Elizabeth J Catlos
Elizabeth J. Catlos is an Associate Professor (tenured) in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin (2008–present). She previously served on the faculty at Oklahoma State University (2001–2008). She is Affiliate Faculty with UT Austin’s Center for Planetary Systems Habitability and the Center for Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies.
Her research uses mineral chemistry, thermobarometry, and accessory-mineral geochronology to reconstruct pressure–temperature–time histories and to quantify heat and mass transfer in mountain belts and extended terranes. Current themes include Himalayan architecture and geohazards (including NSF-supported lineament work), western Anatolian extension and Hellenic-arc subduction dynamics, Western Carpathian extrusion and critical minerals, impact chronology in North America, and radiometric dating of early land plants and animals. Field programs span the Himalayas, Turkey, Slovakia, and the UK and Ireland.
She is Subject Editor for the Journal of the Geological Society (London, 2026–), Topic Editor in Metamorphic Petrology for the International Journal of Earth Sciences (2026–), and Associate Editor for Episodes and All Earth. With İbrahim Çemen she co-edits the AGU Geophysical Monograph volumes on compressional, extensional, and strike-slip tectonics. She has received research support from the National Science Foundation (including Tectonics and International programs) and teaches GEO 302N Geology of National Parks and related courses at UT Austin, with additional online teaching for Soochow University International Programs (Taiwan).
Honors include the Geological Society of America’s Young Scientist Award (Donath Medal), election as a GSA Fellow, the Carolyn G. and G. Moses Knebel Teaching Awards, and the Texas Exes Teaching Award. She was a Donald D. Harrington Fellow at UT Austin (2007–2008), a Fulbright Visiting Researcher at Middle East Technical University in Ankara (2008–2009), and Max Kade Distinguished Visiting Professor at Heidelberg University (2017). She previously served as an elected GSA Councilor and continues campus and society service, including as UT Austin GSA Campus Representative.