Surface & Hydrologic Processes

Daniel S Alessi

Environmental and aqueous geochemistry, thermodynamics, surface complexation modeling, geomicrobiology, critical minerals, chemical hydrogeology

Jay L Banner

Isotopic methods, sustainability, groundwater, oceans, ancient oceans, climate change, aquifers, caves, environmental science, geochemistry, paleoclimatology, urbanization, environmental justice, community-engaged research

M. Bayani Cardenas

Hydrology and Hydrogeology

Ginny Catania

hydrology, Stratigraphy, glaciology, Antarctica

Dapeng Feng

Terrestrial Water Cycle; Large-scale Hydrologic Modeling; Ecosystem-Water interactions; Hybrid AI-Physics modeling; Remote Sensing of Hydrology; Climate Change Impacts;

Peter B Flemings

Stratigraphy, basin analysis, basin-scale fluid flow, pore pressures in seafloor sediments, submarine landslides, oil and gas migration, methane hydrates, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP)

James E Gardner

Volcanology, volcanic eruption processes, magmatic processes, experimental petrology, volatiles in magmas, degassing of volatiles from magmas, control of degassing behavior on volcanic eruptions and formation of ore bodies

Timothy A Goudge

Remote sensing; surface processes; geomorphology; sedimentology; reflectance spectroscopy; martian surface geology; planetary science.

Marc A Hesse

Multiphase flow in porous media, geomechanics, numerical simulation, mathematical, modeling, reactive transport, magma dynamics.

Brian K Horton

Tectonics of sedimentary basins, evolution of orogenic systems, sediment provenance and routing systems, nonmarine depositional processes.

Matthew A Malkowski

depositional systems, tectonics

Shujuan Mao

Environmental seismology, Hydrogeophysics, Geothermal energy, Carbon sequestration, Critical-zone processes, Time-lapse imaging, Ambient seismic field, 4D seismology

Ashley M Matheny

Ecohydrology, Bio- and Micro-meteorology, Vegetation Hydrodynamics, Watershed Hydrology, Land-Atmosphere Interactions, Biogeochemistry, Water and Carbon Cycles, Modeling

Dev Niyogi

sustainability

Daniella M Rempe

Hydrology, Geomorphology, Ecohydrology, Catchment Hydrology, Near-surface Geophysics, Hydrogeology

Demian M Saffer

Active tectonics, fault/sediment mechanics, geohydrology.

Timothy M Shanahan

Climate Variability, climate change, paleoclimatology, geochemistry, sedimentology, environmental science

Christine Simurda

Planetary Science, Remote Sensing, Surface Processes, Surface Structure, Geohazards, Volcanology, Wildfires

Danny Stockli

Thermo-/Geochronology, Tectonics and Structural Geology, Isotopic Provenance Analysis, Archeometry, Geothermal Exploration, Thermal Maturation

Zong-Liang Yang

modeling, hydrology

James A Austin, Jr

Yangkang Chen

Seismic modeling, earthquakes, seismic processing

Jacob A Covault

sedimentology, stratigraphy, marine geology

Hassan Dashtian

Soil Moisture
AI for bid data

Marcus Gary

Karst Hydrogeology

Xavier Janson

Carbonates sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy, petrophysics of carbonate, seismic signature of carbonate rock, seismic modeling, carbonate modern depositional environment

Robert G Loucks

Research in carbonate, sandstone, mudrock stratigraphy, sedimentology, diagenesis, reservoir characterization, pore network analysis

Jean Nicot

Subsurface hydrology, Mathematical geology, geostatistics, inverse modeling, optimization, hydrology, numerical modeling, geochemistry

Cornel Olariu

Clastic Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Depositional Environments, Basin Analysis

Jeffrey G Paine

coastal geology, Quaternary geology and geomorphology, Geophysics, hydrogeology, Geomorphology

Katherine D Romanak

geochemistry, CO2 sequestration

Bridget R Scanlon (Theme Lead)

Climate Variability, numerical models

Zoltan Sylvester

sedimentology, Geomorphology, Stratigraphy

James O Thompson

Wildfires, Volcanology, Remote Sensing, Thermodynamics of Geological Processes, Infrared Spectroscopy, Geohazards and Surface Geology, Multi-scale Land Surface Modeling

Justin C Thompson

Michael H Young

Marcus Gary

Karst Hydrogeology

Joel P Johnson

Process geomorphology, bedrock river erosion, flash floods, arroyo erosion, canyon formation, laboratory flume experimentation, numerical modeling, storm surges, Geomorphology, hydrology, Sediment Transport

Kitty L Milliken

Petrography and geochemistry of siliciclastic rocks; diagenesis; electron microbeam methods: X-ray mapping, cathodoluminescence imaging; micro-scale reservoir characterization

Timothy L Whiteaker

hydrologic, hydraulic, water quality modeling, scientific information management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Marcy B Davis

Map, figure, MB System, Fledermaus, Adobe CS2, ArcGIS, csh, Science writing

Philip C Bennett

Aqueous geochemistry, geomicrobiology, environmental and microbial geochemistry, hydrogeology

William L Fisher

Basin analysis, sequence stratigraphy, depositional systems, petroleum geology, resource assessment, energy policy

David Mohrig

Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Geomorphology, Rivers, Deltas, Coastlines, Submarine Channels, Geohazards, Sediment-Gravity Currents, Sediment Transport, Seismic Interpretation, Basin Analysis

Timothy B Rowe

Vertebrate paleontology, phylogenetic systematics, high-resolution X-ray computed tomography, CT scanner, DigiMorph, informatics

John M Sharp, Jr

Hyrdogeology, flow in fractured rocks, thermohaline free convection, fracture skin effects, effects of urbanization, alluvial aquifers, hydrogeology of sedimentary basins, hydrogeophysics, hydrology, hydrogeology

Ronald J Steel

tectonics

Frederick W Taylor, Jr

tectonic geomorphology, Stratigraphy, Paleoclimate

Clark R Wilson

Geophysics, gravity, space geodesy, applied seismology

Tanner Mills

August Aalto

Planetary Science, Geomorphology, remote sensing, history of science, Aqueous geochemistry

Jonathan P Amendola

Geomorphology

Gavin Blanchard

plate tectonics

Amanda Z Calle

Geochronology

Morgan A Carrington

Anthony Chiasson

tectonics

Nicole Ferrie

Paleoclimate, earthquakes, Metamorphic petrology

Talita Gomes Daniel

Bella F Gray

numerical modeling, machine learning, hydrology, Sediment Transport

Eric Guenther

remote sensing, lidar

Berit Hudson Rasmussen

remote sensing

Alexander Janelle

climate change, trace element, Geochronology

Tanner Johnson

Neelarun Mukherjee

global warming

William Nguyen

Hongrui Peng

derive more information (e.g, Attenuation, dv/v, Body wave, Higher-modes) from it, Seismology, tectonics

Sara Peters

Glaciology, Numerical Modeling, Glacial Geology, Marine Geology, Sea Level

Medha Prakash

Planetary surface processes, remote sensing, Paleoclimate

Owen Seiner

Ice-sheet climate modeling, glaciology, sub-glacial hydrology, glacial dynamics, past warm periods, Antarctica, Greenland

Casey Vigilia

numerical models

Koutian Wu

hydrology

Ph.D. Opportunities in Environmental Seismology and Energy Transition

My research group "Seismo4D" is actively looking for PhD students and postdocs. Please email me if you're interested.

Our group applies 4D seismology to understand Earth's physical processes associated with climate change and energy transition. Potential research topics focus on fluid/vapor systems in Earth's shallow subsurface, including hydrological processes, geothermal energy exploitation, critical zones, and volcanic unrest. Students in our group will develop and employ cutting-edge seismic techniques (such as passive seismic interferometry and time-lapse imaging) to study the spatiotemporal evolution and physical mechanisms of subsurface processes.

UTIG Undergraduate Research Opportunities Fellowship in "Sediment Microplastics in Austin's Waterways"

The UTIG Undergraduate Research Opportunities Fellowship in "Sediment Microplastics in Austin's Waterways" is open to third and fourth year JSG undergraduates for the fall, 2023 semester (September-December). Fellowship recipients will process sediment samples from Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake to extract microplastics (at the sedimentary lab at Pickle Research Campus) as part of a baseline study funded by UTIG and the City of Austin. The project includes optional opportunities for local field work, independent research projects, and publication. Get involved!

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of $500/month. No experience necessary! To apply, email resume and brief statement of interest to Marcy Davis (marcy@ig.utexas.edu) and Cornel Olariu (cornelo@jsg.utexas.edu). Please include your major, year in school, and contact information in the body of the email.

Community-Based Research Program, BRIDGES: Building Resilience via Interdisciplinary Design, Geoscience, and Community-Engaged Solutions (Undergraduate)

BRIDGES represents an emerging approach to environmental resilience that emphasizes bidirectional learning between universities and communities. These teams will comprise a 'Community of Practice' to design and implement research projects addressing community challenges in numerous themes, such as Water Resources, Climate Resilience, Land use, and Air Quality.

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates

This summer program trains and supports undergraduates to undertake environmental science research. Details may be found at https://www.esi.utexas.edu/education/summer-research-experience-for-undergraduates-reu/.

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates

This summer program trains and supports undergraduates to undertake environmental science research. Details may be found at https://www.esi.utexas.edu/education/summer-research-experience-for-undergraduates-reu/.

Paleoclimate reconstructions and modern hydrology of karst systems (NSF Paleo Perspectives on Climate Change Program)

Our group reconstructs regional climate change in response to global change using speleothems and tree rings. These studies are advanced by analysis of modern karst hydrologic systems in which the speleothems are found. New opportunities for graduate research in this area are available for students applying for Fall admission. Contact Jay Banner at banner@jsg.utexas.edu.

Urbanization and water resources (NSF Hydrologic Sciences Program)

Our group studies the impacts of urbanization on hydrologic systems using geochemical, field, laboratory, and modeling methods. New opportunities for graduate research in this area are available for students applying for Fall admission. Contact Jay Banner at banner@jsg.utexas.edu.

Innovative Detrital Provenance Studies - Double Dating PLUS

A major thrust of my current research the development and application of more comprehensive isotopic detrital provenance tools. U-Pb on zircon is clearly the big work horse, but only goes so far and sometimes yields "no" useful info, e.g., if the source of the sediment is mostly recycled sediment. We have extensively pursued double dating of zircons by U-Pb and He, as zircon He ages yield very interesting insights into the thermal and tectonic history of the source terrane; often yielding very different insights than crystallization ages. The combination is powerful, but I think we can take things so much farther by combining double dating with other constrains. People have tried fission track (not precise enough), Hf/Hf (to get mantle separation model ages), etc., but what we want to do and are working on is really Double Dating ++, combining zircon U-Pb-He dating with a variety of other geochemical aspects to more comprehensive understand detrital provenance and improve paleo-tectonic reconstructions. For example, trace-element thermometry (Ti in zirc), REE on zircon (met vs mag origin), Hf/Hf (see above), oxygen isotopes, etc. and also to develop rutile in an analogous manner (e.g., Zr in rut thermometry, Cr/Nb ratio (mafic vs granulitic), REE, etc.). The sky is the limit and what can learn so much. The issue in part it, how much can a single grain tell us before it's gone? The project sounds very laboratory oriented, but it's really a combination of field and lab work. We have identified a few possible case study areas, e.g., Morocco; great exposures, long-lived and preserved record of basin deposition since the Precambrian. My group is already working on some case studies in NW Himalayas, the N & S Pyrenees, the Sevier FTB, Permian Basin and other foreland basin. New projects include provenance studies along rifted and passive continental margins such the Gulf of Mexico, the central Atlantic Margins in Canada, USA, Portugal, and Morocco.

PhD/MS opportunities

My group welcomes new students with strong motivations on understanding how solid Earth and planets operate and its impacts on shaping habitable surface environments. Prospective students are expected to have a STEM background. If these describe you, feel free to contact me through email for position openings in my group.

Center for Integrated Earth System Science

Land, Environment & Atmospheric Dynamics

Center for Space Research

Dynamic Stratigraphy Workgroup

ENCOMPASS: Research for Earth-Society Systems

Morphodynamics and Quantitative Stratigraphy