Lorena Moscardelli has been appointed as the new director of the Bureau of Economic Geology and state geologist of Texas, starting on 17 March. She will be the first woman to lead the bureau, taking over from Scott Tinker, who led the institution for nearly 25 years. Moscardelli brings over 20 years of experience in energy research within both industry and academia. She previously led the State of Texas Advanced Resource Recovery (STARR) program, which focuses on enhancing the efficient production and profitability of Texas's energy and natural resources.
“It is a huge honor and a huge responsibility to direct the next chapter of the Bureau of Economic Geology,” Moscardelli said. “Throughout its more than 100-year history, the bureau has enabled the state to sustainably and efficiently develop its resources for the benefit of Texas and the nation, and it has been a key partner in making Texas the energy capital of the world. The quality of the faculty, researchers, and staff at the bureau is second to none, and I look forward to leading this team and helping Texas tackle the energy and resources challenges of the future.”
The Bureau of Economic Geology, founded in 1909, is the oldest and second-largest research institution at The University of Texas at Austin (UT). It serves as the State of Texas Geological Survey, advising state decision-makers on resource-related issues. The bureau is known for its pioneering research in energy, economics, and environmental matters, and it manages the TexNet seismic network, which monitors earthquakes across the state.
Under Moscardelli’s leadership, the bureau will continue its legacy in oil, gas, and environmental research while expanding efforts in hydrogen, critical minerals, groundwater resources, and geothermal energy. It is also a leader in geologic carbon capture and storage research and collaborates closely with other UT departments on energy research initiatives.
Moscardelli first joined the bureau in 2003 as a doctoral student and later worked at Equinor, where she gained international experience in research, exploration, and field development. She returned to the bureau in 2021 to lead the STARR program.
Her priorities as director include boosting collaboration with internal and external partners to address key energy and resource challenges and enhancing the bureau’s role in educational opportunities for students and industry professionals highlighting UT’s commitment to both traditional oil and gas research and a broad approach to future energy research.
Moscardelli holds a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Central University of Venezuela and a doctorate in geological sciences from UT, along with executive education from the Wharton School of Business.