Bio – Liz Davis, Coastal Geologist

Selfie next to a lizard petroglyph at the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site located in present-day New Mexico. This area was home to the Jornada Mogollon people. Over 21,000 glyphs of birds, humans, animals, fish, insects and plants, as well as numerous geometric and abstract designs are scattered over 50 acres of New Mexico’s northern Chihuahuan Desert. Picture taken during University of Delaware field course “Geology of the Southwest”.

Welcome! I want to tell you a little bit more about me…

I am a coastal geologist and intersectional environmentalist based in Richmond, Virginia. Currently, I am a Ph.D. Candidate in the Coastal Geology Lab at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. At VIMS I study how coastal dunes protect coastal communities from hazards such as sea-level rise and storms.

My passion for the natural world around us stemmed from a childhood spent watching the waves rework the beach, day after day, season after season, year after year. I am forever grateful to my parents for insisting on trips to national parks and fostering my curiosity in environmental sciences. In 2016 I graduated from West Virginia University with a B.A. in Environmental Geoscience and minors in Geology and Geography. After undergrad, I worked as an environmental consultant for a large firm where I worked to remediate contaminated media like groundwater and soil. I transitioned away from industry and obtained a M.Sc. in Geology from the University of Delaware in 2018 (see my research page for more info!). In my current research as a Ph.D. Candidate, I am eager to produce results that have tangible implications for coastal management.

When not at the beach for work, you can often catch me at the beach for fun. I also enjoy paddling, hiking, crafting, and trying new restaurants and breweries with my loving partner, Will, & loyal dog, Watson. We are enjoying exploring Virginia & North Carolina during my Ph.D program.