University and Industry Partners
The Oregon Hazards Lab collaborates with many affiliates outside of our organization whose research complements our work. Their understanding of multi-hazards in the Pacific Northwest can improve our resilience monitoring efforts, while the real-time data collected by our sensor network can improve scientific understanding of dynamic environmental processes and events.
Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments
The Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments (IROCE) at the University of Oregon is a hub for research teams to focus on addressing some of the most significant risks facing their organizations, communities, and the environment. IROCE advances the University of Oregon’s mission to help tackle challenges faced not only by our organization, but by our larger community. The Oregon Hazards Lab is one of the programs within IROCE, along with the Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice and other interdisciplinary programs.
André le Duc
Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments, Director
André le Duc is the Vice President of Safety and Risk Services at the University of Oregon and its Chief Resilience Officer. As Director of the Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments, he links, leverages, and aligns applied social science research and resources to help organizations and communities adapt and thrive in the face of adversity.
Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center
The Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT) was established in 2023 through an award from the National Science Foundation. CRESCENT is the nation’s first subduction zone earthquake hazards center and is headquartered at the University of Oregon. Three tenets comprise CRESCENTs core mission: advancing basic and applied science, geoscience education and training, and partnerships and applications of the science. The Oregon Hazards Lab shares an office with CRESCENT, and we collaborate on scientific research and outreach to stakeholders.
Diego Melgar
Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center, Director
Diego Melgar is an Associate Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon and the director of CRESCENT. He has expertise in seismology, earthquake early warning systems, strong ground motion, and geodetic imaging. Professor Melgar uses diverse data sets to study major global earthquakes and applies basic science insights from these studies towards building the next generation of earthquake and tsunami early warning systems.
Valerie Sahakian
Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center, Lead Investigator
Valerie Sahakian is an Associate Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon. Her academic expertise includes characterizing fault structures and use ground motion to understand more about past earthquakes and details of shallow Earth structure. Professor Sahakian leads the Partnerships and Applications program at CRESCENT, which aims to use CRESCENT research to improve societal resilience to earthquakes.
Amanda Thomas
Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center, Lead Investigator
Amanda Thomas is an Associate Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon. She is a seismologist with expertise in the physical properties of faults, seismotectonics, crustal deformation, and the mechanics of earthquakes and faulting. Professor Thomas is the science planning lead at CRESCENT and has worked with Oregon Hazards Lab field technicians on research to improve lahar early warning systems on Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens.
University of Oregon Faculty
The Oregon Hazards Lab collaborates with many professors within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oregon. Their research can help advance our mission to better understand, detect, and mitigate multi-hazards within the Pacific Northwest. Our sensor network also provides the real-time data that is necessary to capture the dynamics of environmental events and inform scientific understanding of these processes.
Josef Dufek
University of Oregon, Department of Earth Sciences, Professor
Josef Dufek is the Gwen and Charles Lillis Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon. His research interests include the dynamics of explosive volcanic eruptions, magma dynamics, and the geochemical consequences of these processes. Professor Dufek’s research can help the Oregon Hazards Lab to better understand volcano hazards in the Pacific Northwest.
Emilie Hooft
University of Oregon, Department of Earth Sciences, Associate Professor
Emilie Hooft is an academic expert in the structure of the Cascadia Subduction Zone and understanding how magma is transported from Earth’s mantle to the surface. Her research helps the Oregon Hazards Lab to better understand earthquake and volcano hazards in the Pacific Northwest. Professor Hooft has been a close collaborator with the lab since its inception in 2018.
Leif Karlstrom
University of Oregon, Department of Earth Sciences, Associate Professor
Leif Karlstrom is an academic expert in volcanoes, glaciers, geomorphology, fluid mechanics and geodynamics. His research studies volcanic eruption cycles, magma flow pathways in the crust, and the interpretation of volcanic seismicity. This research can help the Oregon Hazards Lab to better understand volcanic hazards in the Pacific Northwest.
Josh Roering
University of Oregon, Department of Earth Sciences, Professor
Josh Roering is an academic expert on landslide processes and soil erosion. His specialty is geomorphology, a discipline of geology that addresses the evolution of landscapes, including mountain building by tectonic and volcanic processes and erosion by rivers, glaciers, and landslides. Professor Roering’s research has also investigated the influence of land use practices, such as timber harvesting, on erosion and landscape dynamics. This research advances the Oregon Hazard Lab’s understanding of landslide hazards in the Pacific Northwest.
Lucas Silva
Department of Environmental Studies, Professor
Lucas Silva is a professor of environmental studies and biology. He has academic expertise in terrestrial ecology, biogeochemistry, and soil-plant-atmosphere interactions. This integrated study of coupled human-natural systems can enhance natural climate solutions, protect ecosystem services, and build resilience in vulnerable communities. Professor Silva’s research helps the Oregon Hazards Lab to better understand the impacts of climate change on both natural and managed lands.
Critical Infrastructure Advisors
The Oregon Hazards Lab produces several public safety products for stakeholders and the general public. Our industry advisors help us ensure that these products are available and impactful to those who need them.
Debra Smith
Critical Infrastructure Advisor
Debra Smith leads the Over the Top Energy Advisors group and has extensive experience with utilities and the energy industry in the Pacific Northwest. Most recently, she served as the General Manager and CEO of Seattle City Light, one of the nation’s largest community-owned electric utilities. Debra will collaborate with the Oregon Hazards Lab on outreach to power utilities and help them utilize the lab’s public safety products, such as wildfire detection cameras.
Other External Partners
The Oregon Hazards Lab also collaborates closely with the following organizations:
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
- Oregon Department of Emergency Management
- Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
- University of Washington
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, San Diego
- University of Nevada, Reno
- California Institute of Technology