Education:
2003: Ph.D. Geophysics (minor in planetary science) Caltech;
Advisor: Mark Simons
2000: M.S. Geophysics Caltech
1997: B.A. Physics University of Chicago
(Honors in Physics and in the College)
1993: Illinois Math and Science Academy
Professional Experience:
2025-present: Sidney Kaufman Professor of Geophysics, Cornell
2017-2025: Professor, Earth & Atmospheric Science, Cornell
2010-present: Faculty Fellow, Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
2016 and 2019: Benjamin Meaker Visiting Professor, University of Bristol
2010-2017: Associate Professor, Earth & Atmospheric Science, Cornell
2005-2010: Assistant Professor, Earth & Atmospheric Science, Cornell
2006-2007: Visitor in Geophysics; Caltech
2004: Harry Hess Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton University
2003: Assistant Scientist, Caltech Seismological Laboratory
1997-2003: Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant; Caltech
1997: Summer Intern Lunar and Planetary Institute
1995-1997: Student Researcher; Department of Physics; University of Chicago
1996: Summer Intern NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program
Academic & Professional Service:
2024-present Scientific Advisory Board Member, Global Volcano Risk Alliance: Non-profit dedicated to mitigating the risk from globally impactful eruptions, through international monitoring, preparedness and advocacy for early action.
2024-2027: Member of National Volcano Early Warning System Advisory Committee (NVEWSAC) that advises the U.S. Geological Survey and Secretary of the Department of Interior
2024-2026: Member of advisory panel, Committee on Earth Observation Satellites Global Volcano Early Warning and Eruption Response System (G-VEWERS) project to monitor all ~1400 potentially active volcanoes in the world
2022-2027 VenSAR Science Team, NASA radar instrument on the European Space Agency’s EnVision mission to Venus (launch planned for 2031)
2023-2027. Elected member of the Cornell University Graduate School General Committee representing Engineering and the Physical Sciences.
2019-2024 Director of Graduate Studies for the Field of Geological Sciences, Cornell University
2023-2024 elected President, Geodesy section, American Geophysical Union
2021-2022 elected President-elect, Geodesy section, American Geophysical Union
2016-2025 Director, Institute for the Study of the Continents (INSTOC), Cornell University
2015-present Member and former Advisory Board member, Carl Sagan Institute
2018-2021 Steering committee for National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network: Community Network for Volcanic Eruption Response (CONVERSE)
2014-present Review Editor, Frontiers of Volcanology
2019-2025 Board of Trustees, Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, NY
2017-2024 U.S. National Committee for Geodesy and Geophysics — US delegate to the International Association of Geodesy
2019-2020 Faculty Fellow in Community Engaged Learning, Cornell University Office of Engagement Initiatives
2015-2021 Member of the Standing Committee on Solid Earth Geophysics (formerly called the Committee on Seismology and Geodynamics) of the National Academy of Sciences
2015-2019 Member of the Earthscope Science Steering Committee
2012-2016 Member of the DESDynI-R Science Definition Team (NASA-Indian Space Agency satellite currently called NISAR planned for launch in 2024)
2014-2016 Editorial Board, Lithosphere, Geological Society of America
2015: Contracted specialist, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) project: Enhancing Natural Hazard resilience in South America (ENHANS)
2013-2014 Elected Chair of the WInSAR Executive Committee
2010-2013 Member of GeoPRISMS Steering and Oversight Committee (the committee formerly known as the MARGINS Steering Committee)
2012 Co-organizer, GeoPRISMS Planning Workshop for the East Africa Rift System, Oct. 25-27, Morristown, NJ
2009-2012 Elected and re-elected to the UNAVCO Board of Directors
2011 Vice-Chair, UNAVCO Board of Directors
Chair, Organizing Committee for 2006, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023 INSTOC Workshops at Cornell
INSTOC Steering Committee 2008-present
2008-2014 Member of the U.S.-Japan ASTER Science Team
2007-2022 Panelist to review proposals for NASA (11 times), NSF (3 times), and internal Cornell proposals
Member of American Geophysical Union; International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI); Geological Society of America;Cornell representative to UNAVCO and WInSAR;
Honors and Awards:
2020: Top 10% downloaded paper in Geophysical Research Letters (Zheng et al., 2019)
2020: Top 10% downloaded paper in Journal of Geophysical Research (Reath et al., 2019)
2015: AGU Geodesy Section Award
2015: Kavli Fellow and speaker at the Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium
2014: Science of Risk Prize, Natural Hazards Category, Lloyd’s of London – co-author of paper selected, led by Juliet Biggs and published in Nature Communications.
2013: AGU Editor's citation for Excellence in Refereeing
2012-2013 Earthscope Speaker
2011: Illinois Math & Science Academy Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award
2010: National Science Foundation CAREER Award
2008: NASA New Investigator Program Award
2007: James and Mary Tien Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Engineering, Cornell
2004: Harry Hess Postdoctoral Fellowship, Princeton University
2001-2003: NASA Earth System Science Graduate Student Fellowship
1998-2001: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowhip