Simulation, Assessment, and Learning of geOsystems (SALO) Lab
About
Our group uses a variety of approaches to simulate, assess, and understand geosystems. In particular, we combine physics-based and data-driven modeling with laboratory experiments to address fundamental and applied research questions at the intersection of geoscience, subsurface energy, and the environment. We are based in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where we regularly interact with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education.
Latest News
- Jun 2026 — Rubén Vidal Montes joins the group as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Welcome!
- Mar 2026 — L. T. Ozgur Yildirim joins the group as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Welcome!
Research Directions

Fault Zone Characterization & Modeling
Development of new tools to study fault zone evolution and improve their characterization in numerical models.
Geologic Carbon Dioxide Sequestration (GCS)
Mitigation of environmental risks associated with GCS, with particular emphasis on fluid migration through faults.

Geohazards in Subsurface Energy Systems
Multiphysics modeling of fault stability and development of risk assessment workflows for subsurface operations.
