VITA
Professional Appointments:
Assistant Professor of Structural Geology, Columbia University 07/2022 - Present
Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 11/2021 - 06/2022
Upstream Structural Geologist, BP America 08/2020 - 05/2022
Structural Geology Intern, BP America 05/2019 - 08/2019
Structural Geology Intern, Chesapeake Energy 05/2018 - 08/2018
Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant, University of Oklahoma 08/2017 - 07/2020
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Oklahoma State University 08/2015 - 07/2017
Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting (BGP-CNPC), Nigeria 10/2010 - 02/2014
Education:
PhD., Geophysics (2017 - 2020)
University of Oklahoma, U.S.
Emphases: Structural Geology, Geomechanics, Geophysics
Mentors: Brett M. Carpenter (Advisor), Ze'ev Reches
MSc., Geology (2015 - 2017)
Oklahoma State University, U.S.
Emphases: Active Tectonics, Near-Surface Geophysics
Mentors: Estella A. Atekwana (Advisor), Mohamed Abdelsalam
BTech., Geology (2003 - 2008)
Federal University of Technology, Akure (F.U.T.A.), Nigeria
Emphases: Structural Geology, Satellite Remote Sensing
Mentors: Yekini B. Anifowose (Advisor), Idowu B. Odeyemi
Current Teaching Responsibilities:
Primary Instructor for Death Valley Field Excursion (Columbia University)
Primary Instructor for Crustal Deformation (Columbia University)
Professional Awards:
Society Awards:
2026 Patricia Hall Emerging Leader Award (National Association of Black Geoscientists)
2026 Seth & Carol Stein Early Career Award (Geological Society of America)
2026 National Geographic Wayfinder Award (National Geographic Society)
2025 Jason Morgan Early Career Award (American Geophysical Union)
Grant Awards as PI/Co-PI:
2026 – National Geographic Society ($50,000), PI. Wayfinder grant award
2026 - Lenfest Junior Faculty Grant, Columbia University ($10,000), PI
2025 – National Science Foundation Grant (NSF-2501725) ($213,213) PI
2025 – National Science Foundation Grant (NSF-2447284) ($703,638) Co-PI
2025 – Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC #25198)($15,000) PI
2024 – National Science Foundation RAPID Grant (NSF-2431983) ($24,641) Co-PI
2024 – Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CR2024-01) ($30,991) PI
2024 - Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC #24021) ($38,111), PI
2024 - Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC #24043) ($31,464), PI
2023 - Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC #23178) ($29,555), PI
2023 - Provost's Junior Faculty Grant, Columbia University ($29,715), PI
2023 - Lenfest Junior Faculty Grant, Columbia University ($11,516), PI
2018 - Geological Society of America (GSA) Student Research Grant ($2,000)
Grant Awards to Students & Postdocs:
2025 – AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid Award to PhD student Meritxell Colet ($2,500)
2025 – GSA Student Grant Award to PhD student Meritxell Colet ($1,000)
2025 – Lewis & Clark Fund (American Phil. Soc.) Award to PhD student Meritxell Colet ($5,200)
2024 – NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship Award to postdoc Rasheed Ajala ($130,000)
2024 – AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid Award to PhD student Sydney Maguire ($3,000)
Journal Editorial Service
• Associate Editor, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems (G-Cubed), American Geophysical Union [Current]
• Associate Editor, The Journal of Geology [2024 - 2025]
• Associate Editor, ES3 (The Geological Society of London Journal) [2020 - 2023]
For additional details, click the button below to access my extended CV. It contains information about my academic background, professional attainments, current appointments, and other professional scientific engagements.
The attached CV is not frequently updated. For an updated and more detailed version of my CV, please reach out to me through my email (fola@ldeo.columbia.edu).