Dr Rachelle Kernen
Internal Grant Funded Researcher B
School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr Rachelle Kernen is an industry-sponsored Research Fellow and a recipient of Australia's prestigious Global Talent Visa. She was competitively chosen as a member of the Management Committee for the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Resources (ISER) and recently won the Centre for Energy Technology (CET) Award for Best Contribution to Research Quality (ECR) at the University of Adelaide. She is also a Superstar of STEM through Science and Technology Australia (2023-2024).
Dr Kernen has worked within prestigious industry-led consortiums in the USA (Institute of Tectonics Studies, Salt-Sediment Interaction Research Consortium, Applied Geodynamics Laboratory) with globally recognized industry sponsors like Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon, Chevron, BP, Woodside, etc. where she delivered high-quality industry research for over 15 years. Dr. Kernen has ten papers and 17 industry conference abstracts in highly regarded journals like the American Association for Petroleum Geology Bulletin. Dr Kernen has contributed to four salt tectonic textbooks and journal volumes and served as lead editor for two. She has given many technical oral presentations (>50) and chaired technical sessions (>10) at national and international conferences. She has provided interviews/content for webinars, panels, blogs, podcasts, and documentaries about clean energy (>20).
Dr Kernen leads a research team dedicated to developing research based on the following topics to make several breakthrough discoveries:
1) Salt-sediment interaction in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, is coeval with the onset of dramatic changes in Earth’s climate that form the depositional environments where the origin of complex life evolves. Read more HERE.
2) Sedimentologic and stratigraphic studies in salt basins as outcrop analogs to develop hydrogen storage pilots and fields. Read more HERE.
3) Geoethics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the non-profit sector specializing in the intersection of data analysis and sociologic methods. Read more HERE.
Dr Kernen received competitive Industry Fellowships for her MSc (2011) and PhD (2019) degrees in Geology at New Mexico State University and The University of Texas El Paso. During her MSc and PhD, she was a research associate for the industry-sponsored Salt-Sediment Interaction Research Consortium (Institute of Tectonic Studies). She taught geology labs and classes in Petroleum Geology, Introduction to Geology, History of Life, and Depositional Environments as part of her Fellowships.
Dr Kernen is passionate about volunteering for professional societies and currently serves as the Hydrogen Society of Australia Chair for South Australia and is on the organizing committees for the 1) Geological Society of Australia South Australia, 2) South Australia Exploration and Mining Conference, and 3) American Association of Petroleum Geologists Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Conference.
Dr Kernen is also passionate about science communication and promoting scientific research to the media, policymakers, and the general community. She regularly gives radio, podcast, and documentary interviews, writes media articles, participates in community events and school outreach, and contributes during University Open Days and National Science Week.
For more information on Dr Kernen's research, please see her LinkedIn and Research Gate profiles. You can follow Rachelle on BlueSky @rachellekernen.bsky.social. To contact her, please e-mail rachelle.kernen@adelaide.edu.au.
Dr Rachelle Kernen is recruiting Honours, Masters, and PhD students to work on various projects spanning sedimentology, stratigraphy, salt-sediment interaction, and net zero energy. Please contact Rachelle directly with your expression of interest.
Members of Kernen's research group (from left to right). Joanne Weissgerber (2024 Honours student; Tate Medalist 2024), Katerina Mazi-Ward (2024 Honours student), Prof Kathryn Amos, Dr Georgie Virgo (Postdoctoral Researcher), Dianne Amos (2024 Honours Student) and Dr Rachelle Kernen.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2022 - ongoing Research Fellow The University of Adelaide 2020 - 2021 Honorary Research Fellow The University of Adelaide 2017 - 2017 Visiting Research Fellow University of Texas Austin 2015 - 2019 Lecturer University of Texas at El Paso 2011 - 2015 Exploration Geoscientist Royal Dutch Shell 2011 - 2011 Geologist Intern Samson Resources 2008 - 2010 Lecturer New Mexico State University 2006 - 2008 Teaching Assistant University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2022 Achievement AAPG Salt Tectonic Session & Student Volunteer Chair American Association of Petroleum Geology United States - 2021 Award ALLY GRIT Award Finalist ALLY Energy United States - 2020 Award GRIT Team Award ALLY Energy United States - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2021 Penn State United States Professional Master in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems 2015 - 2019 University of Texas El Paso United States PhD Geological Sciences 2008 - 2011 New Mexico State University United States MSc Geology 2004 - 2008 The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh United States BSc Geology -
Certifications
Date Title Institution name Country 2021 Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Penn State - 2011 Shell Graduate Program Royal Dutch Shell United States -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2024 Bunch, M. A., Schacht, U., Amos, K., & Kernen, R. (2024). Key considerations for evaluating Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) potential in five contrasting Australian basins. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 67, 406-420.
Scopus32024 Kernen, R., Amos, K. J., Anell, I., Evans, S., & Rodriguez-Blanco, L. (2024). The role of salt basins in the race to net zero: a focus on Australian basins and key research topics. Australian Energy Producers Journal, 64(S1), S402-S406.
2023 Shin, T. A., & Kernen, R. A. (2023). Introduction to Salt Basins Special Issue Volume 1: Diapirism, deformation, dating, and exploration in honor of Bruno Vendeville and all the unsung heroes. AAPG Bulletin, 107(1), 1-5.
2023 Kernen, R., Amos, K., Abu, C., Allen, J., Ahmed, S., Birgenheier, L., . . . Rysak, B. (2023). Creating and promoting genderequity and diversity in professional geological societies: a focus on AAPG. Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences.
2023 Kernen, R., & Shin, T. (2023). Introduction to Salt Basins Special Issue Volume 2: Evaporite precipitation, physical modeling, basin evolution in honor of Bruno Vendeville. American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Bulletin, 107(12), 2019-2022.
2021 Kernen, R., Lehrmann, A., & Poe, P. (2021). Lithostratigraphy and Chemostratigraphy of salt diapir sedimentary inclusions: unraveling Ediacaran salt tectonics in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. MESA Journal, 95(2), 4-29. 2020 Kernen, R. A., Giles, K. A., Poe, P. L., Gannaway Dalton, C. E., Rowan, M. G., Fiduk, J. C., & Hearon, T. E. (2020). Origin of the Neoproterozoic rim dolomite as lateral carbonate caprock, Patawarta salt sheet, Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 67(6), 815-832.
Scopus8 WoS52020 Rowan, M. G., Hearon IV, T. E., Kernen, R. A., Giles, K. A., Gannaway-Dalton, C. E., Williams, N. J., . . . Fischer, M. P. (2020). A review of allochthonous salt tectonics in the Flinders and Willouran ranges, South Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 67(6), 787-813.
Scopus15 WoS102015 Hearon IV, T. E., Rowan, M. G., Giles, K. A., Kernen, R. A., Gannaway, C. E., Lawton, T. F., & Fiduk, J. C. (2015). Allochthonous salt initiation and advance in the northern Flinders and eastern Willouran ranges, South Australia: Using outcrops to test subsurface-based models from the northern Gulf of Mexico. AAPG Bulletin, 99(02), 293-331.
2012 Kernen, R. A., Giles, K. A., Rowan, M. G., Lawton, T. F., & Hearon, T. E. (2012). Depositional and halokinetic-sequence stratigraphy of the neoproterozoic Wonoka Formation adjacent to patawarta allochthonous salt sheet, Central Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Geological Society Special Publication, 363(1), 81-105.
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Industry Consortium Fellowships
- Salt Sediment Research Consortium Tuition & Research Fellowship, UTEP, 2015-2019
- Funding provided by: Anadarko, BHP, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Devon, ExxonMobil, Hess, Kosmos, Marathon, Nexen, Repsol, Samson, Shell, Statoil (Equinor), Total
- Institute of Tectonics Tuition & Research Fellowship, NMSU, 2008-2010
- Funding provided by: Anadarko, BHP, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Devon, ExxonMobil, Hess, Kosmos, Marathon, Nexen, Repsol, Samson, Shell, Statoil (Equinor), Total
Grants
- BP GeoEnergy Research Grant, 2025
- ARC Early Career Fellowship Proposal Funding (Woodside, SA DEM, NTGS, CSIRO, Western Michigan), 2025-2028
- CNRS Mobility Scheme in Hydrogen, 2023-2024
- Energy Geoscience Podcast funded by the United States Department of Energy Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, 2021-2023
- Vernon G. and Joy Hunt Endowed Scholarship Fund in Geology, 2019-2020
- AGU Travel Grant, 2018
- UTEP Hunt & Rowling Scholarship, 2018
- UTEP Travel Grant, 2018
- Roswell Geological Society Foundation Scholarship, 2018
- West Texas Geological Foundation Scholarship, 2018
- UTEP Travel Grant, 2017
- SIPES-Society of Professional Earth Scientists Award, 2016
- AAPG Grants-In-Aid W. David Wiman Award, 2016
- UTEP Geology Bruce Davidson Memorial Award, 2016
- AAPG Book Gift, 2010
- AAPG Grants-In-Aid, 2009
- Dora Blossom Gile Memorial Scholarship, NMSU, 2009
- Neville Earth Science Public Museum Scholarship, UW, 2008
- Student/Faculty Collaborative Research Grant, UW, 2006-2008
Lecturer for Energy Geoscience and Sedimentology.
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2022 - ongoing Chair Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Case Studies Session Chair American Association of Petroleum Geologists United States -
Event Participation
Date Event Name Event Type Institution Country 2022 - ongoing Women’s Network Webinar Series: Decarbonization Solutions for the Energy Transition Seminars American Association of Petroleum Geologists - -
Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
Date Title Type Institution Country 2021 - ongoing Associate Editor Editorial American Association of Petroleum Geology -
Connect With Me
External Profiles
