Dr. Susan Hovorka

Biography

Susan Hovorka is a Senior Research Scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, at the University of Texas at Austin. She conducts extensive research on water quality protection, waste storage in bedded salt, and reservoir characterization. Her current work emphasizes the assessment and effectiveness of subsurface geologic sequestration of CO2 to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. Hovorka is the principal investigator for the Gulf Coast Carbon Center, leading industry and academic partnerships to explore economically viable geologic sequestration strategies. Noteworthy projects include the early tests of the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership and a significant injection project at Denbury's Cranfield Field. Through her leadership, the Frio Pilot project, which involved injecting 3 million tons of CO2 into brine-filled sandstones, has been recognized in international carbon sequestration forums. Hovorka is committed to outreach and education, particularly among pre-college students and teachers, contributing to programs that facilitate the understanding of geosciences and carbon capture technologies. Her expertise has been sought in various expert review panels and she has actively participated in numerous scientific forums and workshops focusing on geologic storage and municipal partnerships concerning CO2 emissions. Hovorka's academic achievements include a Bachelor's degree in Geology from Earlham College and her Master's and PhD from the University of Texas at Austin.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards