Thorsten Becker

Thorsten W. Becker is a geophysicist whose research focuses on understanding the complex dynamics of Earth's interior and how deep planetary processes shape the surface world we inhabit. He holds the Distinguished Chair in Geophysics at the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin and is a faculty associate at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences.

Becker's academic path began with a Diplom in Physics from Frankfurt University in Germany, followed by a Ph.D. in Geophysics from Harvard University. As a postdoctoral scholar, he held the Cecil H. and Ida M. Green position at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. He then joined the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he progressed from Assistant Professor to Full Professor before moving to UT Austin.

Becker's research spans geodynamics and seismology, examining the physical mechanisms that drive Earth's internal motions and the seismic waves that reveal its structure. Working with his research team, he integrates field observations, laboratory experiments, and numerical models to create comprehensive geodynamical models. This approach allows his group to address problems at vastly different scales—from grain-scale deformation in rocks to the global circulation of Earth's mantle.

A key focus of his work is understanding the physics of plate tectonics: how plates deform, why earthquakes occur where they do, and how mantle convection shapes plate motions over geological time. This work has important implications for assessing natural hazards and understanding the forces that have shaped Earth's surface throughout its history. Becker's approach emphasizes the co-evolution of Earth's interior and surface systems, recognizing that the planet must be understood as an integrated whole.

Becker is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and a member of the Academia Europaea. He has received the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics' Evgueni Burov Medal and the European Geoscience Union's Augustus Love Medal for contributions to the solid Earth sciences.

As an educator, Becker teaches courses in Tectonic Geodynamics, Geophysics, Natural Hazards, deep Earth dynamics, and Numerical Modeling. He has contributed to the broader geoscience community through various service roles, including as Chair of the Standing Committee on Solid Earth Geophysics and member of the Board of Earth Sciences and Resources at the National Academy of Sciences. He spent nearly a decade as Editor in Chief of the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems and currently serves as an editor for AGU Advances. His other commitments have included the Southern California Earthquake Center's Planning Committee, leading the Modeling Collaboratory for Subduction Research Coordination Network, and serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of GFZ Potsdam.