Rob Thieler, PhD

Research Interests

From 2017-2024, Rob served as Center Director of the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, one of three centers serving the mission of the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, the primary Federal program for marine geology and physical science. He was responsible for all aspects of leadership, operations, and management of the Center’s staff of about 100 who conduct scientific research throughout the United States and internationally to describe and understand the processes shaping marine and coastal systems, from the deep sea to the continental shelf, to beaches, salt marshes, and the Great Lakes. The Center’s research products are used by Federal agencies, State and local entities, private organizations, and the public to manage risks posed by natural hazards, promote safer, more productive coastal communities, and improve stewardship of natural resources.

As a research scientist from 1997-2017, Rob conducted studies of coastal change hazards, sea-level rise, and continental shelf geologic processes, including understanding relationships between geology, sediment transport, climate and sea-level change, and coastal erosion. Rob conducted assessments of sea-level rise vulnerability for the U.S. and locations worldwide. He served as a Lead Author of a U.S. Global Change Research Program report on potential impacts of sea-level rise, and worked with many federal and state agencies to address coastal change hazards. Rob also studied habitat use and availability for beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds. Rob developed the widely used DSAS software package for measuring coastal erosion and accretion and also developed smartphone applications for coastal science.