texas agencies including the General Land Office, the Railroad Commission, and the Texas Water Development Board, as well as foundations with significant investments in Texas, such as the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation. He has served numerous national organizations in advisory, editorial and strategic planning capacities, including the National Academies (NASEM), Department of Energy, American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America (Fellow) and the Soil Science Society of America (Fellow).
In addition to his role as the Jackson School of Geosciences Associate Dean for Research, Young will continue to lead research efforts at the bureau, in particular the Comparing Electricity Options industrial consortium.
As Young begins his new role, the current Jackson School of Geosciences ADR, Dr. David Mohrig, will return to his long-standing research and professorial interests. The Jackson School is enormously grateful for Mohrig’s inspired and tireless research leadership, which greatly expanded JSG’s collaborations across campus.