Dr. Thomas Goebel, an associate professor in the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI), has been named a 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Scholar where he will collaborate on research at the University of El Salvador, Santa Ana, El Salvador from June-August 2026.
“The Fulbright scholarship provides great support for our project in western El Salvador,” Goebel said. “I look forward to working with the University of El Salvador, the Department of Education, the Department of the Environment and Conservation, and the many high schools affected by volcanic hazards around Santa Ana volcano.”
Goebel’s interest in geophysics did not start until he graduated high school and his passions for the field developed over time while working and studying geophysics.
He joined CERI in 2019. One of five Centers of Excellence at the University of Memphis, CERI was first established in 1977 as the Tennessee Earthquake Information Center and addresses critical needs for our region, nation and the world through cutting-edge research, comprehensive graduate education, state-of-the-art seismic and GPS networks, and dissemination of technical and practical information to the private and public sectors.
“My group is investigating how faults and volcanoes deform over long periods of time, using seismology as a tool to understand the mechanics of earthquakes and volcanoes. Western El Salvador is an ideal natural laboratory with many active faults, hydrothermal systems and active volcanoes,” Goebel said.
While in El Salvador Goebel’s research will focus on four primary goals and expected outcomes:
- Improve hazard preparedness through classes and workshops for high school students and teachers.
- Hands-on training activities in machine-learning and seismology for students, scientists and technicians from the University of El Salvador.
- Establishment of a monitoring and alert system that integrates real-time date streaming with artificial intelligence for event detection, location and classification.
- Inspiration for a new generation of students to enter STEM careers and meet demands of the geohazard and geoenergy sectors in El Salvador.
“I have been collaborating with colleagues in El Salvador for about eight years,” Goebel said. “We have been working on education and outreach, and research projects related to seismic and volcanic processes. The Fulbright fellowship provides the opportunity to deepen the collaborative efforts and expand our work with high schools in western El Salvador.”
