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Michael C. Gurnis is the John E. Hazel S. Smits Professor of Geophysics at the California Institute of Technology. He has made significant contributions to the fields of global geodynamics, particularly in mantle convection and plate tectonics. His research interests encompass dynamic coupling of mantle processes, continental sea floor geology, and chemical thermal evolution of the mantle and crust. Gurnis has served in various academic positions, including as an Associate Professor at Caltech from 1994 to 1996 and a full Professor since 1996. He has been the Director of the Schmidt Academy since 2019 and held the position of Associate Director of the Seismological Laboratory from 1995 to 2003. Gurnis is an influential figure in computational geophysics, focusing on finite element analysis and parallel processing frameworks for geophysical applications. His teaching includes courses such as 'Introduction to Earth Planetary Sciences: Geophysics' and 'Geodynamics,' both integral to the curriculum at Caltech.
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