IMPACT Team

The IMPACT Group (Intelligent Modeling of Planetary Accretion, Convection, and Tectonics) in the Department of Geology & Geophysics at Texas A&M is part of the Research in Artificial Intelligence for Science and Engineering (RAISE) Initiative. We leverage AI/ML to build next-generation Earth and planetary simulations, tackling some of the biggest puzzles in Earth and other worlds. Our team values multidisciplinary collaboration, diversity, and a strong research spirit. If you’re interested in a PhD, postdoc, or undergraduate project, contact the PI at qyuan@tamu.edu

About the IMPACT Group

We are dedicated to advancing next-generation Earth and planetary simulations through AI/ML innovation.

Dr. Qian Yuan

Dr. Qian Yuan

Principal Investigator

Geology & Geophysics, RAISE Initiative

Dr. Yuan is a computational geodynamicist exploring how planetary interiors shape habitability.

Computational geodynamicsPlanetary ScienceAI/ML
Email·CV
Dr. Mingqi Liu

Dr. Mingqi Liu

Postdoctoral Researcher

Department of Geology & Geophysics

Dr. Liu received his PhD from ETH and completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at USC. He is now co-advised by Prof. Benchuan Duan and me. His current research focuses on integrating geodynamic models with seismic cycle simulations to investigate the mechanisms driving Martian seismicity.

GeodynamicsEarthquake simulationGeophysics
Email
Surya Donath

Surya Donath

IMPACT-lab alumni

Now at Stanford!

Surya, a high school senior, has worked with me for the past two years on recycling of oceanic crust and its mixing with the 'Theia' mantle blobs.

Computational ModelingMantle DynamicsSubduction
Email
PhD Student (Position Available)

PhD Student (Position Available)

PhD Student

Graduate Program in Geophysics

Open position — apply now! Reach out to the PI.

AI/MLComputational Modeling
Email
PhD Student (Position Available)

PhD Student (Position Available)

PhD Student

Graduate Program in Geophysics

Open position — apply now! Reach out to the PI.

AI/MLComputational Modeling
Email
PhD Student (Position Available)

PhD Student (Position Available)

PhD Student

Graduate Program in Geophysics

Open position — apply now! Reach out to the PI.

AI/MLSeismologyVisualization
Email

Research Groups

Our interdisciplinary approach brings together expertise from multiple fields

🌍

Geophysics

Investigating Earth's deep structure and dynamics

3 Members
🪨

Earthquake modelling

Simulating fault slip, ground shaking, and seismic cycles.

2 Members
🧠💻

AI+Geodynamics

AI-powered models advancing mantle convection studies

4 Members
🔥

Tectonic magmatism

Decoding magmatic processes and tectonic forces

2 Members

Collaborations

We work with diverse institutions and researchers worldwide

Caltech

Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences

Computational geodynamics, thermodynamics and planetary science

Princeton University

Department of Geosciences

Computational Mineral Physics, magma ocean

MIT

Department of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences

Planetary science

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

VERITAS Team

Venus, Planetary Interiors and Geophysics

Arizona State University

School of Earth and Space Exploration

Global seismology, Earth's interior, planet formation

Imperial College London

Department of Earth Science and Engineering

Giant Impact, SPH

Join Our Team

We're always looking for passionate researchers to join our interdisciplinary team.