BUREAU OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY - Key Persons

Cathy Brown, former Media team leader, retired at the end of October. Please join all of us at the Bureau in thanking Cathy for her tremendous contributions to the Bureau's success over the years, and in congratulating her on a very well-deserved retirement!

Caudle, Tiffany L.

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Research Scientist Associate V

Chang, David

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Senior Systems Administrator

Chapman, David

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Program Manager

Chen, Poe

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Senior Information Technology Manager

Christi Craddick

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Commissioner

Coffman, Melissa

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Senior Human Resources Coordinator

Coggin, Jamie H.

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Senior Graphics Designer

Cottington, Nancy

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Program Coordinator

DeAngelo, Michael V.

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Research Scientist Associate IV / Geophysicist

DeJarnett, Beverly

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Research Scientist Associate IV

Dommisse, Robin

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Research Scientist Associate V

Dr. Alex Bump

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Research Scientist Associate IV

Dr. Alexander Sun

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Research Professor

Dr. Alexandros Savvaidis

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Research Professor

Dr. Ander Martinez-Doñate

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Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Ashraf Rateb

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Research Scientist Associate IV

Dr. Brent Elliott

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Research Associate Professor

Dr. Bridget R. Scanlon

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Research Professor

Scanlon, B. R., A. Rateb, A. Anyamba, S. Kebede, A. M. MacDonald, M. Shamsudduha, J. Small, A. Sun, R. G. Taylor, and H. Xie (2022), Linkages between GRACE water storage, hydrologic extremes, and climate teleconnections in major African aquifers, Environmental Research Letters, 17 Scanlon, B. R., S. Ikonnikova, Q. Yang, and R. C. Reedy (2020), Will water issues constrain oil and gas production in the U.S.?, Env. Sci. & Technol., https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b06390.

Dr. Charles "Chuck" R. Williamson

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Director, Infinium Electrofuels

Dr. Claudia Hackbarth - Chairman

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Chairman

Dr. Hongliu Zeng

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Geophysicist

Dr. Ian Duncan

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Program Director

Dr. James Thompson

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Research Associate

Dr. Leandro Melani

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Petrophysicist Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Mariana Olariu

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Research Associate

Dr. Nur Schuba

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Research Associate

Dr. Osareni C. Ogiesoba

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Geophysicist

Dr. Peter P. Flaig

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Research Scientist

Dr. Qilong Fu

Dr. Robert (Bob) G. Loucks

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Research Professor
Senior Research Scientist Carbonate / Clastics

Dr. Scott W. Tinker

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Director Emeritus

Dr. Scott W. Tinker has traveled to over 60 countries on his mission to bring industry, government, academia, and nongovernmental organizations together to address the dual challenge of energy access for human flourishing and environmental protection. Dr. Tinker wears many hats including speaker, educator, researcher, professor, filmmaker, author, TV and radio host, investor, board member, father and more.

Dr. Sheng Peng

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Research Associate

Dr. Xuesong Ding

Dunlap, Dallas B.

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Research Scientist Associate IV

Edna Rodriguez Calzado

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Research Scientist Associate II

Edwards, Kenneth

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Administrative Associate

Elliott, Sara

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Associate
Research Scientist

Faigle, Andrew P.

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Warehouse Supervisor

Fleck, Preston

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Field Engineer - Seismologist

Forstner, Stephanie

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Research Scientist Associate II

Fritz Palacios

fr..@beg.utexas.edu

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Postdoctoral Fellow Energy Researcher

Galaviz, Jennifer

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Administrative Associate

Garza, Carlos

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Senior Desktop Support Specialist

George P. Bush

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President / Infinity Oil & Gas, Inc. Commissioner George P. Bush

Grunau, Benjamin

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Associate
Research Scientist

Hamilton, Nicholas

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Warehouse Supervisor, Houston

Harold Rogers

ha..@beg.utexas.edu

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Research Scientist Associate II

Hattori, Kelly

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Research Scientist Associate IV

Hebert, Gwen

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Senior Grants & Contracts Specialist

Hennings, Juli

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Project Manager

Hobbs, Travis

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Technical Writer / Editor I

Horne, Lily

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Associate
Research Scientist

Hunt, Brian

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Research Scientist Associate IV

Jay Kipper

ja..@beg.utexas.edu

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Deputy Director
Director of Administrative Functions at the Bureau

As director of administrative functions at the Bureau, Jay Kipper manages personnel, fiscal reporting, budget management, and contract negotiation. Jay also supervises the Bureau's Core Research Centers, the Houston Research Center, the Geophysical Log Library, the Information Technology Group, and Administrative and Support Staffs. Jay was instrumental in the formation of the Advanced Energy Consortium to explore nanotechnologies for the energy industry, and he played a lead role in the FutureGen Texas clean energy initiative.

Jon Niermann

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President & Founder / Ming Energy Partners, LLC / Chairman Jon Niermann

Kelly Hattori

ke..@beg.utexas.edu

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Associate
Research Scientist

Ken Wisian

ke..@beg.utexas.edu

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Associate Director

Ken Wisian, Ph.D., Major General USAF (retired), is responsible for coordinating environmental related research. He came to the Bureau from the Center for Space Research. Previously, Dr. Wisian was a senior state executive responsible for disaster recovery, oil spill prevention and response, and coastal infrastructure and environmental protection for Texas. As a military officer, General Wisian participated or lead military disaster response efforts for the Shuttle Columbia crash and multiple hurricanes. Dr. Wisian is a geophysicist whose main research is in geothermal systems, modeling, and instrumentation & data analysis . Other current research includes; autonomy/drones, applied gravity, planetary geology/space exploration, infrastructure resiliency and international relations. General Wisian, a navigator/bombardier, flew bombers, transports and fighters, is a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School and commanded the 147th Reconnaissance Wing flying the MQ-1 Predator. He has combat time in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia and his combat medals include the Bronze Star and Air Medal.

Khaled, Mohamed Shafik

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Research Assistant Professor

Kipper, Jay P.

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Deputy Director

Kirk, Adam

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Analyst
Senior Software Developer

Krieg, Devin

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Accountant II

Lambert, Josh

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Associate
Research Scientist

LaValley, Kim

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Administrative Services Officer II

Lee, Wonhyun

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Research Assistant Professor

Leopoldo Ruiz

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Low Carbon and Petroleum Engineer

Linda Ruiz McCall

li..@beg.utexas.edu

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Project Manager
Geology Public Information
K - 12 Education and Outreach Programs

Lorena Moscardelli

lo..@beg.utexas.edu

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STARR Principal Investigator and Research Scientist

Lucero, Rudy R.

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Stores Clerk III

Luciano, Angela

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Research Scientist Associate II

Lucy Ko

lu..@beg.utexas.edu

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Research Associate

Lucy Phlegar

lu..@beg.utexas.edu

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Geophysical Log Facility

Malito, John

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Associate
Research Scientist

Mark Shuster

ma..@beg.utexas.edu

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Interim Director

Mark Shuster is responsible for managing the Bureau's energy-related research. He joined the Bureau in September, 2016. Prior to joining the Bureau, Mark worked for Shell and affiliates for 30 years in upstream oil and gas roles around the world. Mark began his professional career as a Research Geologist working on projects on the Permian Basin, Atlantic margin basins and southeast Asia. Subsequently, Mark worked on exploration and appraisal projects in Venezuela, Australia, Middle East, Gulf of Mexico and most recently, Alaska. Mark received his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of the Pacific and his PhD in Geology from the University of Wyoming.

Mark W. Blount

ma..@beg.utexas.edu

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Assistant Director
Assistant Director of External Affairs, Bureau of Economic Geology / the University of Texas
for Media Inquiries Concerning Bureau Research, or for Access to Researchers, Contact
Gift Information

Responsible for creating and enhancing external relationships, Mark Blount works to promote the innovative and trusted energy, environmental and economics research of the Bureau of Economic Geology, and to attract new friends, partners and supporters. Roles include marketing and communication, media relations, outreach to the Texas Legislature, industry engagement, event support, land management, donor cultivation, and educational outreach. Mark has served The University of Texas at Austin since 1999 with previous roles as Assistant Dean for Development at the UT College of Education and Director of Corporate Relations for the University Development Office.