The "Sed Heads"
Meet our group! We value fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable research and learning environment. Our projects may include aspects of modeling, data science, lab work, remote sensing, and field work... and sometimes many of the above are integrated. There is a path in the geosciences for anyone. If you're motivated and interested in the problems and questions we work on, we encourage you to reach out to us.
Matt Malkowski |
Assistant Professor, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellowship: U.S. Geological Survey PhD: Geological Sciences, Stanford University MS: Geological Sciences, Michigan State University BS: Environmental Geosciences, Michigan State University I am a first-generation college grad with a deep-rooted passion and insatiable curiosity for exploring the natural world. I enjoy learning about it, teaching about it, and experience it with others. Link to some photos about me |
Lab members:
Jason Visser - Lab Manager and Research Scientist Associate MSc.Eng: Engineering Physics, Queen’s University BSc.Eng: Engineering Physics, Queen’s University About Me: I’m Canadian with a great love for technology, and a geologist by association. I’m married to a geologist and have worked for geologists and marine biologists for over 12 years. This allows me to travel the world through fieldwork/vacations with my wife, and focus on instrumentation and technology in the labs I work with. |
Graduate researchers
Griffin Clevenger - PhD student BS: University of Michigan About Me: I am from a suburb North of Detroit, Michigan. I enjoy backpacking, road trips, swimming in idyllic hidden places, and doing essentially anything active or outside. My research will use concepts in sedimentology, stratigraphy, and geochemistry to reconstruct past depositional and environmental conditions. I'm a sucker for any and all music from the 60s to the 80s. |
Jacqueline (Jackie) Epperson - MS Student BS: Geological Sciences, Illinois State University About Me: I am from rural central Illinois, and am passionate about everything geology! I take every opportunity to get out and explore, in the field, in the lab, and in life. My research is focused on diving deeper into the characteristics of volcanic arc zircon that source sedimentary basins. I am also a motorcycle enthusiast. |
Fernando Rey - PhD Student BS: Geological Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina MS: Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin About Me: I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina. My research focus is the interaction of sedimentological processes, climate, and tectonics at different scales and time frames. I am a huge fan of world history and geography, and I am a committed runner. |
Mingang Hao - visiting PhD Student Co-advised with Professor Chengshan Wang (CUGB) BS: Geological Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China About Me: I am from the historic and beautiful Anqing city, China. I have been curious and fond of nature since I was very young. My research focuses are 1) sedimentology, stratigraphy, and architecture of deep-marine siliciclastic sediments, and 2) the sedimentary basin evolution and response to climate and tectonics. |
Previous graduate researchers
Colin White - MS student (Stanford, completed 2020): Co-advised with Steve Graham
Project: Sedimentology and Provenance of the Norton Basin, Offshore Alaska: Insight into the Paleogene Evolution of the Paleo-Yukon Drainage System
Project: Sedimentology and Provenance of the Norton Basin, Offshore Alaska: Insight into the Paleogene Evolution of the Paleo-Yukon Drainage System
Undergraduate researchers
Julia Daniel (any pronouns)
2023 RTX Summer Internship at UT-Austin About me: I am from southeast Michigan, and visiting the great lakes in my childhood inspired my curiosity in geology and the environment. Outside my studies, I enjoy hiking, crocheting, playing instruments, and playing games with friends. Project: Linking Early Cretaceous ocean basin records in the southern Patagonian Andes |
Esha Krishnan
BS (UT-Austin) Undergraduate Researcher About me: I'm from Seattle, Washington - home to incredible mountain ranges and impressive geologic wonders. I grew up hiking and camping, and this early emersion into nature developed my love for it. I never passed up an opportunity to swim in pristine alpine lakes or collect the rocks that caught my eye. My captivation of nature initiated my love for geology. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, painting, and practicing Bharatanatyam. Project: Decoupling weathering and provenance changes in sedimentary geochemical records |
Raymond Luong
BS Environmental Sciences (UT-Austin) 2022-2023 Champions of Diversity Internship About me: Growing up I was always drawn to nature, and as I got older I knew more and more that I wanted to learn about and get involved with helping the environment for a living. During my first year at UT I got to explore the geosciences and unexpectedly ended up really enjoying it! I'm from the Dallas area and in my free time I love to make pencil drawings, play games, and learn new things. Project: Sediment routing and sand mining sustainability in San Francisco Bay, CA |
Catalin Hernandez
BS Geological Sciences (University of Houston) 2022 RTX Summer Internship at UT-Austin About me: I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. My interest in geoscience began back in middle school when I was given the opportunity to travel to and learn about different geologic formations throughout the US with UT Austin. Even though I grew up in a big city like Houston, now I take any chance I get to participate in fieldwork and experience new places. In my spare time, I love to run, play video games, and spend time with friends and family. Project: Global compilation of supra-subduction zone ophiolites (with Fernando Rey) |
Anurag Kulkarni
BS Geological Sciences (UT-Austin) 2022 Undergraduate Research Assistant About me: A native Austinite, since childhood I've always been deeply interested in the geosciences, curious to learn what I can about any specialty. I enjoy being at the forefront of geological research with a passion for fieldwork where I can get up close with the processes that make up our world. I love to travel and backpack and am always down to try new experiences. Project: Mudstone geochemistry in the Great Valley Group, California (with Jackie Epperson) |
Bennie Hesser
BS student (Stanford University) 2021 SESUR Stanford summer internship About Me: I grew up on a ranch in the rural foothills of northern California, building a deep interest in the natural world and its processes. I am fascinated by soil science, geology, hydrology, and the interactions between each within ecosystems around the planet. I love any activity that gets me outdoors and I am an avid fisherman, hiker, soccer player and rock climber. Project: Geochemical Signals of Early Mountain Building in the Southern Patagonian Andes |