Sean Gulick

Sean Gulick. He is an American geophysicist and marine geologist renowned for his pioneering research into impact cratering and seismic imaging of geological structures. A professor at the University of Texas at Austin and a researcher at its Institute for Geophysics, Gulick co-led the landmark International Ocean Discovery Program expedition to the Chicxulub crater. His work has fundamentally advanced understanding of the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event and the formation of large impact structures.

Early life and education

Gulick completed his undergraduate studies in Geology at Brown University, where he developed a foundational interest in earth sciences. He then pursued his doctoral degree at the University of Arizona, earning a Ph.D. in Geosciences with a focus on tectonics and geophysical methods. His early academic work involved seismic studies of active subduction zones, including regions like the Nankai Trough off Japan.

Career and research

Gulick began his professional career as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working on projects related to Alaska's Yakutat Terrane. He subsequently joined the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin, where he holds a joint appointment in the Department of Geological Sciences and the Institute for Geophysics. His research program extensively utilizes multichannel seismic reflection and refraction data to investigate tectonic processes, glacial history, and impact cratering. Notable field areas for his seismic campaigns have included the Gulf of Alaska, the Antarctic Peninsula, and the Yucatán Peninsula.

Chicxulub crater impact expedition

Gulick's most celebrated contribution is his role as co-chief scientist on Expedition 364 of the International Ocean Discovery Program and the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program. This 2016 mission drilled into the peak ring of the Chicxulub crater off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. The expedition recovered core samples that provided unprecedented evidence of the crater's formation and the immediate environmental effects of the asteroid impact. Findings published in journals like *Science* and *PNAS* detailed how life rapidly recovered in the crater and linked the impact to global wildfires and a tsunami.

Awards and honors

In recognition of his scientific contributions, Gulick was elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union. He has received the Jackson School of Geosciences Research Award from the University of Texas at Austin. His work on the Chicxulub crater expedition was honored with the European Geosciences Union's Outstanding Scientist Award for Solid Earth Geophysics and was widely covered by major media outlets including BBC News and National Geographic.

Personal life

Gulick is married to fellow geoscientist Lindsay Lowe Worthington, a researcher specializing in tectonics and seismology at the University of Texas at Austin. They collaborate on several research projects, particularly those involving marine geophysical surveys in Alaska. An avid outdoorsman, he often integrates his personal passion for mountaineering and kayaking with his field research in remote locations.

Category:American geophysicists Category:University of Texas at Austin faculty Category:Living people