Magali I. Billen

Magali I. Billen

Magali I. Billen

Position Title
Professor and Department Chair

she/her/hers
2129 Earth & Physical Sci
Bio

Education and Degree(s)

  • Ph.D., California Institute of Technology (2001)

Bio

Dr. Magali Billen was a first generation college student and immigrant to the United States from Belgium. She graduated with a B.S. in Physics from the University of Puget Sound (1995) and an M.S. and PhD in Geophysics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech; 2001). She was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Leeds in Britain and at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts before starting her faculty position at UC Davis in 2003. Magali’s research interests include numerical modeling of subduction zone dynamics with an emphasis on the role of rock rheology. Magali has worked on all parts of the subduction system, ranging from the shallow,  brittle process of outer rise faulting to the deep, visco-plastic process of buckling and folding of subducted lithosphere in the transition zone. Recently Magali has worked on the effect of overriding plate structure on slab dip, rifting of volcanic arcs, time-dependent thermal structure of the slab and mantle wedge, effect of phase transitions on slab deformation, subduction of oceanic plateaus, and the relationship between the stress-state in slabs and deep earthquakes. Additional research and education interest are related to using 3D Visualization of geological and geophysical data for analyzing data and numerical results, and communicating scientific information.

pronunciation | Magali Billen

Websites

magalibillen.faculty.ucdavis.edu
3D GeoStructures Visualization Education Project
UC Davis W.M. Keck Center for Active Visualization in the Earth Sciences (KeckCAVES)
Google Scholar | profile

Honors and Awards

Research Interests & Expertise
  • Geophysics