Earth Sciences Division Staff: Susan Hubbard

Biographical Summary

Susan S. Hubbard is a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where she leads the Environmental Remediation and Water Resources Program and the Sustainable Systems SFA. She received her BA in geology, her MS in geophysics, and her PhD in Engineering (UC Berkeley, 1998). She has previously worked at the US Geological Survey and for the Petroleum Industry. Dr. Hubbard sits on several scientific advisory boards and serves as the Associate Director for the Berkeley Water Center. She is a Co-Editor for the Vadose Zone Journal and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Hydrology.

Susan was recently nominated to be the 2010 Birdsall Dreiss Distinguished Lecturer by the Geological Society of America Hydrogeology Section and was awarded the 2009 Frank Frischknecht Leadership Award by the Near-Surface Geophysial Community.

Research Interests

Susan’s research focuses on advancing the use of geophysical methods for shallow subsurface characterization and monitoring and the use of integrated datasets to investigate environmental problems. She edited the first book on hydrogeophysics, and has published over 50 papers on this topic. Susan Hubbard’s research can be generally categorized into the following four areas:

• Hydrogeophysical research has focused on the development and testing of estimation methodologies that permit systematic fusion of geophysical and hydrogeological datasets for improved understanding of subsurface hydrogeological properties. » read more
• Biogeophysical research includes the development and testing of petrophysical models and estimation frameworks that permit the interpretation of time-lapse geophysical signatures in terms of remediation-induced biogeochemical transformations.» read more
• Precision Viticulture research focuses on integrating remote sensing and ground-based geophysical datasets with soil, plant, and climate-based information to guide the optimal development of new or management of existing vineyards in a manner that honors the natural variability of the site.» read more
• Environmental Synthesis activities include those that strive to advance research across disciplinary boundaries and scales as needed to tackle 21^st Century natural resource problems.» read more

Education

• Professional Certificate in Winemaking and Viticulture, UC Davis, 2009
• Ph.D. Engineering, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, 1998. Dissertation: 'Stochastic Characterization of Hydrogeological Properties using Geophysical Datasets'. University Council on Water Resources Top Dissertation Award in Water Processes.
• M.S. Geophysics, Dept. of Geological Sciences, VPI&SU, Virginia. Thesis: Integrated seismic reflection data processing and interpretation of Southern Appalachian tectonic history.
• B.S. Geology, Dept. of Geology, University of California, Santa Barbara. Departmental Highest Honor Award.

Professional Positions

• 2002-present Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, CA.
• 1998-2002 Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, CA.
• 1990-1993 Geophysicist, ARCO Oil and Gas Co
• 1985-1987 Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Seismology.