Rachelle Kernen

Dr Rachelle Kernen

Internal Grant Funded Researcher B

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

I am currently the South Australian Representative for Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences Australasia (WOMEESA) and a Superstar of STEM (2023-2024) for Australia Science and Technology. As a Grant-Funded Research Fellow (and a recipient of the prestigious Global Talent Visa), my current research applies my expertise in sedimentology, stratigraphy, and salt-sediment interaction to subsurface carbon dioxide and hydrogen storage and critical mineral deposits.

I completed my PhD in Geological Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (2019) and my MSc in Geology at New Mexico State University (2008) with a specialty in salt-sediment interaction, intrasalt stratigraphy & deformation, caprock precipitation and dissolution, and energy. During my MSc and PhD, I was a researcher for the Salt-Sediment Interaction Research Consortium (Institute of Tectonic Studies).

Currently, I am an associate editor for 1) AAPG Special Bulletin Volumes 1 & 2 in Salt Basins, 2) AAPG/SEG Special Issue Energy Diversification: Natural Resources beyond fossil fuels, and 3) Editorial manager for the new Diamond Open-Acess (DOA) journal Sedimentologika. I host energy-related podcasts for Energy Geoscience which is funded by the United States Department of Energy Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

My main research interests are the following:

1) Salt-sediment interaction in the Flinders and Willouran Ranges, South Australia. This research is significant because it marks the onset of dramatic changes in Earth’s climate referred to as Snowball Earth and forms the depositional environments where the origin of complex life was enabled to evolve. Exposure of these specific stratigraphic units in relation to the diapiric breccia is limited to this region, making them rare and unique.

Northern Flinders Ranges

Figure 1: False color satellite imagery of the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park in the Northern Flinders Ranges taken by the Copernicus Sentinel Mission (2019), processed by ESA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Sedimentologic and stratigraphic studies in salt basins related to the development of subsurface carbon dioxide and hydrogen storage sites and critical mineral deposits. I am interested in regional to prospect scale studies that integrate different types of datasets (outcrop, seismic, wireline, gravity, magnetic) and enjoy working in collaborative teams within the academic, industry, and government sectors.

Australian Salt Basins

Figure 2: Australian basins with major halite discoveries (thickness .100 m) of Precambrian age (red), Paleozoic age (green), Precambrian and Paleozoic age (yellow). Basins that are prospective of evaporite sequences are shown in grey. Wells penetrating halite/evaporite beds are indicated by black dots. Note: only the onshore extent of the Canning Basin is displayed (Boreham et al., 2021).

3) Geoethics specifically related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the academic, industry, government, and non-profit sectors. I am passionate about elevating the status of marginalized people and collaborating with Indigenous people in my field locations. I specialize in the intersection of data analysis and sociologic methods. Additionally, I am passionate about utilizing sustainable, non-destructive field methods and the conservation of the natural environment.

Grampians National Park

Figure 3: Grampians National Park, low angle cross-bedding in a quartz arenite interpreted to be deposited in a shoreface depositional environment.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2022 - ongoing Consultant-Exploration Geologist Stelar Metals
    2022 - ongoing Consultant-Exploration Geologist Taruga Minerals Limited
    2022 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Fellow The University of Adelaide
    2021 - 2021 Consultant-Exploration Geologist Sandfire Resources America
    2020 - 2021 Honorary Research Fellow The University of Adelaide
    2018 - 2019 Adjunct Faculty El Paso Community College
    2018 - 2018 Consultant-Exploration Geologist BP Americas
    2017 - 2017 Visiting Research Fellow University of Texas Austin
    2017 - 2017 Lecturer Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
    2015 - 2019 Assistant Instructor University of Texas at El Paso
    2011 - 2015 Exploration Geologist Royal Dutch Shell
    2011 - 2011 Geologist Intern Samson Resources
    2008 - 2010 Teaching Assistant 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
    Penn State United States Professional Master in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems
    University of Texas El Paso United States PhD Geological Sciences
    New Mexico State University United States MSc Geology
    The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh United States BSc Geology

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    2011 Shell Graduate Program Royal Dutch Shell United States

  • Research Interests
    Energy Geology Sedimentology Stratigraphy Structural Geology

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    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.
    DOI
    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.
    DOI
    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.
    DOI Scopus6 WoS5
    2020 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.
    DOI Scopus10 WoS10
    2015 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.
    DOI
    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.
    DOI Scopus35

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 

  • Energy Geoscience Podcast funded by the United States Department of Energy Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, 2021-current
  • 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

Consulting

$150k, 2021-current

  • Co-instructor for Energy Geoscience, PETROGEO7013, and Earth Science Honours. 

  • 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 -
  • Position: Internal Grant Funded Researcher B
  • Email: rachelle.kernen@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Mawson, floor First Floor
  • Room: 116
  • Org Unit: Earth Sciences
Connect With Me
External Profiles