Explore the Future
Our research explores the forefront of scientific knowledge regarding climate, critical natural resources, and the places that exist beyond our world. Through our research and participation in NASA programs, EPS faculty and students contribute to the knowledge needed to create a sustainable future on this planet and others.
Meilian (Maggie) Chen
Lecturer and Laboratory Coordinator | mchen51@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Environmental Science, Geochemistry
Research Interests: My research interests in environmental biogeochemistry focus on dynamics of dissolved organic matter in inland waters, coastal ecosystems, polar oceans, and sediments.
Nicholas Dygert
Associate Professor | he/him/his | 865-974-6022 | ndygert1@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I use field investigations, experiments, and numerical models to understand processes that shape the evolution of planetary interiors and crusts, and to interpret their expressions in the rock record. My focus is the Earth and Moon.
Annette Summers Engel
Donald H. and Florence Jones Professor of Aqueous Geochemistry | she/her/hers | 865-974-0402 | aengel1@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Earth System Science, Environmental Science, Geochemistry, Geomicrobiology
Research Interests: Understand and improve water and environmental quality by exploring how biological activities interact with and impact geological and geochemical processes through time using advanced geochemistry and geomicrobiology methods.
Chris Fedo
Professor | he/him/his | 865-974-6002 | cfedo@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Geochemistry, Planetary Geoscience, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Research Interests: I study clastic sediments and sedimentary rocks in order to interpret planetary surface processes including weathering, transport, sedimentary environments, stratigraphy, and lithification.
Dan Hembree
Professor | he, him, his | 865-974-3788 | dhembre2@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Paleontology, Paleobiology, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Research Interests: Use of ichnology and paleopedology to study the evolution of ancient to modern soils, soil ecosystems, and landscapes as well as evaluating the effect of long-term climate change on terrestrial ecosystems through Earth history.
Shichun Huang
Associate Professor | he/him/his | 865-974-8347 | shuang25@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I use elemental and isotopic tracers, together with petrology and mineralogy, to study the Earth’s mantle and the early Solar System.
Robert Jacobsen
Lecturer | rjacobse@vols.utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Geoscience Education, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: Evidence-based teaching practices for large classrooms, graduate student professional development, K-12 STEM education and outreach
Linda Kah
Kenneth R. Walker Professor | 865-974-6399 | lckah@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Earth System Science, Geochemistry, Geomicrobiology, Paleobiology, Planetary Geoscience, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Research Interests: My lab integrates sedimentology, geochemistry, and paleobiology to understand planetary biospheres. We explore rock fabrics and geochemical data to understand the evolution of the early Earth, and investigate potential habitable environments on Mars.
Molly McCanta
Associate Professor | she/her/hers | 865-974-6003 | mmccanta@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Petrology, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I am an igneous petrologist whose research is focused on the mineralogic record of magma storage regions conditions and eruptive processes on Earth and other terrestrial bodies.
Jeff Moersch
Professor | 865-974-0371 | jmoersch@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: Planetary surfaces; Unmanned spacecraft exploration of the Solar System; Remote Sensing; Terrestrial analogs for planetary surfaces; Instrument development; Exploration science and methodology.
Gregory A. Snyder
Postdoctoral Teaching Associate | 865-974-3665 | gsnyde10@utk.edu | Website
Research Interests: Geochemistry
Anna Szynkiewicz
Associate Professor | 865-974-6006 | aszynkie@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Environmental Science, Geochemistry, Hydrogeology, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I am a geologist and stable isotope geochemist using chemical and light isotope tracers to study surface processes related to water activity on Earth and Mars. I also investigate the origin of sulfur-bearing minerals on Mars.
Bradley Thomson
Assistant Professor | he/him | 865-974-2699 | bthom@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: As a planetary geologist, I am interested in understanding the physical processes that have shaped the surfaces of the terrestrial planets, including impact, eolian, fluvial, lacustrine, and volcanic processes.
