Dr. Cole is a geochemist whose research spans several sub-disciplines in the geosciences and chemistry. His work addresses seven fundamental challenge areas: (a) reaction mechanisms, rates and transport processes of elements and isotopes in minerals, glasses and melts; (b) quantifying the spatial and temporal evolution of natural water-rock systems; (c) use of isotopic and mineralogical proxies to reconstruct past climates; (d) CO2 sequestration in geologic formations; (e) physical and chemical processes associated with unconventional gas shale systems; (f) evolution of rock properties in energy-related subsurface formations, and (g) the atomistic- and molecular-level behavior of carbon-bearing aqueous fluids in natural and engineered nanopores. He employs advanced electron microscopy, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and neutron scattering tools in concert with numerical models to quantify complex fluid-gas-matrix interactions from the nano- to the macroscale. He has applied these tools to quantify geochemical processes associated with CO2 geologic storage, oil and gas generation and migration, geothermal exploration and exploitation, and metallic and nonmetallic ore deposits. Research sponsorship include DoE’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the National Science Foundation. He is Director of the Subsurface Energy Materials Characterization and Analysis Laboratory (SEMCAL). He is a Faculty Senator in both the College of Arts and Sciences Senate and University Senate. He is a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America (MSA), the Geological Society of America (GSA, and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

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