Allan Kolker

Allan earned his Ph.D. in geochemistry from Stony Brook University and served on the geology faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln prior to joining the USGS in 1996.  His expertise in trace element geochemistry and geochemistry of coal is used in studies of coal quality, impact of energy use on the environment, and potential for recovery of critical elements from energy materials.

During his time as a USGS Research Geologist, Dr. Kolker served actively on committees pertaining to coal and the environment, and on the editorial boards of related journals. He supervised two USGS Mendenhall postdoctoral fellows and obtained extramural support from a range of sources to supplement USGS project activities.  His work using the Stanford/USGS SHRIMP-RG ion microprobe showed that rare earth elements (REEs) enter the glass phase in coal fly ash, thereby helping resolve a mystery about how REEs in coal ash occur, but also explaining why these critical elements can be difficult to extract.

Before retiring at the end of 2022, Dr. Kolker received the Department of the Interior’s Distinguished Service Award for his career contributions to understanding coal geochemistry and the impact of its utilization as an energy resource.  Most recently, he was invited to serve as a Science Fellow at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam.  He spent the fall of 2023 participating in an international collaboration to sample Vietnamese coal and coal combustion products and examine their potential as a source of critical elements.  Samples obtained in this project are the subject of his ongoing investigation.