Mary Lou Zoback

Mary Lou Zoback ( Chetlain; born July 5, 1952) is an American geophysicist and seismologist. A specialist in tectonic stress and natural hazards risks, she spent most of her career as a research scientist with the United States Geological Survey. Zoback chaired the World Stress Map project of the International Lithosphere Program from 1986 to 1992. Zoback served on the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board from 2012 to 2018.

Early life and education Mary Lou Chetlain was born on July 5, 1952, in Sanford, Florida. Her father Kent Chetlain was a sports editor with the Bradenton Herald and as a teenager, she operated the McKechnie Field electronic scoreboard during Pittsburgh Pirates spring training games.

She began her undergraduate studies in oceanography at the Florida Institute of Technology. After taking a course on plate tectonics and elasticity, she met geophysicist Allan V. Cox at a meeting on solar magnetism in Cape Canaveral. Following his recommendation, she transferred to Stanford University in her junior year, receiving a full scholarship. Her advisor was George Thompson.

Career Following her graduation, Zoback conducted postdoctoral research from 1978 to 1979 with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) through a National Research Council fellowship. and she served as president of the GSA's Tectonophysics Section in 2000.

Zoback was appointed to the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board by President Barack Obama on September 25, 2012. The board provides scientific and technical oversight of the Department of Energy's program for managing and disposing of high-level nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel.

Research Zoback's principal area of research is active tectonics, Through a reanalysis of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Zoback studied the concept of the earthquake cycle.

Personal life Zoback married geophysicist Mark David Zoback in 1973. They have two children. 2006 – "Leadership, Innovation, and Outstanding Accomplishments in Earthquake Risk Reduction" Award from the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute 2022 – Distinguished Alumni Award, Stanford University