The Geology Center of Research Excellence (CoRE) is an innovative industry-academic partnership that promotes world-class research and education while focusing on scientific and technical challenges faced by the energy industry. We specialize in deepwater, fluvial, and shallow marine stratigraphy using a quantitative outcrop characterization research approach. The majority of our research involves fieldwork. Each year, CoRE supports 4-6 graduate students pursuing MS or PhD degrees which entail research in one of the center’s focus areas.
At CoRE, we focus our research into three themes:
- Stratigraphic architecture (outcrop focused, with seismic/core data where applicable)
- Scaling relationships for depositional systems (modern and subsurface-focused, with outcrop data serving as the link between the geomorphology and the stratigraphic record)
- Source-to-sink sediment dispersal (e.g., using detrital zircon geochronology, automated mineralogy, petrography, and GIS data to constrain sediment flux and sedimentary basin evolution)
Learn more about our group, research, and recent publications.
Where we are working
Clark Gilbert
Ventura Basin evolution (2023)
Kaci Kus
Point Loma Fm submarine lobe deposits (2022)
Luke Pettinga
Rosario Formation submarine levee deposits (2019)
Zane Jobe
Cloridorme Fm. basin plain turbidites (2024)
Thomas Martin
Chinle Fm. meander belt architecture (2024)
Pengfei Hou
Atoka Fm. turbidite deposits (2020)
Wylie Walker
Bone Spring Fm. carbonate slope deposits (2022)
Thomas Martin
Machine learning from core photos, Schiehallion field, UK (2020)
Thomas Martin
Lewis Shale petrophysics machine learning (2020)
Evan Gross
Eolian bounding surface and facies heterogeneity (2022)
Luthfi Saifudin
Channel-lobe-transition-zone, Point Loma Fm. (2025)
Sacramento Mts. New Mexico
Mechanical stratigraphy of carbonate slope deposits (current)
Guadalupe Mts, Texas
Mechanical stratigraphy of carbonate slope deposits (current)
Ülken Qaratau
Mechanical stratigraphy of carbonate slope deposits (current)
David Nworie
Carbonate particle sediment transport
Hanaga Simabrata
Carbonate mass transport deposits, Cutoff Formation
Mitch Schneider
San Andres Formation pore networks