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Kenneth S. Befus is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on volcanology, igneous petrology, mineralogy, and gemology. Befus utilizes synchrotron and spectroscopic experimental techniques to analyze the crystal records of preserved igneous, metamorphic, and mantle rocks. He oversees the Spectroscopy Imaging Lab within the department, which houses advanced analytical instruments, and is the curator of the Jackson School's gem mineral collections. Befus is also involved in mentoring graduate students, including serving on the committee for Sarah Brooker, a Ph.D. candidate expected to graduate in 2026. His primary research interests include the use of stable isotope systems, both traditional and non-traditional, to understand high-temperature fluid-rock reactions in igneous systems.
General requirements for the Graduate School at UT Austin apply to all programs unless otherwise specified.