Misael M. Morales, PhD

Machine learning and data science applications for reservoir characterization and simulation.

Reduced-order modeling, UQ, data assimilation, control & optimization, forward & inverse modeling, and physics-informed machine learning.

About Me

I obtained my PhD from the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, under the advise of Dr. Michael Pyrcz and Dr. Carlos Torres-Verdin. In the Digital Reservoir Characterization Technology (DiReCT) consortium, we worked on integrated applied energy data analytics and machine learning by developing novel technologies, practical workflows, demonstrations and documentation to support the digital revolution in energy.

My research is focused on the computational description of subsurface energy systems. I combine domain-specific knowledge with tools from machine learning, applied math, and statistics, for accurate characterization and forecasting of complex dynamical systems in the subsurface. Specifically, I focus on latent space methods for forward and inverse modeling of subsurface energy resources.

During my time as a PhD student, I interned at ExxonMobil and Los Alamos National Lab. Prior to UT, I spent a year at the University of Southern California in the Subsurface Energy and Environmental Systems (SEES) lab. And before that, I got my M.S. in Mathematics, as well as my B.S. in Petroleum Engineering and B.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Tulsa, with minors in Computational Science and High-Performance Computing. My master's work focused on the numerical solution of the Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation on a disk using the boundary element method, and my undergraduate capstone project focused on predictive analytics and artificial lift solutions for liquid loading wells using statistical learning and physical modeling.

I'm originally from Venezuela, and my hobbies include: videogames, going to beaches and mountains, road-tripping and exploring national parks, cooking, and listening to music and playing the guitar. Academically, I enjoy participating in PetroBowl, mentorship and guidance programs, student organizations, and community service. On my free time I like to visit new places around the city and watching documentaries.

This site includes some of my current and previous research, projects, and experience, as well as my CV/Resume and contact information.