Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources
Earth and Planetary Geodynamics group
The Earth and Planetary Geodynamics (EPG) research group, led by Junior-Prof. Dr. Anna Gülcher, bridges geosciences and planetary sciences to investigate the evolution of Earth, planets, and moons. Our research focuses on the (coupled) dynamics of planetary interiors, surfaces, and ultimately, atmospheres. The overarching goal is to understand the physical processes that shape rocky and icy worlds and the conditions that govern planetary (in)habitability.
We combine computational modelling techniques with Earth observations, planetary mission data, and laboratory constraints on the physical properties of Earth and planetary materials. Key research themes include scientific software development, (plate) tectonics, mantle convection, volcanism and outgassing, atmospheric evolution, and the interpretation of geophysical, geological, and remote-sensing datasets. Our work can be Earth-focused, planet-focused, or explicitly comparative across worlds.
In teaching, we contribute to courses in the new Earth and Planetary Sciences major within the Earth Sciences Master’s studies. Students deepen their expertise in planetary interiors, tectonics and geodynamics, the analysis of Earth and mission-based datasets, and computational methods and data analysis. Research and thesis projects are available on a rolling basis.
Jobs
Opportunities for PhD/postdoc positions and research visits.
Team
Introduction to our team members, a list of contact details, and location.
Research
More information on our research focus areas and current projects.
Teaching
Our teaching offerings and information about theses/research projects.
What is geodynamics?
Geodynamics is the branch of Earth and planetary sciences that seeks to unravel the dynamic processes governing how planetary interiors move, deform, and evolve through time, from the earliest stages after formation to the present day. It focuses on how heat transport, material flow, and mechanical deformation within the mantle and lithosphere drive tectonics and volcanism, shape topography, and influence the long-term exchange of volatiles between a planet’s interior, surface, and atmosphere.
A key process we investigate is mantle convection: the slow, solid-state flow of the mantle that transfers heat and material through the interior and drives the thermal evolution of a planet. On Earth, this internal engine shapes surface structures such as plate boundaries, rifts, mountain belts, volcanoes, continents, and ocean basins, and it is in part responsible for our planet’s stable and temperate surface environment that supports life. Geodynamics therefore also provides context for understanding how planets could become (in)habitable.
Because planetary interiors cannot be observed directly beyond shallow depths, geodynamics combines physics-based theory and numerical modelling with observations, including data from laboratory experiments, gravity, topography, surface deformation, and seismic measurements on Earth, and increasingly spacecraft mission datasets for other planets and moons.
Scientific software development
Our group uses a range of scientific software and computational tools to investigate the long-term evolution of planetary interiors and surfaces, and their links to atmospheres. A central component of our work is the development and application of geodynamic numerical codes that simulate mantle convection and the resulting tectonic and volcanic activity at the surface. These simulations typically rely on high-performance computing, while post-processing, visualization, and quantitative analysis are carried out using custom workflows and codes on local machines.
The scientific software development and computational skills gained through this work are highly interdisciplinary and broadly transferable to many applications, including (but not limited to) positions in computational engineering, climate and Earth-system modeling, space and aerospace analysis, energy and subsurface geoscience, and data-driven research & development (e.g., developing simulation tools, running and optimizing large-scale computations on HPC clusters, automating analysis workflows, and communicating results through clear visualizations and reports).
Venus as a natural laboratory for Earth and Earth-like exoplanets
EPSS@UFR uses Venus as a natural laboratory for exploring the evolution of Earth, Venus, and similar rocky worlds. The project is structured around three interconnected themes: (1) tectonics and volcanism on Venus and early Earth, (2) mission preparation and data integration, and (3) coupled interior–climate pathways of rocky planets.
