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. Jie Zhang
Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Geology & Geophysics
Jie received his Ph.D. from the Southern University of Science and Technology. His previous research used global 3-D mantle convection models with data assimilation to investigate LLVPs and the Hawaiian mantle plume. He is now exploring the deep-mantle origin of the largest large igneous provinces and their potential link to the End-Permian mass extinction.
Yuxing Pan
PhD Student
Graduate Program in Geophysics
Yuxing received his master’s degree from the Southern University of Science and Technology, where he worked on computational seismology and machine learning. He is now developing an deep-learning framework to automatically identify thermal and thermochemical plumes in mantle convection simulations.
Zehua Song
PhD student (Spring 2027)
Department of Geology & Geophysics
Zehua received his master’s degree from China University of Petroleum and is a recipient of Texas A&M’s DREA Fellowship. He will work on developing new computational approaches to accelerate mantle convection simulations.
Dr. Mingqi Liu
Postdoc alumni
Department of Geology & Geophysics
Mingqi was a postdoctoral researcher working with me and Dr. Benchun Duan and is now a postdoctoral fellow at École Normale Supérieure (ENS), Paris. His previous research couples mantle flow with earthquake-cycle modeling to investigate the thermal structure of subduction zones and the origin of the largest marsquake.
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.
Daniel Sun
Undergraduate
Undergraduate Program in Geophysics
Daniel is a geology junior passionate about leveraging the Fourier Neural Operator to accelerate and enhance mantle convection simulations.
PhD Student (Position Available)
PhD Student
Graduate Program in Geophysics
Open position — apply now! Reach out to the PI.
PhD Student (Position Available)
PhD Student
Graduate Program in Geophysics
Open position — apply now! Reach out to the PI.
Research Groups
Our interdisciplinary approach brings together expertise from multiple fields
Geophysics
Investigating Earth's deep structure and dynamics
Earthquake modelling
Simulating fault slip, ground shaking, and seismic cycles.
AI+Geodynamics
AI-powered models advancing mantle convection studies
Tectonic magmatism
Decoding magmatic processes and tectonic forces
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.