Nicole Mc Mahon
About Nicole Mc Mahon
Nicole Mc Mahon is an R&D Geoscience Engineer at Sandia National Laboratories with extensive experience in geophysics and seismology.
Title
Nicole McMahon serves as an R&D Geoscience Engineer at Sandia National Laboratories. She has been in this role since 2018, working in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Professional Experience
Nicole McMahon began her career in geoscience as a Summer Intern at Hunt Petroleum Corporation in 2007. She held various roles including a Summer Intern at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in 2008, REU Student at Summer of Applied Geophysical Research Experience (SAGE) in 2008, and Political Poller at Questions & Answers in 2010. From 2010 to 2011, Nicole was involved with Michigan Technological University as a Student, Teaching Assistant, and Mineral Museum Employee. Concurrently, she interned at Portable Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere (PASSCAL). Later, she worked as a Research Assistant at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and Colorado State University between 2011 and 2018. She also served as a Geophysics Student Trainee at the U.S. Geological Survey from 2014 to 2018. Since 2018, Nicole has been with Sandia National Laboratories.
Education and Expertise
Nicole McMahon holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geosciences with a focus on Seismology from Colorado State University, completed from 2011 to 2018. Additionally, she earned a Master’s Degree in Geophysics, Seismology from Michigan Technological University between 2009 and 2011. She also studied Spanish Language at Universitat Jaume I through a study abroad program in 2009. Her undergraduate education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Exploration Geophysics from the University of Oklahoma, completed from 2005 to 2009. Nicole graduated high school from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.
Research and Duties
Nicole McMahon has a strong background in seismicity and geophysics. She utilized subspace detection techniques to analyze seismicity beneath subglacial volcanoes in Antarctica and played a key role in demobilizing the IRIS Wavefields Community Demonstration Experiment in Oklahoma. Additionally, she conducted hydrology and gravimetry well pumping tests in northern Colorado. During her tenure at Sandia National Laboratories, Nicole has continued to work on high-impact geoscience projects.
Mentorship and Guidance
Throughout her career, Nicole McMahon has actively mentored undergraduate and graduate students in geoscience. She provided guidance to undergraduate geoscience students on academic and career paths and mentored an IRIS intern on a summer project focused on earthquake detection in Antarctica.