24.20°N 77.60°W · Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas
carbonate sediment dynamics
© NASA
University of South Carolina · School of the Earth, Ocean & Environment
Asst. Prof. Cecilia Lopez-Gamundi · NASA/Caltech JPL Affiliate Scientist

SeaC's Lab

🌊 Coastal 🪸 Carbonates 🌡 Climate 🌀 Catastrophes

We integrate sedimentology, hydrodynamic modeling, radar and optical remote sensing, and forward stratigraphic simulation to understand how coastal and carbonate systems evolve over seconds and millennia. We investigate the climate of the past, the storms of today, and how they will shape the landscapes of tomorrow.

24.20°N 77.60°W · Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas · © NASA
Research & Story Maps

Our Science

We study how coastal and carbonate systems respond to hydrodynamic forcing, sea-level change, and climate across timescales. Our interactive ArcGIS Story Maps are currently under construction — check back soon!

Guayas Estuary satellite
ArcGIS Story Map
Hydrodynamics · Biogeochemical Modeling
Guayas Estuary: Tides & Carbon Export

High-resolution hydrodynamic and biochemical modeling of the Guayas estuary, investigating lateral carbon export and calibrated against SWOT satellite water surface elevation observations.

View Story Map →
Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas
ArcGIS Story Map
Sedimentology · Modern Carbonates · Paleoclimate
Carbonate Sediment Budget of the Bahamas

Quantifying the sediment budget of Earth's largest modern carbonate platform — combining satellite remote sensing, hydrodynamic simulation, and seismic stratigraphy.

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DionisosFlow carbonate forward model
ArcGIS Story Map
Ancient Carbonates · Industry Applications
Forward Stratigraphic Modeling: Carbonates

Forward stratigraphic simulations bridging process timescales to geological timescales for carbonate basin analysis. Model output courtesy of BeicipFranlab. Seeking industry sponsors for collaborative research.

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Peer-Reviewed Work

Our Publications

Lopez-Gamundi & Lopez-Gamundi 2026
Basin-scale sequence stratigraphy of the Vivian Formation (Marañón Basin, Peru)
Lopez-Gamundi, O. and Lopez-Gamundi, C.
Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 174, 105999 (2026)
DOI
Hupp et al. 2025
Perspectives on developing a diverse, knowledgeable and inclusive scientific community in the shifting landscape of US scientific ocean drilling
Hupp, B.N., Hashim, M.S., Bryant, R., Kinsley, C.W., Villa, A., et al. (incl. Lopez-Gamundi, C.)
Earth Science, Systems and Society, 5 (2025)
DOI
Lopez-Gamundi et al. 2025
The carbonate sediment budget of Great Bahama Bank – Earth's largest modern platform
Lopez-Gamundi, C., Barnes B.B., Betzler C., Harris P.M., Oehlert A.M., Eberli G.P., and Purkis S.J.
Geology, 53, 748–752 (2025)
DOI
Lopez-Gamundi et al. 2024
El Paso Formation: A key unit for the correlation of the Carboniferous glaciation in the Calingasta-Uspallata basin of western Argentina
Lopez-Gamundi, O., Cisterna, G.A., Sterren, A.F., and Lopez-Gamundi, C.
Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 143, 105004 (2024)
DOI
Lopez-Gamundi et al. 2023
Spatial, seasonal, and climatic drivers of suspended sediment atop Great Bahama Bank
Lopez-Gamundi, C., Barnes B.B., Bakker A.C., Harris P.M., Eberli G., and Purkis S.J.
Sedimentology, 71, 769–792 (2023)
DOI
Lopez-Gamundi et al. 2022
Simulating sedimentation on the Great Bahama Bank – Sources, sinks and storms
Lopez-Gamundi, C., Dobbelaere T., Hanert E., Harris P.M., Eberli G., and Purkis S.J.
Sedimentology, 69, 2693–2714 (2022) Editor's Pick 2022
DOI
Lopez-Gamundi & Lopez-Gamundi 2018
Exhumation of a proximal foredeep and associated wedge-top basin evidenced by porosity versus depth trends: The Upper Cretaceous Vivian sandstones in Northwestern Marañón and Santiago basins (Peru)
Lopez-Gamundi, O. and Lopez-Gamundi, C.
AAPG Memoir 117: Petroleum Basins and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Andes of Peru and Bolivia, pp. 251–269 (2018)
DOI
Invited · UCLA 2025
Resolving Storm and Climate Signals in the Modern Bahamas Using Satellites and Simulations
Lopez-Gamundi, C.
Dept. of Earth Planetary & Space Sciences Colloquium, University of California Los Angeles (2025)
Invited · USC 2025
Elucidating Modern Climate Signals on Great Bahama Bank Using Satellites and Simulations
Lopez-Gamundi, C.
School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment Seminar, University of South Carolina (2025)
SWOT Science Team Meeting 2025
Using SWOT observations to characterize hydrodynamics and hydroperiod in river deltas and estuaries
Simard, M., Christensen, A., Denbina, M., Matte, P., Payandeh, A., and Lopez-Gamundi, C.
SWOT Science Team Meeting. Arcachon, France. October 14–17, 2025
SEPM-ISGC 2024
Elucidating Modern Climate Signals on Great Bahama Bank Using Simulations and Remote Sensing
Lopez-Gamundi, C., Harris P.M., Dobbelaere T., Hanert E., Barnes B.B., Bakker A.C., Eberli G.P., and Purkis S.J.
SEPM International Sedimentary Geosciences Congress, Flagstaff, Arizona. May 5–8, 2024
SEPM Short Course 2023
Deciphering the drivers of suspended sediment – Great Bahama Bank
Lopez-Gamundi, C., Barnes B.B., Bakker A.C., Harris P.M., Eberli G., and Purkis S.J.
In: Advances in the Understanding and Interpretation of Carbonates, SEPM Short Course 57 (2023)
DOI
IMS 2023 · Dubrovnik
Deciphering the drivers of suspended sediment atop the Great Bahama Bank
Lopez-Gamundi, C., Barnes B.B., Harris P.M., Eberli G.P., and Purkis S.J.
36th International Meeting of Sedimentology, Dubrovnik, Croatia. June 12–16, 2023
Invited · Chevron 2024
Suspended Sediment atop Carbonate Platforms – Insights from Satellites and Machine Learning
Lopez-Gamundi, C.
Exploration Geosciences Network Tech Talk, Chevron (2024)
Invited · Potsdam 2023
Using New Methods to Solve Old Geologic Problems — What Satellites and Simulations Can Tell Us About Storms and Suspended Sediment
Lopez-Gamundi, C.
Institute Colloquium (Online), University of Potsdam (2023)
AAPG ACE 2021
From Source-to-Sink: Combining Remote Sensing and Hydrodynamic Simulation to Develop a Sediment Budget for Great Bahama Bank
Lopez-Gamundi, C., Dobbelaere T., Hanert E., Harris P.M., and Purkis S.J.
AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition 2021, Denver, Colorado. May 23–26, 2021
AAPG ACE 2020 (×2)
Wolfcamp Formation & Sediment Production atop Great Bahama Bank: Two Contributions
Lopez-Gamundi, C. et al.
AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition 2020, Online. Sept 29–Oct 1, 2020
AAPG ACE 2018 (×2)
Transgressive Reworking in the Vivian Formation, Peru & Late Paleozoic Successions, Argentina: Two Contributions
Lopez-Gamundi, O. and Lopez-Gamundi, C.
AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition 2018, Salt Lake City, Utah. May 20–23, 2018
Invited · Chevron Carbonate Café 2023
Deciphering the Drivers Behind Suspended Sediment — Insights from Long-Term Satellite Monitoring of Great Bahama Bank
Lopez-Gamundi, C.
Carbonate Café (Online), Chevron (2023)
Diversity Panel · UMiami/NCSU 2023
Diversity in Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
True, A., Lopez-Gamundi, C., Elmore, A.G., Chirayath, V., et al.
University of Miami & North Carolina State University (Online), 2023
Invited · Seds Online 2021
Great Debate: Sea Level Rise Drowns Reefs
Lopez-Gamundi, C., Samankassou, E., Matheson, E., and Burgess, P.
Seds Online (2021)
The People

Meet the Team

SeaC's Lab is housed at the School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of South Carolina. We're building a team of scientists who bridge computational methods, satellite data, and field observation.

Cecilia Lopez-Gamundi
Principal Investigator
Cecilia Lopez-Gamundi
Assistant Professor
NASA/Caltech JPL Affiliate Scientist

Coastal and carbonate geoscientist specializing in hydrodynamic modeling, satellite-based remote sensing, and forward stratigraphic simulation. Ph.D. from the University of Miami; previously at JPL (NASA / Caltech) and Chevron.

↓ CV Scholar ORCID RG LinkedIn GitHub
Remi Kurita
PhD Student
Remi Kurita
Ph.D. Student · Carbonate Sedimentology

Carbonate geologist with field experience in Morocco's Central High Atlas (M.S., UT Austin - Martindale Lab). Focusing on bridging hydrodynamic modeling of the modern and forward stratigraphic modeling of the ancient. Looking to implement syn-depositional carbonate diagenesis in FSMs. Chair of the SEPM Carbonate Research Group.

Mya Horn
Undergraduate Researcher
Mya Horn
Undergraduate Research Assistant · Biology

USC undergrad majoring in biology, minoring in chemistry. Working on satellite data processing and hydrodynamic modeling of modern reefs / platforms in Puerto Rico and the Turks & Caicos.

Beyond the Lab

Alumni & Collaborators

Lauren Mumby
Former Intern
Lauren Mumby
Ph.D. Candidate · UC Santa Barbara

Former SeaC's Lab intern focused on carbonate grain parameterization for sediment transport modeling. Ph.D. candidate at UC Santa Barbara in the Simms Lab studying sedimentology and marine geology.

SeaC's Lab is actively recruiting PhD and MS students for Fall 2027. We're looking for motivated scientists with backgrounds in geosciences, oceanography, computer / data science, spatial ecology, civil engineering, or related fields with an interest in computational methods and coastal / carbonate systems.

Join SeaC's Lab

Open Opportunities

We're building a team of curious, quantitative scientists working at the intersection of modern sedimentology, climate sciences, coastal oceanography, remote sensing, and deep-time geology. There is an emphasis on carbonates. A strong foundation in any one area and the drive to learn the rest is exactly what we're looking for.

PhD · Funded
Carbonate Sedimentology & Forward Modeling

Fully funded PhD coupling stratigraphic forward modeling with carbonate production systems. Ideal for students with a geoscience background interested in numerical methods. MS degree preferred. Open to adapting this into a smaller MS project for the right candidate.

SedimentologyFortran/PythonHPCML / AINumerical Modeling
MS · Funded
Coastal Hydrodynamics & Satellite Validation

Fully funded MS combining hydrodynamic modeling with SWOT satellite altimetry for coastal and estuarine systems. Includes HPC access and conference travel. Open to expanding this into a PhD project for the right candidate.

PythonHydrodynamic SimulationRemote SensingGISHPC
Undergraduate Research
Research Assistants

We welcome motivated undergrads for data processing, visualization, and fieldwork. Great prep for grad school or geoscience industry careers.

CuriosityPython basicsGIS a plus
Postdoc · Fellowship
Postdoctoral Opportunities

Open to co-developing NSF, NOAA, or NASA fellowship proposals for exceptional candidates whose research aligns with the lab's themes.

NSF/NOAA/NASAHydrodynamicsCarbonates
How to Apply

Send an email with subject "[Position] – Your Name" with: (1) a brief statement of why you want to join SeaC's Lab and what research excites you, (2) your CV, and (3) 2–3 references. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

USC's graduate admissions deadline is typically January for fall enrollment and October for spring enrollment. We are also open to accepting off-cycle applicants. Please reach out before formally applying to discuss fit and funding.

📧 clopezgamundi@seoe.sc.edu
Get in Touch

Contact Us

Whether you're a prospective student, collaborator, or curious about our work — we'd love to hear from you.

Principal Investigator
Asst. Prof. Cecilia Lopez-Gamundi
Institution
School of the Earth, Ocean & Environment
University of South Carolina, Columbia SC
Also Affiliated
NASA/Caltech JPL Affiliate Scientist
Profiles
ORCID  ·  Google Scholar  ·  ResearchGate  ·  LinkedIn  ·  GitHub  ·  SEOE Directory
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