George Otieno Okoko

George Otieno Okoko is PhD Candidate in the Marine and Large Programs Division. His interests focus on the integration of different technologies and cross-disciplinary approaches to address environmental and energy challenges through subsurface geoscience and engineering innovations. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Toledo, Ohio, where he specialized in paleolimnology and geochemistry. His early research focused on CO₂ storage in basaltic formations within the Kenyan Rift, combining lake sediment coring and geochemical analysis to understand anthropogenic environmental changes. Currently, George is expanding his expertise in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) under the mentorship of Dr. David Goldberg, Dr. Claire Nelson, Dr. Folarin Kolawale, and Dr. Lydia Olaka (Technical University of Kenya). His work integrates geochemistry, geophysical and petrophysical approaches to assess reservoir quality, integrity, and performance in CCS systems. This includes ultrasonic phase velocity measurements for characterizing elastic properties and anisotropy in basaltic reservoirs thus supporting the interpretation of field data. He couples field data with core scale analysis via laboratory measurements such as X-ray microtomography, porosity–permeability analysis, and reactive transport modeling to evaluate CO₂ migration, storage efficiency, and geomechanical response in subsurface formations. By combining experimental methods, data analytics, and numerical simulation, George aims to improve real-time in-situ monitoring and risk assessment frameworks for geological CO₂ storage. His work contributes to the development of safe, scalable, and science-driven decarbonization solutions. Outside of the lab and field, George enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle. 

Advisor: David S. Goldberg