GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH
Within the Department of Geological Sciences, faculty, students, and staff tackle fundamental questions related to our planet and planetary systems through several integrated research programs, supported by state-of-the-art technology and facilities and all the resources of a top-tier research university.
Research Specialties
Biogeochemistry
Study the natural environment and the chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that affect it.
Learn More
Energy
Tackle fundamental questions related to hydrocarbon and water sources to meet the ever-increasing demand for energy.
Learn More
Geophysics
Study the structure and composition of Earth and other planets and moons using seismology, gravity, magnetics, and more.
Learn More
Structural Geology
Study the form, arrangement, and internal composition of rocks, focusing on small/moderate geologic structures.
Learn More
Tectonics
Study the processes that shape our planet, from Earth’s crust to the formation of continents, mountains, oceans, and basins.
Learn More
Hydro3
Examine water quality, quantity, distribution, and movement on and below the Earth’s surface.
Learn More
Paleo3
Use fossil evidence to trace the history and evolution of organisms, their environments, and their anthropogenic impact.
Learn More
Petrology
Study the processes that form and transform igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks below the Earth’s surface.
Learn More
Environmental Geochemistry
Explore the sources, distribution, and interaction of elements and contaminants on the Earth’s surface.
Learn More
High-Temperature Geochemistry
Pursue high-precision elemental and isotopic measurements of samples to better understand their formation.
Learn More
Mineral Resources
Explore development technologies and techniques for critical resources like copper, cobalt, graphite, and zinc.
Learn More
Planetary Science
Use observational and sample data to understand the structure and history of planets in our solar system and beyond.
Learn More
Totten Lab at the British Antarctic Survey
Colton Byrne, an undergraduate junior pursuing a B.S. in Geology and a B.Ch. in Chemistry, is conducting undergraduate research in Dr. Rebecca Totten’s lab. His three-week research visit to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in Cambridge provided an invaluable opportunity to explore a new country, meet many inspiring people, and develop skills and relationships that will benefit his academic and professional career. As an undergraduate just beginning his research journey, Colton described the experience as a dream come true—working alongside […]
Dr. Jonathan Frame has secured a $1.02 million NSF grant
Dr. Jonathan Frame, along with collaborators, has secured a $1.02 million NSF grant to develop AI-guided digital twin systems for managing water resources in support of AI infrastructure. You can read more about this pioneering project here: https://awi.ua.edu/2025/08/06/ua-researchers-water-science-ai-infrastructure/ awi.ua.edu This interdisciplinary endeavor, spanning geology, engineering, and mathematics shows our department’s leadership at the intersection of water science and artificial intelligence.
New Publication in Science Advances
We are excited to share that Dr. Cheng and co-authors have published a new paper in the prestigious journal Science Advances. The article, “Reorientation and despinning of 4 Vesta formed the Divalia Fossae,” explores how changes in the asteroid Vesta’s spin and orientation shaped the large trough system known as Divalia Fossae. This work provides new insights into the tectonic and structural evolution of Vesta, one of the solar system’s few fully differentiated protoplanets, and advances our broader understanding of […]
Dr. Hazel Barton Wins Prominent Caving Award
Hazel Barton. Courtesy of Dave Bunnell Dr. Hazel Barton, the Ray E. Loper Endowed Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, has been honored with the 2025 Lew Bicking Award from the National Speleological Society—often described as the “Oscar” of caving. The award recognizes her decades of leadership in cave exploration, rigorous surveying, and mapmaking, which have advanced discoveries in iconic systems such as Wind Cave (South Dakota) and Lechuguilla (New Mexico). Dr. Barton is one of only two scientists—alongside […]
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
We offer MS and PhD degrees in geology, in a rigorous yet flexible curriculum that lets students pursue their interests alongside world-class geoscientists.
Learn More