Zijie Gao
Lawrence, KS, USA
I am a PhD candidate at the Geology Department of the University of Kansas (KU) in Lawrence, KS, advised by Dr. Mike Blum, and co-advised by Dr. Jenn Pickering (Auchter) from the CAESER University of Memphis. My Ph.D. dissertation focuses on the sediment gravity flow (SGF) deposits recovered by IODP 354 Bengal Fan to investigate: 1) characteristics of the SGFs, especially their thickness distributions, 2) mechanisms that ignited and drove the transport of these relatively coarse sediments to the deep-sea coring sites, and 3) the timing of deposition for SGFs using Infrared-Stimulated Luminescence (IRSL) to provide numerical age estimates that can constrain the timing of individual SGF deposition.
I am also working on a side project that leverages machine learning techniques to segment geological images, supporting quantitative percentage calculations. I’ve experimented with both siliciclastic thin sections and SEM images, with the most promising results and potential for publication coming from the SEM images. I welcome and appreciate any form of discussion or collaboration on applying machine learning in geology!
Previously, I was a master student at the Geology Department of KU, where I attempted to synthesize dolomite and very-high-magnesium calcite under pressurized conditions with Dr. Jennifer Roberts.
Before I joined KU, I graduated with a B.E. in Resource Exploration Engineering from the College of Geoscience, China University of Petroleum-Beijing. During my time there, I discovered my passion for sedimentology as a career path. Participating in numerous mathematical modeling competitions helped me become a great team player and sparked my preference for solving geological questions with data-driven quantitative methods instead of relying on published models. Additionally, my involvement in various volunteering and community outreach activities ignited my interest in designing and teaching geology courses for students with different levels of prior knowledge.
news
Presented a poster at the GSA Annual Meeting in Anaheim titled: “Statistical Analysis of Deepwater Sedimentary Deposit Thickness from IODP Expedition 354: Climatic Insights through a Data-Driven Approach.
Passed the comprehensive exam, now I’m a PhD candidate!
Received International Association of Sedimentology (IAS) Post-graduate Research Grant!
Gave an oral presentation at the International Association of Sedimentology (IAS) Annual Meeting in Aberdeen, UK. Presentation title: Unveiling Sedimentary Dynamics in the Distal Bengal Fan: Insights from IODP Expedition 354.
Received Geological Society of America (GSA) Graduate Student Research Grant!
Received the Geological Society - London Research Grant!
Honored to receive the prestigious IODP Schlanger Fellowship supported by the U.S. Science Support Program!