Dr. Christy Till is a geologist and Associate Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) at Arizona State Universitywho leads a multidisciplinary research program that studies the role of magma in the formation and evolution of planets, known as the EPIC lab. Her research and that of the EPIC lab includes determining the timescales and triggers for eruptions at active volcanoes in the US, including Yellowstone, growing minerals and magma in high pressure and temperature laboratory experiments, and studying likely compositions of magma and crusts on exoplanets. She received her BS & MS at UC Santa Barbara and PhD at MIT and was employed by the US Geological Survey prior to starting at ASU in 2014.
Her work has been recognized with a variety of awards including a prestigious NSF CAREER grant and the 2019 Early Career Award from the Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Volcanology & Petrology Division of the Geological Society of America. Research from the EPIC lab has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, USA Today, and Time and on programs from National Geographic, NPR, PBS, and AZ Channel 12. She also has been elected to a number of scientific leadership positions, including the Board of Directors, the Council and section leadership for the American Geophysical Union. Prior to her career as scientist, Dr. Till was employed full-time as a professional ballet dancer for five years in two world-renowned companies.
Dr. Till also has deep interests in working for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in academic science and improving science communication. To this aim, she presently serves as the Associate Director for an Inclusive Community in SESE and works with a variety of communities at Arizona State University, including at the intersection of the arts and science, and currently serves as a the Volcanology, Geochemistry & Petrology Secretary for the American Geophysical Union, the largest professional organization of Earth and space scientists.