Cornel Olariu

Graduate Students

William S Bailey , Ph.D., expected 2026 (Co-supervisor)

Abdulmajeed Alrefaei , M.S., expected 2025 (Supervisor)
I am an exploration geologist working for Saudi Aramco where I conduct surface studies of subsurface reservoirs. I worked within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on many different basins such as Tabuk basin, Central Arabia basin, Hail basin and Qasim basin. I am personally interested in the lower Paleozoic (Hirnantian) glacial deposits of the Sarah Formation in Saudi Arabia, specifically...

Fernando M Rey , Ph.D., expected 2025 (Committee Member)
My research focus is to link the stratigraphic record with tectonic processes using geochronology and geochemical signatures. I am currently working on projects in southern Patagonia (Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Rocas Verdes Back-arc basin) and Japan (Neogene opening of the Sea of Japan).I am also interested in the dispersal of sediments in shallow marine environments. I have 8 years of experience...

Michelle Tebolt , Ph.D., expected 2024 (Committee Member)
As a planetary scientist, I study sedimentary processes on Mars to better understand the paleoenvironment, or the conditions that once existed on the surface. I am particularly interested in Martian fluvial processes that occurred ~3.8 billion years ago when there was liquid water on the surface and consider the question: How has water influenced the surface of Mars? Or more...

Rawan Alasad (Co-supervisor)
I study the sedimentary record, surficial processes, tectonic relief and catchment evolution that occurs during rifting.

Sarp Karakaya (Co-supervisor)
Thesis Project: Constraining and quantifying depositional controls on mixed carbonate & siliciclastic sequence stratigraphy of the Eastern Shelf of the Permian Basin and reservoir modeling using 3D seismic interpretation, well log interpretation, seismic inversion, core analysis, and machine learning applications Tasks: o Interpreted a 3D seismic volume and well logs in the Eastern Shelf of the Permian Basin o Wrote a Python...

Jana Alabdullatif, M.S., 2023 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Yuquian (Philomena) Gan, Ph.D., 2022 (Co-supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Jake Gearon, M.S., 2021 (Supervisor)

Logan West, Ph.D., 2020 (Co-supervisor)
University of Texas at Austin

Year	Semester	Course
2024	Spring	GEO 302J	Crisis Of Our Planet
2024	Spring	GEO 316P	Sedimentary Rocks
2024	Spring	GEO 660A	Field Geology
2023	Spring	GEO 316P	Sedimentary Rocks
2023	Spring	GEO 660A	Field Geology
2022	Spring	GEO 316P	Sedimentary Rocks
2021	Spring	GEO 316P	Sedimentary Rocks-Wb
2020	Spring	GEO 316P	Sedimentary Rocks
2019	Spring	GEO 316P	Sedimentary Rocks
2018	Spring	GEO 316P	Sedimentary Rocks
2018	Spring	GEO 383U	Dynamic Field Strtgrphy-Ut/Rou
2017	Spring	GEO 316P	Sedimentary Rocks
2016	Spring	GEO 316P	Sedimentary Rocks
2015	Fall	GEO 383	Clastic Depositional Systems
2015	Fall	GEO 193	Technical Sessions
2015	Spring	GEO 193	Technical Sessions
2014	Fall	GEO 383	Clastic Depositional Systems
2014	Fall	GEO 193	Technical Sessions

Undergraduate Positions

UTIG Undergraduate Research Opportunities Fellowship in "Sediment Microplastics in Austin's Waterways" (Fall 2023 semester)
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.

Dynamic Stratigraphy

RioMAR Consortium