Dr. Zhi Ye is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at South Dakota Mines. His research focuses on reservoir geomechanics, rock mechanics, and experimental rock deformation, with applications in geo-energy recovery and storage. Over the past decade, he has been involved in various aspects of reservoir geomechanics, including rock deformation under HPHT conditions, hydraulic fracturing, in-situ stress determination, induced seismicity, and frictional fracture slip due to fluid injection. Dr. Ye has participated in the two flagship geothermal projects sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE): EGS Collab and Utah FORGE. His research work has been published in reputable journals and conferences, such as Geophysical Research Letters and Journal of Geophysical Research. In 2019, he received the prestigious Rock Mechanics Research Award from the American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA).

Khomchan (Pun) is a Ph.D. student in Geology and Geological Engineering at South Dakota Mines, researching the physical controls on induced seismicity during subsurface fluid injection using rock experiments, numerical modeling, and machine learning. Originally from Thailand, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Chiang Mai University and a Master of Engineering in Tunnel Engineering from Graz University of Technology in Austria.

Ajita Bhandari is a Ph.D. student in Geology and Geological Engineering at South Dakota Mines. She holds a Master’s degree in Rock Mechanics and a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Her research interests include experimental rock mechanics, rock physics, and rock-fluid interaction. Currently, she is working on a project aimed at understanding the mechanical behavior of rocks and rock fractures under high temperatures.