Einat Lev
I am an Associate Research Professor at the Seismology, Geodynamics and Tectonics (SGT) division at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO).
The main goal of my research is the improve our understanding of lava and magma and how they flow inside and outside volcanoes. I simulate lavas both in the computer and the lab, and collect samples and images of natural lava flows.
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I have always loved both science and the outdoors, so I was thrilled to discover that I could major in Geophysics, which combined my two long-time passions. My PhD thesis, at MIT, combined seismology, numerical modeling, and rock physics to look at anisotropy in the Earth's mantle.
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When I joined Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in 2009, I wanted to use my skills in something with a more direct impact on society and hazard assessment, as well as more direct observations. This desire brought me to Physical Volcanology.
Staff:
Sam Krasnoff
I am the software engineer in charge of the VICTOR project, cloud-based cyberinfrastructure for computational volcanology. My duties include development of the platform itself, implementing new simulations and computational models, and doing outreach to encourage open science principles among the volcano studies community. I have a degree in Computer Engineer, which provides me the skills to work on VICTOR and supports my drive to create and innovate
2022-present, Software Engineer, Columbia University
I am the Training and Education Coordinator for VICTOR. With a background in learning design I develop and design tools and content that support users in using VICTOR for their own projects, and assist educators in including VICTOR in their classrooms.
2024-present, Training and Education Coordinator Columbia University
2023 MS, Instructional Design and Technology
2019 BA, Psychology
Amelia Mullins
Post Doc:
Elise Rumpf
2000 B.Sc. SUNY Buffalo
2014 Ph.D. University of Hawai'i
2014-2017 NSF Postdoc Fellow, LDEO
2017-Now Mendenhall Postdoc Fellow, USGS Astrogeology, Flagstaff, AZ
Brett Carr
I am investigating the processes controlling lava dome stability and collapse. My research involves a combination of field work using ground- and drone-based visual and thermal imaging and photogrammetry, satellite remote sensing, and numerical modeling. My goals are to better understand how instabilities in lava domes develop, what triggers collapse of these instabilities, and how to improve hazard assessment during these types of eruptions.
2007 BA, Dartmouth College
2008 MS, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2016 PhD, Arizona State University
2017-2019 NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
2020-Now Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, USGS
Colton Conroy
My work centers around the development of computational models for geophysical fluid flows, with direct application to 3D coastal circulation and transport, air-sea turbulence, high-frequency ocean waves and overland flows. At Lamont-Doherty, I will be modeling lava flows, with the ultimate goal is to develop a model that can be used to study lava-obstacle interactions as well as breakouts.
2009 B.Sc., Ohio State University, Civil Engineering
2014 Ph.D. Ohio State University, Civil Engineering
2014-2017 Postdoctoral research, Columbia University Applied Math
Conor Bacon
I am interested in the relationship between stress, structure, and seismicity in volcanic environments, particularly how these factors evolve during volcanic intrusions. I develop software for the construction of high-fidelity catalogues of microseismicity from raw seismic data, including analysis tools for magnitude estimates, focal mechanisms, and seismic anisotropy, as well as forward modelling tools for seismic anisotropy and deformation. I am an advocate for widening access to data and scientific research in general by improving practices in the field and the free publication of open-source tools and workflows that can be run at any scale. At Lamont, I am working as part of the AVERT project to develop and field test a rugged hardware/software system for multi-instrument monitoring of remote volcanic systems.
2017 BA/MSci, University of Cambridge, UK
2021 Ph.D., University of Cambridge, UK
Currently Post-doctoral research scientist @ LDEO
Julie Oppenheimer
I run analogue experiments to investigate bubble-crystal interactions in magma and lava.
I am particularly interested in how these interactions can affect flow behaviors, gas escape, and eruption dynamics.
2009 B.Sc. Université Libre de Bruxelles
2012 M.Res. University of Bristol
2017 Ph.D. University of Bristol
2017-2019 Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Graduate:
Janine Birnbaum
I'm interested in the fluid dynamics of lava, especially lava flows and lava lakes. I combine numerical modeling and analog laboratory experiments to investigate physical controls on lava dynamics. I'm particularly focused on multiphase lava rheology and coupled thermo-mechanical processes to help guide understanding of field observations. In addition, I'm passionate about science communication and education.
2023- Present Postdoctoral Researcher, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
2018-2023. Ph.D. student, Columbia University
2018 BSc, Stanford University
Jasper Baur
I'm interested in combining volcanology and remote sensing, particularly using uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones). I am part of the AVERT project to study volcanoes in Alaska and a joint NSF-NERC project to study lava flows in Hawai'i and Iceland.
2020-present Ph.D. student, Columbia University
2020 BSc, SUNY Binghamton
Undergraduate
and high school students:
Sara Sobolewska
Sara interned with the 2018 group. Sara's experiments included examining the motion of liquid droplets inside a particle suspension, with applications ranging from magma chambers to formation of planetary cores.
Kate Wegleitner
Kate interned with the summer 2018 intern group. Kate used a new continuous programmable pump to investigate the influence of effusion rate variations on the structure of lava domes.
Robert Moon
Bobby joined the team for a summer internship in 2017. Bobby's project was to analyze the drone imagery collected in Chile and in the western US and to extract high-resolution topography of the lava flows. Bobby also did a wonderful job mentoring our high-school interns Cassie (on left), victor and Matthieu (on right).
Carolien Mossel
Joined as a summer intern in summer 2016. Carolien worked on the interaction of lava flows with obstacles using syrup and wax.
Asha Grossbrendt
A high school student from Fox Lane school in Westchester County. Joined the group in 2014. Works on the influence of bed roughness (small-scale topography) on lava flow advance. Participated successfully in regional science competitions with this project.
Elizabeth Eiden
An undergraduate student from Caltech. Joined the team in summer 2016. Worked on interaction of lava flows with obstacles and on the influence of slope changes (pictured on left).
Julia Grandury
A high-school studentat Lycee Francais school in New York City. Joined the team in summer 2016. Worked on lava flow interaction with obstacles (pictured on right).
