Research within Program Domains is organized by Programs. Programs include a portfolio of projects that have a common scientific theme; projects can range from single PI to large, multi-disciplinary, team-based efforts. Programs are typically closely aligned with sponsor offices, and Program Leads serve as the main Berkeley Lab point of contact for those offices. Scroll down to read about our fourteen Programs.
Programs
Atmospheric System Research
This program seeks to improve understanding of surface atmosphere exchanges of carbon, water, and energy, and their roles in ecosystem-climate interactions, as well as to quantify the convective transport of CO2, water, mass, and momentum.
Margaret S. Torn
mstorn@lbl.gov
Basic Energy Sciences (BES) Geochemistry
Studying the fundamental chemical controls on the structure, properties and evolution of rock-fluid systems in terrestrial and subsurface Earth settings.
Benjamin Gilbert
bgilbert@lbl.gov
Basic Energy Sciences (BES) Geophysics
Understanding the impact of fluids injected into the subsurface is essential for a host of activities that have material benefits for society. The long-term mission of the BES Geophysics Program is to improve our ability to monitor and image in space and time where injected fluids migrate and what alterations they make to the Earth’s subsurface.
Steven R. Pride
srpride@lbl.gov
Basic Energy Sciences (BES) Isotope
Developing and applying knowledge of stable isotope fractionation processes to provide insights into the controls on mineral precipitation and material transport in fluid phases.
Donald J. DePaolo
djdepaolo@lbl.gov
Bioenergy
Research projects in EESA’s Bioenergy Program apply synthetic biology, bioengineering, and microbiology to foster renewable fuel production. Key themes of the Bioenergy Program include: (1) developing novel biofuel pathways in bacteria, (2) exploiting microbial metabolic diversity for biofuel production and lignocellulose deconstruction, and (3) mitigating petroleum souring.
Harry R. Beller
hrbeller@lbl.gov
Nanoscale Control of Geologic CO2 (NCGC)
Enhancing the performance and predictability of subsurface storage systems by understanding the molecular and nanoscale origins of CO2 trapping processes, and developing computational tools to translate to larger-scale systems.
Donald J. DePaolo
djdepaolo@lbl.gov
Climate Modeling
This program aims to develop global process-resolving models to help quantify the roles of climate feedbacks in anthropogenic climate change. Abrupt and extreme climate changes from anthropogenic warming pose some of the greatest risks to society and the environment. Understanding of the complex interactions involved with feedbacks is critical.
Travis A. O’Brien
taobrien@lbl.gov
Ecosystems Biology Program
The Ecosystems Biology Program focuses on discovering and understanding the molecular basis of plant, microbial and metazoan interactions, including specific gene functions, species interactions, and community dynamics under a variety of environmental conditions—and developing the advanced technology that enables such understanding.
Eoin Brodie
elbrodie@lbl.gov
Environmental Remediation and Water Resources
The key driver for this program is to improve the scientific foundation of hydrological, biological, and geochemical processes and their interactions relevant to environmental remediation, water resources, and enhanced energy production.
Kenneth H. Williams
khwilliams@lbl.gov
Geologic Carbon Sequestration
The Geological Carbon Sequestration Program uses theory along with lab, field, and simulation approaches to investigate processes needed to inform and guide the safe and effective implementation of geologic carbon sequestration.
Curtis M. Oldenburg
cmoldenburg@lbl.gov
Geothermal Systems
The Geothermal Systems Program is focused on 1) Developing innovative technologies for identifying and characterizing conventional and hidden natural hydrothermal systems; and 2) Characterizing, developing, and sustaining enhanced geothermal systems, through the use of coupled process models, MEQ monitoring, and laboratory studies.
Patrick F. Dobson
pfdobson@lbl.gov
Hydrocarbon Resources
The Hydrocarbon Resources Program focuses on developing an understanding of the basic concepts and processes governing the storage and nonisothermal flow of hydrocarbons in porous media during production, as well as an understanding of associated coupled processes and phenomena involved in resource development and production.
Tim Kneafsey
tjkneafsey@lbl.gov
Nuclear Energy and Waste
The role of the Nuclear Energy and Waste Program is to perform fundamental and applied Earth-sciences-related research concerning the safe, secure, and responsible use of nuclear energy, as well as the safe storage and disposal of used nuclear fuel and waste.
Jens Birkholzer
jtbirkholzer@lbl.gov
Terrestrial Ecosystem Science
This program’s focus is to understand and explain mechanisms and processes controlling primary production, carbon cycling, and soil biogeochemistry; the impacts of disturbance on terrestrial ecosystems; and ecosystem feedbacks to climate in vulnerable environments. In addition, it seeks to establish and maintain environmental field observatories.
Margaret S. Torn
mstorn@lbl.gov