Go to EESA Homepage Energy Geosciences Division Logo Energy Geosciences Division Logo
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Logo
Menu
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Organizational Charts
    • Virtual Tours
    • EESA Strategic Vision
  • Our People
    • A-Z People
    • Alumni Network
    • Area Offices
    • Committees
    • Directors
    • IDEA Working Group
    • Paul A. Witherspoon
    • Postdocs & Early Careers
    • Search by Expertise
  • Careers & Opportunities
    • Careers
    • Intern Pilot w/CSUEB
    • Mentorship Program
    • Recognition & Funding Opps
    • EESA Mini Grants
    • S&E Metrics for Performance and Promotion
    • Student Opportunities
    • Supervisor EnRichment (SupER) Program
    • Promotion Metrics (Scientific)
  • Research
    • Area-Wide Program Domain
      • Earth AI & Data
    • Our Divisions
    • Climate & Ecosystem Sciences Division
      • Environmental & Biological Systems Science
        • Programs
        • Environmental Remediation & Water Resources
        • Ecosystems Biology Program
        • Bioenergy
      • Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions
        • Programs
        • Climate Modeling
        • Atmospheric System Research
        • Terrestrial Ecosystem Science
      • Climate & Atmosphere Processes
        • Programs
        • Climate Modeling
        • Atmospheric System Research
      • Earth Systems & Society
        • Programs
        • Climate Modeling
    • Energy Geosciences Division
      • Discovery Geosciences
        • Programs
        • Basic Energy Sciences (BES) Geophysics
        • Basic Energy Sciences (BES) Geochemistry
        • Basic Energy Sciences (BES) Isotope
      • Energy Resources and Carbon Management
        • Programs
        • Carbon Removal & Mineralization Program
        • Carbon Storage Program
        • Geothermal Systems
        • Hydrocarbon Science
        • Nuclear Energy & Waste
      • Resilient Energy, Water & Infrastructure
        • Programs
        • Water-Energy
        • Critical Infrastructure
        • Environmental Resilience
        • Grid-Scale Subsurface Energy Storage
        • National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI)
    • Projects
    • Research at a Glance
    • Publication Lists
    • Centers and Resources
    • Technologies & National User Programs
  • Departments
    • Climate Sciences
    • Ecology
    • Geochemistry
    • Geophysics
    • Hydrogeology
    • Operations
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
    • Earth & Environment Newsletter
  • Intranet
  • Safety
    • EESA Safety
  • FoW
  • Search

  • all
  • people
  • events
  • posts
  • pages
  • projects
  • publications

Energy Geosciences Division

About
Program Domains
People
Departments
Organization
  • EGD Group Photo

    Our Division

    ...relies on individual contributions, strong partnerships, and teamwork to build scientific and operational excellence.

    Read More
  • Advanced Geophysical Instrumentation

    Our scientists are developing innovative geophysical hardware and methods for subsurface imaging and monitoring with access to the Geosciences Measurement Facility.

    Read More
  • Isotope Geochemistry

    Isotope geochemists develop and use isotopic ratio methods to study fundamental Earth Processes, as well as environmental and energy problems of national interest.

    Read More
  • Reservoir Engineering

    Researchers are studying ways to enhance production of energy from subsurface reservoirs containing methane gas hydrates, geothermal energy, and oil and gas resources.

    Read More
  • Molecular and Nano-geochemistry

    This research field studies the fundamental, molecular-scale phenomena that underpin biogeochemical processes in the natural world

    Read More
  • Rock Physics and Coupled Dynamics

    Research in the laboratory increases our scientists experimental knowledge base for geophysical properties of rocks and sediments that are either not well described by conventional rock physics models or have yet to be fully exploited.

    Read More
  • Contaminant Hydrology

    Researchers are addressing the national and international need for subsurface contaminant characterization and remediation across a spectrum of approaches.

    Read More

Publications buttonThe mission of the Energy Geosciences Division is to create basic and use-inspired knowledge, methods, and capabilities for sustainable utilization and management of the Earth’s subsurface.

EarthIntegrateSystem_EGD
Energy Geosciences Division scientists integrate cutting-edge numerical, observational and experimental approaches in both fundamental and applied research projects

  • to promote safe subsurface disposal of energy by-products such as CO2 or nuclear waste,
  • to enhance subsurface recovery from renewable sources such as geothermal energy
  • to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability of oil and gas production from conventional and unconventional resources,
  • and to develop effective and affordable grid-scale energy storage in the deep subsurface.

An important goal in this context is to solve existing and emerging challenges of sustainability of subsurface energy utilization and important linkages to water, environment, energy infrastructure, and society.

Program Domains

Discovery Geosciences

Researchers in the Discovery Geoscience Program Domain work at the cutting edge of observation, measurement and simulation of fluid-rock processes through the use and development of methods that span the molecular and field scales.

Energy Resources and Carbon Management

Scientists in the Energy Resources and Carbon Management Program Domain advance the knowledge and technology needed to develop and utilize subsurface systems for clean, secure, cost-effective, and sustainable energy production, energy storage, and disposal of energy-related wastes.

Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure

Researchers in the Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure Program Domain are developing and applying scientific approaches to solving existing and emerging challenges of sustainability 'and resiliency' of subsurface energy utilization and important linkages to water, environment, energy infrastructure, and society.

Discovery Geosciences

Researchers in the Discovery Geoscience Program Domain work at the cutting edge of observation, measurement and simulation of fluid-rock processes through the use and development of methods that span the molecular and field scales.

Energy Resources and Carbon Management

Scientists in the Energy Resources and Carbon Management Program Domain advance the knowledge and technology needed to develop and utilize subsurface systems for clean, secure, cost-effective, and sustainable energy production, energy storage, and disposal of energy-related wastes.

Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure

Researchers in the Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure Program Domain are developing and applying scientific approaches to solving existing and emerging challenges of sustainability 'and resiliency' of subsurface energy utilization and important linkages to water, environment, energy infrastructure, and society.

Jonathan Ajo-Franklin

Visiting Faculty

Phone: 510-495-2728
jbajo-franklin@lbl.gov

David Lee Alumbaugh

Carbon Storage Program Lead;

Hydrocarbon Science Program Lead;

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6346
dlalumbaugh@lbl.gov

Bhavna Arora portrait

Bhavna Arora

Carbon Removal and Mineralization Program Head;

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-495-2163
Fax: 510-486-5686
barora@lbl.gov

Toshiyuki Bandai

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 209-421-9285
tbandai@lbl.gov

Pramod Bhuvankar

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 765-426-3077
pbhuvankar@lbl.gov

Jens Birkholzer

Director, Energy Geosciences Division;

Senior Scientist;

Hydrogeologist

Phone: 510-486-7134
Fax: 510-486-5686
jtbirkholzer@lbl.gov

Laura Blanco Martin

Faculty Scientist

lblancomartin@lbl.gov

Sharon E. Borglin

Principal Scientific Research Associate

seborglin@lbl.gov

Robert J. Budnitz portrait. Cr. Roy Kaltschmidt, Berkeley Lab. Photos.lbl.gov, XBD201408-01063-02.tiff

Robert Jay Budnitz

Guest Physicist Project Scientist/Engineer

Affiliate

Phone: 510-486-7829
rjbudnitz@lbl.gov

Roland Burgmann

Faculty Scientist

Phone: 510-643-9545
rburgmann@lbl.gov

Madison Burrus

Research Assistant

Phone: 732-677-6350
mburrus@lbl.gov

Mary Kay Camarillo

Visiting Faculty

Phone: 209-946-3056
mkcamarillo@lbl.gov

Chun Chang

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7923
chunchang@lbl.gov

Jinsong Chen

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6842
Fax: 510-486-5686
jchen@lbl.gov

Sung Choi

Principal Scientific Engineering Associate

Phone: 818-425-8823
sungchoi@lbl.gov

John Neil Christensen

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6735
Fax: 510-486-7152
jnchristensen@lbl.gov

Abdullah Cihan

Abdullah Cihan

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-495-2997
acihan@lbl.gov

Julien F. Cohen-Waeber

Graduate Student Research Assistant

Phone: 310-488-8975
jfwaeber@lbl.gov

Michael Commer

Guest Scientist

Affiliate

mcommer@lbl.gov

Paul Cook

Paul Cook

Principal Scientific Engineering Associate

Phone: 510-486-6110
Fax: 510-486-6819
pjcook@lbl.gov

Julia Correa

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-693-7011
juliacorrea@lbl.gov

Thomas Daley

Staff Scientist (retired)

Affiliate

Phone: 510-508-3038
tmdaley@lbl.gov

Donald J. DePaolo

Graduate Professor of Geochemistry and Senior Faculty Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7560
Fax: 510-486-7714
djdepaolo@lbl.gov

Patrick F. Dobson

Geothermal Systems Program Lead

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-5373
pfdobson@lbl.gov

Jeremy K. Domen

Research Associate

Phone: 808-754-5812
jkdomen@lbl.gov

Wenming Dong

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7499
wenmingdong@lbl.gov

Christine Doughty

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6453
Fax: 510-486-5686
cadoughty@lbl.gov

Boris A. Faybishenko

Earth Staff Scientist

Hydrogeology Department
Energy Geosciences Division
Earth and Environmental Sciences Area

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
University of California, Berkeley
M/S 74R316C
510-486-4852

bafaybishenko@lbl.gov

Stefan Finsterle

Guest Scientist

Affiliate

safinsterle@lbl.gov

Sylvain Fiolleau

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

sfiolleau@lbl.gov

Bill Foxall Portrait

William Foxall

Guest Senior Scientist

Affiliate

Phone: 510-486-5082
bfoxall@lbl.gov

Barry M. Freifeld

Guest Scientist/Mechanical Engineer (Retired)

Affliate

Phone: 510-520-2618
bmfreifeld@lbl.gov

Erika Gasperikova

Erika Gasperikova

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-486-4930
Fax: 510-486-5686
egasperikova@lbl.gov

Benjamin Gilbert

Discovery Geosciences Program Domain Lead

BES Geochemistry Program Lead

Senior Scientist

Phone: 510-495-2748
Fax: 510-486-5686
bgilbert@lbl.gov

Pupa Gilbert

Visiting Faculty

Phone: 510-495-2010
pgilbert@lbl.gov

Stanislav Glubokovskikh

Research Scientist

sglubokovskikh@lbl.gov

Norman E. Goldstein

Guest Senior Scientist

Affiliate

Phone: 510-486-6887
negoldstein@lbl.gov

Yves Guglielmi portrait

Yves Guglielmi

Senior Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7626
Fax: 510-486-5686
yguglielmi@lbl.gov

Chet Hopps profile photo

Chet Hopp

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 734-255-6473
chopp@lbl.gov

Mengsu Hu

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-486-5154
mengsuhu@lbl.gov

Lawrence J. Hutchings

Project Scientist

Affiliate

Phone: 510-486-7446
Fax: 510-486-5686
ljhutchings@lbl.gov

Boris Jeremic

Faculty Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7829
bjeremic@lbl.gov

Preston Jordan Portrait

Preston D. Jordan

Principal Scientific Engineering Associate

Phone: 510-486-6774
pdjordan@lbl.gov

Kenzi Karasaki

Guest Scientist

Affiliate

Phone: 510-486-6759
kkarasaki@lbl.gov

Burton M. Kennedy

Guest Scientist

Affiliate

Phone: 510-486-6451
Fax: 510-486-5686
bmkennedy@lbl.gov

Kunhwi Kim

Affiliate

Phone: 858-263-3313
kunhwikim@lbl.gov

Kevin Knauss

Guest Scientist

Affiliate

Phone: 925-667-5674
kgknauss@lbl.gov

Tim Kneafsey

Affiliate Scientist (Retired)

Phone: 510-486-4414
Fax: 510-486-5686
tjkneafsey@lbl.gov

Ayumi Koishi

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 510-486-6384
akoishi@lbl.gov

Ram Kumar

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 813-570-0512
ramkumar@lbl.gov

Laura Nielsen Lammers

Faculty Scientist

Phone: 510-664-4210
lnlammers@lbl.gov

Corinne Elisabeth Layland-Bachmann

Senior Scientific Engineering Associate

Phone: 510-486-6743
cebachmann@lbl.gov

Ji Yeon Lee

Research Associate

Phone: 510-495-6455
jyl@lbl.gov

Chunhui Li

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 510-486-6272
chunhuili@lbl.gov

Harrison Lisabeth

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7262
hlisabeth@lbl.gov

Linqing Luo

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-766-8083
linqingluo@lbl.gov

Keurfon Luu

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 510-486-5432
keurfonluu@lbl.gov

Elizabeth (Lizz) Mahoney

Senior Administrator to the Division Director

ejmahoney@lbl.gov

Ernest L. Majer

Guest Scientist

Affiliate

Phone: 510-486-6709
elmajer@lbl.gov

Michael Manga

Faculty Scientist

Phone: (510) 643-8532
mmanga@lbl.gov

David McCallen

Senior Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7661
dbmccallen@lbl.gov

Mamun Miah

Project Scientist

Phone: 510-486-5647
mmiah@lbl.gov

Utkarsh Mital

Project Scientist

Phone: 626-390-8375
umital@lbl.gov

Sergi Molins Rafa

Sergi Molins Rafa

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7540
Fax: 510-486-5686
smolins@lbl.gov

Alejandro Morales

Mechanical Engineering Technician

Phone: 510-486-5967
armorales@lbl.gov

George J. Moridis

Senior Scientist

Phone: 510-486-4746
Fax: 510-486-5686
gjmoridis@lbl.gov

Seiji Nakagawa

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7894
Fax: 510-486-5686
snakagawa@lbl.gov

Nori Nakata

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6346
nnakata@lbl.gov

Rie Nakata (Kamei)

Earth Research Scientist

rnakata@lbl.gov

Avinash Nayak

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 510-486-6658
anayak7@lbl.gov

Edward Nichols

Senior Scientific Engineering Associate

enichols@lbl.gov

Peter S. Nico

Deputy Director, Energy Geosciences Division;

Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure Program Domain Lead;

UC Berkeley Associate Adjunct Professor;

Senior Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7118
Fax: 510-486-5686
psnico@lbl.gov

Kurt Toshimi Nihei

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-7945
ktnihei@lbl.gov

Nils Anders Petersson

Guest Scientist

Affiliate

Phone: 510-486-7134
andersp@lbl.gov

Curtis M. Oldenburg

Senior Scientist

Rehired Retiree

cmoldenburg@lbl.gov

Omotayo A. Omosebi

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6656
oaomosebi@lbl.gov

Jasquelin Pena

Faculty Scientist

Phone: 510-643-9951
jpena@lbl.gov

Floriana Petrone

Visiting Faculty

Visitin

Phone: 510-486-7961
Fax: 510-486-5686
florianapetrone@lbl.gov

Youzheng Qi

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 510-486-4793
youzhengqi@lbl.gov

Clayton J. Radke

Faculty Scientist/Engineer

Phone: 510-642-5204
clradke@lbl.gov

Matthew T. Reagan

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6517
Fax: 510-486-5686
mtreagan@lbl.gov

James W. Rector

Faculty Scientist

Phone: 510-643-7820
jwrector@lbl.gov

Michelle Robertson

Program Manager

Phone: 510-486-5096
mcrobertson@lbl.gov

Emily A. Robles

Student Assistant

Phone: 510-495-8890
emilyarobles@lbl.gov

Michael (Mike) Rowley

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 510-486-7118
mrowley@lbl.gov

Jonny Rutqvist

Senior Scientist

Hydrogeology Department Head

Phone: 510-486-5432
Fax: 510-486-5686
jrutqvist@lbl.gov

Tsubasa Sasaki

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 530-220-7130
tsubasasasaki@lbl.gov

Nicholas Sitar

Faculty Scientist

Phone: 510-486-5206
nsitar@lbl.gov

Jeremy T. Smith

Senior Scientific Engineering Associate

Phone: 510-486-5761
jtsmith@lbl.gov

Kenichi Soga

Faculty Scientist

soga@berkeley.edu

Eric L. Sonnenthal

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-5866
Fax: 510-486-5686
elsonnenthal@lbl.gov

Carl I. Steefel

Geochemistry Department Head

Senior Scientist & Department Head

Phone: 510-502-3660
Fax: 510-486-5686
cisteefel@lbl.gov

Daniel Stolper

Faculty Scientist

dstolper@berkeley.edu

Lucien Stolze

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

lstolze@lbl.gov

William T. Stringfellow

Director, Ecological Engineering Research Program

Environmental Staff Engineer

Phone: 510-486-7903
Fax: 510-486-7152
wstringfellow@lbl.gov

Maryam Tabbakhha

Project Scientist

mtabbakhha@lbl.gov

Tetsu K. Tokunaga

Senior Scientist (retired)

Affiliate

Phone: 510-684-9661
Fax: 510-486-5686
tktokunaga@lbl.gov

Hafssa Tounsi

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 510-365-6550
htounsi@lbl.gov

Christophe Tournassat

Visiting Faculty

ctournassat@lbl.gov

Craig Ulrich

Principal Scientific Engineering Associate

Phone: 510-495-8891
Fax: 510-486-5686
culrich@lbl.gov

Charuleka Varadharajan

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-495-8890
Fax: 510-486-5686
cvaradharajan@lbl.gov

Donald W. Vasco

Hydrogeophysicist

Senior Scientist

Phone: 510-486-5206
Fax: 510-486-5686
dwvasco@lbl.gov

Jiamin Wan

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6004
Fax: 510-486-7152
jmwan@lbl.gov

Jiannan Wang

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Phone: 510-486-6673
jiannanwang@lbl.gov

Helen Weierbach

Research Associate

Phone: 571-730-7903
HWeierbach@lbl.gov

Michael Whittaker

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6596
mwhittaker@lbl.gov

Michael Wilt

Staff Scientist (retired)

Affiliate

Phone: 510-486-5430
mwilt@lbl.gov

Erica Woodburn

Research Scientist

Seaborg Research Fellow

Phone: 510-486-5711
Fax: 510-486-5686
erwoodburn@lbl.gov

Piotr Pawel Zarzycki

Research Scientist

Phone: 510-486-6272
ppzarzycki@lbl.gov

Keni Zhang

Scientific Software Developer

Phone: 510-486-7312
Fax: 510-486-5686
kzhang@lbl.gov

Yingqi Zhang

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-495-2983
Fax: 510-486-5686
yqzhang@lbl.gov

LianGe Zheng

Staff Scientist

Nuclear Energy and Waste Program Head

Phone: 510-486-5502
Fax: 510-486-5686
lzheng@lbl.gov

Quanlin Zhou

Staff Scientist

Phone: 510-486-5748
Fax: 510-486-5686
qzhou@lbl.gov

Division Contacts

Jens Birkholzer
Director, Energy Geosciences Division;
Senior Scientist;
Hydrogeologist

Peter S. Nico
Deputy Director, Energy Geosciences Division;
Resilient Energy, Water and Infrastructure Program Domain Lead;
UC Berkeley Associate Adjunct Professor;
Senior Scientist

Elizabeth (Lizz) Mahoney
Senior Administrator to the Division Director

News & Events

Chun Chang Places Second in Annual Berkeley Lab Pitch Competition

January 18, 2023

Commercializing Berkeley Lab inventions is an important part of the Lab’s mission, and one that requires strong communication skills. For example, Lab inventors need to be able to pitch their ideas to external partners and potential funders.  The annual Berkeley Lab Pitch Competition occurred on October 27, 2022 and is a part of an entrepreneurship…

EESA Scientists Collaborate With Universities to bring Environmental Science Research Opportunities and Training to Students Underrepresented in STEM

January 13, 2023

  EESA researchers are collaborators in three of the 41 projects awarded in December by DOE through its Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) initiative.  RENEW aims to build foundations for research at institutions that have been historically underrepresented in the Office of Science (SC) research portfolio. The initiative provides opportunities for undergraduate and…

Berkeley Lab Hosts Successful CouFrac 2022 Conference

November 29, 2022

The 3rd International Conference on Coupled Processes in Fractured Geological Media: Observation, Modeling, and Application (CouFrac 2022) took place at Berkeley Lab and online everywhere else on November 14-16. Berkeley Lab Research Scientist Mengsu Hu led the conference along with Berkeley Lab Senior Scientists Carl Steefel and Jonny Rutqvist to explore the exciting new advances…

Cracking the Secrets to Earthquake Safety, One Shake Simulation at a Time

This article first appeared at https://newscenter.lbl.gov/. A new experimental capability, designed to replicate realistic earthquakes in the laboratory, paired with the world’s fastest supercomputers, will help lead to resilient buildings and infrastructure across the U.S. To make sure our buildings and infrastructure are earthquake-safe, we must understand how seismic activity affects different structures. Miniature models…

Christophe Tournassat Honored by Clay Minerals Society

November 14, 2022

Christophe Tournassat, currently an EESA visiting faculty scientist in the Energy Geosciences Division, has been named by the Clay Minerals Society to receive the Marion L. and Christie M. Jackson Mid-Career Clay Scientist Award for his contributions to the clay mineralogy field. He will receive the award during the 60th anniversary of the Clay Mineral…

EESA Geophysicists Explore Landslide Hazard Using Novel Remote-Sensing Approach

October 17, 2022

Torrential rains in Venezuela early last week provoked a devastating landslide, adding to the deluge of stunning climatic events of the past month. With locations around the globe receiving larger amounts of intense rainfall over shorter periods of time under climate change, bigger, costlier landslides that directly impact infrastructure have become more frequent–and urbanization exacerbates…

  • Our People
    • Area Offices
    • Committees
    • Directors
    • Organizational Charts
    • Postdocs
    • Staff Only
    • Search by Expertise
  • Departments
    • Climate Sciences
    • Ecology
    • Geochemistry
    • Geophysics
    • Hydrogeology
  • Research
    • Climate & Ecosystem Sciences Division
    • Energy Geosciences Division
    • Program Domains
      • Programs
    • Projects
  • Contact
    • 510 486 6455
    • eesawebmaster@lbl.gov
    • Our Identity

Earth and Environmental Sciences Area Logo DOE Earth and Environmental Sciences Area Logo UC

A U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory Managed by the University of California

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory · Earth and Environmental Sciences Area · Privacy & Security Notice