Dr. Michele Cooke
Professor, Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Michele is one of the few structural geologists worldwide to use both numerical models and scaled physical experiments, an approach that has opened new ways of understanding active fault evolution. Her creative rigor has yielded 85+ peer-reviewed publications, 45+ research grants, and led to training of 20+ MS and PhD students.
She also has written, spoken, led workshops, served on national committees, and co-founded The Mind Hears so that all scientists, especially those with disabilities, have the community and support to not just enter the sciences, but also thrive in them.
UMass Claybox Experiments
UMass Amherst's Geomechanics group shares videos of experiments that simulate how faults initiate and evolve in the Earth crust.
The Mind Hears
A blog by and for deaf and hard of hearing academics. The Mind Hears provides networking opportunities and crowdsourced strategies to thrive in academia with hearing loss.
Education
Professor (2012 - Present)
Associate Professor (2004 - 2012)
Assistant Professor (1999 - 2004)
Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences Department
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Assistant Professor
Geological Engineering Program
Split Appointment: Civil & Environmental Engineering and Geology & Geophysics Departments
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1996 - 1998
Geotechnical Engineer
Engeo Inc.
1989 - 1990
Professional Experience
PhD, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University
Minor: Mechanical Engineering
1996
MS Civil Engineering, Stanford University
1991
BSE, Geological Engineering, Princeton University
cum laude
1989
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2023 - Present
Appointed to the Board of Earth Science Resources of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine2020
International Association for Geoscience Diversity (IAGD) Inclusive Geoscience Education and Research (IGER) Award2018
UMass Amherst College of Natural Sciences Outstanding Research Award 20182010
Fellow of the Geological Society of America
UMass Amherst Distinguished Academic Outreach Teaching Award2004 - 2008
NSF CAREER grant1994 - 1995
Lieberman Fellow, Scholarship and University Service (Stanford) -
National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine's (NASEM), Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), Board and Science Planning Committee
Subduction Zones in 4D (SZ4D) research coordination network, two working groups
UMass Advance leadership team, Leader of practice
Geological Society of America's Structural Geology & Tectonics Division, Management Board
Geology, Journal of Structural Geology and Journal of Geophysical Research, Associate Editor
UMass Amherst Geosciences Department: Graduate Program Director and Associate Department Head