Dr. Dolores van der Kolk
Dr. Dolores van der Kolk is a Sedimentologist and Stratigrapher at the Gulf Coast Carbon Center (GCCC) within the State Geological Survey of Texas, known as the Bureau of Economic Geology (Bureau). The Bureau is housed at The University of Texas at Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences. Hook’em, Horns!
Dolores is the GCCC’s Program, Communications, and Science Coordinator of research programs designed for a variety of sector audiences (e.g. nonprofit, corporate, legislative, state-federal agencies). Dolores interacts with various UT, Bureau, and GCCC science teams to produce and support professional meetings (e.g. UNFCCC COPs, global offshore initiatives, UTCCS showcase, the GCCC Industrial Affiliates’ Biennial Consortium Meetings for Sponsors, the Bureau's AI Workshop, key meetings with VIPs). She facilitates professional-marketing representation and communicates the GCCC’s news through popular media outlets.
Dolores helps research staff articulate findings to a wide variety of stakeholders with different levels of science literacy and assists research staff with communicating their projects more effectively through various products and outlets. Dolores supports researchers by writing and editing grants, proposals, manuscripts, newsletters, oral and poster presentations, and formal documentation to showcase professional qualifications. For GCCC collaborations, Dolores assists with coordinating projects, building public information booths and educational materials for carbon storage education.
Dolores remains an active participant on the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys' North Slope Project. She does not officially advise UT Austin graduate students, but she enjoys mentoring GCCC students with their research projects while helping them build skills for their dream careers.
If you are interested in becoming a member of a world-renowned carbon storage research consortium, please contact Dolores. Our goal is to connect experts in your country, or organization, with leading researchers in carbon storage. Follow the GCCC’s LinkedIn "company" page for updates about the GCCC’s activities.
Education
Ph.D. Geology, 2016, The University of Texas at Austin
M.S. Geology, 2010, University of Alaska Fairbanks
B.S. Geology, 2002, California State University, Fullerton
Professional History
Communications Coordinator, Gulf Coast Carbon Center, Bureau of Economic Geology, UT Austin, Present –2022
Geology Minor Coordinator, Senior Geology Lecturer & Geology Lecturer, Texas State University, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, 2022–2016
Consulting Geologist, Sedimentologist & Stratigrapher for ACT-GEO (2023 – 2021), ConocoPhillips (2021 – 2020), bp (2013), Bureau of Economic Geology (2009), Talisman Energy Inc., FEX LLC (2008 – 2007)
Sedimentologist & Stratigrapher, Consortium & Graduate Research Assistant, Quantitative Clastics Laboratory Industrial Affiliates Program, Bureau of Economic Geology, UT Austin, 2016–2010
Sedimentologist & Stratigrapher - Energy Division Intern, Alaska Division of Geology & Geophysical Surveys, 2009–2006
Environmental & Geotechnical Staff Geologist, URS Corporation and Earth Tech, 2005 – 2002
Select Publications
van der Kolk, D.A., Flaig, P.P., and Hasiotis, S.T., 2015, Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of a Late Cretaceous, Muddy, River-Dominated Polar Deltaic System: Schrader Bluff-Prince Creek Formation Transition, Shivugak Bluffs, North Slope of Alaska, U.S.A.: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 8, p. 903–936. https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2015.58
van der Kolk, D.A., Whalen, M.T., and Wartes, M.A., 2015, Source-rock Potential of the Lower Cretaceous Pebble Shale Unit, northeastern Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Preliminary Interpretive Report 2015-1, 37 p. http://www.dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/29401
Flaig, P.P., and van der Kolk, D.A., 2015, Depositional Environments of the Prince Creek Formation along the east side of the Toolik River, Sagavanirktok Quadrangle, North Slope, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Preliminary Interpretive Report 2015-4, 17 p., 1 sheet. http://www.dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/29407
Clemens-Knott, D., van der Kolk, D.A., Sturmer, D.M., and Saleeby, J.B., 2013, The Goldstein Peak Fm, central CA: Record of a Nonmarine Intra-arc Basin within the Early Cretaceous Sierra Nevada Arc: Geosphere, v. 9, p. 718–735. https://doi.org/10.1130/GES00886.1
Burnham, B. S., Bond, C., Flaig, P. P., van der Kolk, D. A., Hodgetts, D., 2022, Outcrop Conservation: Promoting Accessibility, Inclusivity, and Reproducibility through Digital Preservation: The Sedimentary Record, vol. 20, no. 1, p. 5–14. https://doi.org/10.2110/sedred.2022.1.2
Ludvigson, G.A., Dieffendorff, A.F., Suarez, M.B., González, L.A., Corcoran, M.C., Schlanser, K., Flaig, P.F., McCarthy, P.J., van der Kolk, D.A., Houseknecht, D., Sanders, M., 2022, Stable Isotope Tracers of Cretaceous Arctic Paleoprecipitation: Geosciences Special Issue No. 43 - Terrestrial Paleoclimatology and Paleohydrology of the Cretaceous Greenhouse World, v. 12, p. 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12040143
Suarez, C.A., Flaig, P.P., Ludvigson, G.A., Gonzalez, L.A., Tian, R., Zhou, H., McCarthy, P.J., van der Kolk, D.A., and Fiorillo, A.R., 2016, Reconstructing the Paleohydrology of a Cretaceous Alaskan Paleopolar Coastal Plain from Stable Isotopes of Bivalves: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 441, p. 339–351. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.07.025
