OUR TEAM
Eric Attias
Head of lab
Eric’s research focuses on dynamic Earth processes associated with marine geohazards and resources spanning from the upper mantle to the ultra-shallow crust. He is particularly interested in lithosphere-biosphere feedback loop interactions. Eric’s group at OCEEMlab uses primarily passive (MT) and active (CSEM) marine electromagnetic techniques, integrated with seismic reflection and tomography, gravity, magnetic, and oceanographic data to study complex oceanic lithosphere mechanisms.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
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The interplay between mantle plume, submarine freshwater, and marine biodiversity in volcanic systems.
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Hot-spot mantle plume geodynamics and submarine volcanism.
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Slab rollback-driven toroidal and poloidal mantle flows at back-arc subduction zones and their role in the evolution of continental breakup.
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Oceanic mid-ocean ridge transform faults’ role in quasi-periodic earthquake cycles.
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Impact of ice-sheet retreat and isostatic rebound on fluid flow dynamics and marine gas hydrate dissociation in polar regions.
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Subsea CO2 storage sites CSEM monitoring.
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Characterization of seafloor minerals at hydrothermal vent fields along seafloor spreading ridges.
ACADEMICS
Ph.D., Marine Geophysics, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, UK
MRes., Geology & Geophysics, University of Southampton, UK
B.Sc., Marine Sciences and Physical Oceanography, Ruppin Academic Institution, Israel
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Assistant Research Professor, Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2023-
Research Associate, Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 2022-2023
Guest Investigator, Geology & Geophysics, WHOI, 2022-
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 PlumeHunter 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
Dallas Sherman
Postdoctoral Researcher
RESEARCH INTERESTS
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Marine electromagnetic geophysics
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Stability and extent of submarine permafrost
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Submarine freshwater mapping and quantification
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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
Ming Zhang
Research Affiliate
RESEARCH INTERESTS
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Employing electromagnetic (EM) methods for solving complex geophysical problems associated with environmental geology
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Develop a MATLAB-based Conjugate Gradient Algorithm for EM inverse modeling
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Coding novel forward modeling methods for various EM data
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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
Postdoctoral fellow, Jilin University, China, 2021-
Ema Linnea Parker
Ph.D. Student
RESEARCH INTERESTS
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Submarine freshwater lithosphere-biosphere dynamics
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Nodal and towed streamer marine CSEM imaging
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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
Bailey L. Fluegel
Ph.D. student
RESEARCH INTERESTS
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Oceanic transform faults
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Subsea fluid flow dynamics
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Remote sensing of retreating glaciers in Antarctica
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Ice retreat-driven isostatic rebound and continental uplift
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Marine CSEM crustal imaging using a deep-towed receiver array
ACADEMICS
Ph.D. (in progress), Geophysics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, Cambridge, MA, Anticipated 2027
B.A., Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2022
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Affiliated with OCEEMlab, Bailey works on the GOFAR deep-towed CSEM receiver data
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Geophysics Research Assistant, R/V Thompson and R/V Langseth, WHOI, Woods Hole, MA, 2022
Summer Student Fellow, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 2021
Marine Geophysics Guest Student, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 2021
Geophysics Intern, Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL, 2020
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
