Thomas Rapstine
About Thomas Rapstine
Thomas Rapstine is a Physical Scientist Intern specializing in landslides and debris flow hazards at the U.S. Geological Survey. He has extensive experience in geophysics, having worked in various capacities at the Colorado School of Mines and other organizations, while also pursuing advanced degrees in the field.
Current Role at U.S. Geological Survey
Thomas Rapstine serves as a Physical Scientist Intern focusing on Landslides and Debris Flow Hazard at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). He has held this position since 2018, contributing to research and analysis related to geological hazards. His work involves applying scientific principles to understand and mitigate risks associated with landslides and debris flows.
Education and Expertise
Thomas Rapstine studied Geophysics at the Colorado School of Mines, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics/Geophysical Engineering from 2009 to 2013. He continued his education at the same institution, obtaining a Master of Science in Geophysics from 2013 to 2015. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Geophysics from 2016 to 2020, focusing on innovative approaches to seismic data collection.
Professional Experience
Rapstine has held various positions throughout his career. He worked as a Computational Data Scientist at ExxonMobil for three months in 2019. He also completed multiple internships with Chevron and ENSCO, Inc., gaining experience in earth sciences and geophysical methods. Additionally, he served as a Teaching Assistant and Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Colorado School of Mines, where he supported geophysics courses and conducted independent research.
Research and Development Initiatives
Thomas Rapstine has developed a PhD project that integrates computer vision, machine learning, and signal separation techniques to enhance seismic data collection using drone technology. His research includes reconstructing dynamic landslide and debris flow surface geometry through multi-view video and lidar technology. He also focuses on creating digital signal and image processing algorithms for motion reconstruction from video and point clouds.
Teaching and Mentorship Experience
Throughout his academic career, Thomas Rapstine has contributed to the education of others as a Teaching Assistant at the Colorado School of Mines. He assisted in various geophysics courses, including the Geophysics Field Camp and Introduction to Gravity, Magnetics, and Electrical Methods. His role involved guiding students in practical applications of geophysical concepts and methodologies.