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Tina Roberts-Ashby, Ph.D.

Dr. Tina Roberts-Ashby is Science Center Director for the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.

Dr. Roberts-Ashby began her professional career as a geologist with the Florida Geological Survey in 2002, followed by eight years in the environmental consulting industry working as a project manager and hydrogeologist in Florida and the Micronesia region. She joined the USGS in January 2011, working primarily on investigations and assessments of petroleum systems and carbon dioxide (CO2) storage resources throughout the U.S., with a major research focus on the Gulf Coast and Florida; she continues to conduct research in these areas to date.

In her current position as Center Director, Dr. Roberts-Ashby manages a team of scientists whose work focuses on comprehensive, interdisciplinary research, assessments, and surveys of the origin, occurrence, distribution, quantity, and composition of oil, gas, coal, minerals, and associated deposits. Additionally, this team assesses impacts to the environment due to anthropogenic activities associated with energy and mineral resource exploration, development, and production, and investigates the potential reuse of byproducts and wastes generated through energy and mineral production and extraction.

Dr. Roberts-Ashby's areas of research interests and expertise are carbonate sedimentology and diagenesis; reservoir characterization; CO2 sequestration–site characterization, storage capacity assessment, modeling; hydrogeology; aqueous geochemistry; reactive transport modeling; and geophysical interpretations.

Professional Experience

  • Oct 2016 to April 2020: Associate Center Director, USGS Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, VA

  • Jan 2011 to Oct 2016: Research Geologist, USGS Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, VA

  • May 2006 to May 2010: Senior Hydrogeologist, Arcadis

  • May 2003 to Feb 2005: Geologist, EA Engineering, Science & Technology, Inc., Miami, FL/Guam, USA

  • May 2002 to May 2003: Research Geologist, Florida Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Geology, School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, 2010

  • M.S. Geology, Department of Geology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2002

  • B.S. Environmental Studies with Chemistry Minor, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2000

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Present Member, Geological Society of America (GSA)

  • Present Member, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

  • Present Member, Gulf Coast Section – Society for Sedimentary Geology (GCSSEPM)

  • Present Member, Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG)

  • Present Member, AWG Review & Decision Committee for Annual Chrysalis Scholarship

  • Present Member, USGS Headquarters Diversity Sub-Council

  • Chair, USGS Civility & Inclusion Council

  • Present USGS Business Representative for the GCSSEPM

Science and Products

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government