OUR TEAM
Eric Attias
Research Assistant Professor
Eric’s research focuses on dynamic Earth processes, particularly lithosphere-biosphere feedback interactions. His group at OCEEMlab specializes in marine electromagnetic (EM) imaging techniques, augmented by seismic and potential field methods and coupled with rock physics modeling. These techniques are analyzed jointly with other datasets, including sediment cores, bathymetric, oceanographic, and biogeochemical data.
RESEARCH THEMES
-
Dynamics of melting ice sheets, methane, and oceanic carbon cycle
-
Slab rollback and toroidal/poloidal mantle flow role in intraplate volcanism
-
Volcanic hot-spot plume convection dynamics
-
GeoH2 generation beneath ultraslow-spreading and subduction zones
-
Interplay between volcanic plumes, groundwater flux, and marine biodiversity
-
Quasi-periodic earthquake cycles of oceanic transform faults
-
Onshore-offshore hydraulic functioning of submarine freshwater
-
Hydrothermal circulation and seafloor mineralization
-
Time-lapse monitoring of subsea CO2 storage sites
ACADEMICS
Ph.D., Geophysics, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, UK
MRes., Geology & Geophysics, University of Southampton, UK
B.Sc., Oceanography (Magna Cum Laude), Ruppin College, IL
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant Professor, Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2023-current
Research Associate, Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2022-2023
Guest Investigator, Geology & Geophysics, WHOI, 2022-current
Research Associate III, Geology & Geophysics, WHOI, 2022
Research Affiliate Faculty, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, Department of Earth Sciences, Univ. of Hawai‘i, 2020–2022
Visiting Scientist, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 2021
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Department of Earth Sciences, Univ. of Hawai‘i, 2018–2020
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Senior geophysicist, Japan. Seafloor minerals mapping using an AUV Plume Hunter sensor suite, Ocean Floor Geophysics Inc., 2022
Senior geophysicist, Norway. Seabed mineral exploration at mid-ocean ridge using an AUV-Self-Potential (SP) system, Ocean Floor Geophysics Inc., 2021
Senior geophysicist, Japan. Seafloor massive sulphide exploration using an AUV-SP system, Ocean Floor Geophysics Inc., 2019
Scientific consultant, Japan. Gas hydrate 3-D marine CSEM experiment, Ocean Floor Geophysics Inc., in collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 2017
Field geophysicist, Japan. Marine CSEM gas hydrate survey, Ocean Floor Geophysics Inc., in collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 2015
ROV Pilot/Tech, Mediterranean Sea, Oceaneering International Inc., 2011-2012
Senior hydrographer, Tanzania. Hydrographic survey at Dar Es Salaam marine port, EDT Offshore, 2008-2010
Tony Wass
Senior Subsea Engineer
ACADEMICS
Master’s Certificate in Project Management, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada 2014
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada 1990
Diploma of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Camosun College, Victoria, BC, Canada 1988
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
- Senior Subsea Engineer & Offshore Project Manager, Ocean Floor Geophysics, Burnaby, BC
Full-time employment, remote working, often on vessels 2015-2022
- Self-employed, on contract to OFG, Cellula Robotics, University of Victoria, CSSF/ROPOS,
CanPac 2008-2015
- Subsea Engineer / ROV Supervisor, Global Marine Systems, UK 2000-2008
- Building Services Design Engineer / Project Manager, DWT Engineering, Victoria, BC 1990-2000
ASSOCIATIONS
Tony is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC).
Ming Zhang
Postdoctoral Fellow
RESEARCH INTERESTS
-
Employing electromagnetic (EM) methods for solving complex geophysical problems associated with environmental geology
-
Develop a MATLAB-based Conjugate Gradient Algorithm for EM inverse modeling
-
Coding novel forward modeling methods for various EM data
-
Interpretation of subsurface resistivity structures using joint-inversion schemes
ACADEMICS
Ph.D., Geophysics, Jilin University
Visiting Ph.D., Geophysics, Memorial University of Newfoundland
B.S., Measurement and Control Technology and Instrumentation, Jilin University
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor, Jilin University, China, 2024-
Postdoctoral fellow, Jilin University, China, 2021-2024
Ema Linnea Parker
Ph.D. Student
RESEARCH INTERESTS
-
Slab rollback toroidal/poloidal mantle flow
-
Submarine freshwater lithosphere-biosphere dynamics
-
Nodal and towed streamer marine CSEM imaging
-
Geophysical exploration using uncrewed underwater systems
ACADEMICS
Ph.D. (in progress), Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas in Austin, TX, Anticipated 2027
M.S. Hydrographic Science, University of Southern Mississippi, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Joint International Hydrographic Applied Science Program, MS, 2023
B.S., Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 2020
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Hydrography Graduate Assistantship, R/V Point Sur, Deep Sea Exploration Lab, MS, 2021-2023
Computational Biology Modeling, University of Utah Mathematics Department, UT, 2020
Undergraduate Researcher, Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, UT, 2016-2018
Dallas Sherman
Marine Tech & Scientist Associate
RESEARCH INTERESTS
-
Marine electromagnetic geophysics
-
Stability and extent of submarine permafrost
-
Submarine freshwater mapping and quantification
-
Fluid flow in marine gas hydrate systems
ACADEMICS
Ph. D., Geophysics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 2018
B.Sc., Environmental Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 2012
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences,
The University of Texas at Austin, 2022-
Geophysicist, Frontier Geosciences Inc., North Vancouver, Canada, 2018-2022
Consulting Geophysicist, Ocean Floor Geophysics, Japan, 2017
Staff Research Assistant, IGPP, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 2018
