Dr. Katherine Romanak
Research Professor
Research Scientist Dr. Katherine Romanak joined the Bureau of Economic Geology in 2008 as part of the Gulf Coast Carbon Center to work on the geochemistry of groundwater and the vadose zone above geologic carbon storage site. She has an M.Sc. in geology from the University of Texas at Arlington with a specialty in igneous petrology, and a Ph.D. in geology from The University of Texas at Austin with a specialty in environmental geochemistry. Her research interests include geochemistry and isotope systematics of carbon cycling in the vadose zone and in freshwater aquifers. She is currently developing new techniques for environmental monitoring at geologic carbon storage sites, including the design and implementation of near-surface monitoring programs. She has used her scientific research to inform global and US policy-makers on the potential environmental outcomes of geologic carbon storage within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the US Congress.