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Programs

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.

lightening strike in Great Plains Oklahoma

Atmospheric System Research

The Earth and Environmental Sciences Area’s, Atmospheric System Research Program advances fundamental understanding of atmospheric radiation, clouds, and precipitation, and their interactions with Earth’s surface and climate.

Margaret Torn

Margaret S. Torn [email protected] 510-495-2223

Climate & Atmosphere Processes | Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions

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 [email protected] 510-495-2748

Discovery Geosciences

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 [email protected] 510-495-2823

Discovery Geosciences

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 [email protected] 510-486-7560

Discovery Geosciences

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 beller

Private: Harry R. Beller [email protected] 510-486-7321

Environmental & Biological Systems Science
SEM-Kaolinite

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 [email protected] 510-486-7560

Discovery Geosciences

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.

Private: Christina Marie Patricola [email protected] 510-486-5983

Earth Systems and Society | Climate & Atmosphere Processes | Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions
Coffee bean borer on coffee bean; caffeine chain upper left; bacteria image from beetle gut right. Crop 16:9.

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 [email protected] 510-486-6584

Environmental & Biological Systems Science
History of uranium milling at a site of deep interest to LBNL (DOE’s Rifle, CO field station).

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 [email protected] 510-701-1089

Environmental & Biological Systems Science
Geological Carbon Sequestration

Geologic Carbon Sequestration

The Geological Carbon Sequestration (GCS) 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 [email protected] 510-486-7419

Energy Resources

Geothermal Systems

The Geothermal Systems Program is focused on two research thrusts: (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, microearthquake (MEQ) monitoring, and laboratory studies.

Pat Dobson

Patrick F. Dobson [email protected] 510-486-5373

Energy Resources
Stock Image of Oil Field

Hydrocarbon Resources

The Hydrocarbon Resources Program focuses on developing the understanding of the basic concepts and methodologies governing the coupled processes and associated phenomena involved in resource development and production. EESA scientists work to develop improved understanding of the basic concepts and processes governing multiphase non-isothermal flow in subsurface porous/fractured media during hydrocarbon production under challenging conditions.

Tim Kneafsey [email protected] 510-486-4414

Energy Resources

Nuclear Energy and Waste

The mission of LBNL’s Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Waste Program is to perform fundamental and applied earth-sciences-related research concerning the safe, secure, and responsible use of nuclear energy, mostly focused on the safe long-term geological disposal of used nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste.

LianGe Zheng [email protected] 510-486-5502

Energy Resources

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 Torn

Margaret S. Torn [email protected] 510-495-2223

Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions
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