Dr. Susanna Ebmeier is an exceptionally talented geophysicist, at the forefront of exploiting the revolution in satellite geodesy to advance our understanding of volcanic processes. She has a passion for using satellite observations to improve society’s response to volcanic hazards; her research has had a significant impact on scientific understanding and crisis management. Dr. Ebmeier’s primary geodetic tool is satellite radar interferometry (interferometric synthetic aperture radar, or InSAR). She has conducted groundbreaking research and developed innovative techniques that have probed the complex interactions between tectonics and volcanism and has pioneered the development and exploitation of global geodetic data sets to improve our understanding of magmatic processes. Creativity has been a hallmark of Dr. Ebmeier’s career. Early on she developed a new method capable of simultaneously determining the thickness/volume of volcanic deposits, alongside extrusion rates, and rates of lava subsidence. More recently she has focused on exploiting advances in signal processing methods, such as independent component analysis, for the extraction/analysis of volcanic signals. Dr. Ebmeier has consistently recognized the importance of working closely with scientists in volcano observatories. In Ecuador, her collaborations with the Instituto Geofísico (IG) have had a direct impact on society. During the 2014 seismic crisis at Chiles–Cerro Negro, IG increased the alert level to Orange (Level 3 of four levels) and evacuated approximately 3,500 families. Dr. Ebmeier responded rapidly to a request for assistance, using InSAR to identify the tectonic mechanism behind the earthquakes, a result critical to IG’s decision to lower the alert level, allowing evacuees to return home. Recently, Dr. Ebmeier led the development of COMET’s (Centre for Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics) Volcano Deformation Portal, which provides near-real-time deformation monitoring data globally; she has supported scientists at observatories, as well as collaborators/stakeholders, to use this vital global resource. Dr. Ebmeier is increasingly involved in international efforts coordinating satellite observations at volcanoes, serving as cochair of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites Volcano Demonstrator, where she has facilitated rapid no-cost access to expensive and/or inaccessible satellite data, including from commercial operators. She has further worked on ensuring that end users have the data products they need to support event response during crises—vital and unselfish service that benefits both science and society. Dr. Ebmeier is a young leader in the field of satellite geodesy, particularly applied to volcanic hazards assessment and mitigation. She is setting the agenda in the use of satellite geodesy in volcano observatories while remaining focused on solving fundamental scientific problems and developing new methods and interpretive tools. —Tim Wright, COMET, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K.; Juliet Biggs, COMET, University of Bristol, Bristol, U.K.; and Mike Poland, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey, Vancouver, Wash.

I thank my nominators for their kind citation and for their thoughtfulness in putting me forward for the John Wahr Early Career Award. I feel honored to have been recognized by the AGU geodesy community, which has had a big influence on my science and academic outlook. I am very grateful for having been introduced to supportive members of the international volcano geodesy community early in my Ph.D. research. Since then, I have benefited greatly from their encouragement, advice, and example as research leaders. I was especially fortunate as a postdoctoral researcher in being supported to build connections with other researchers internationally, both at universities and in volcano observatories. This has shaped the path of my own research over the past decade, broadening my scientific interests and helping me keep a focus on the application of fundamental science to real-world problems. A great privilege of being a researcher is being able to keep learning and trying new things. I have recently had the pleasure of working with many postgraduate students and sharing in their exploration of new ideas. I would like to thank them, as well as my previous supervisors, current colleagues, and collaborators. I value all of our shared efforts, struggles, and inspiration. Finally, thank you to John Elliott for his insightful honesty, humor, and support in all aspects of life. —Susanna K. Ebmeier, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K.