Alaura Jane Custard

Alaura Custard is a 2025-2029 Self Graduate Fellow pursuing a Ph.D. in Geology. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics in 2023, and a M.S. in Geology in 2025. Her specialty is in subduction zone mechanics and geodesy, using GNSS and seismic data to study their short- and long-term behavior. Her master’s research used geodesy to examine slow earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest and their cumulative impact on the stress state on the plate interface. In her Ph.D., Alaura plans to focus on both seafloor geodesy and how it can improve our understanding of subduction zones. During her master’s, she was an active member of the Association for Women in Geosciences’ Osage Chapter at KU. As the outreach officer for the chapter, she developed new partnerships with public schools in the KC Metro area. She plans to continue outreach work and hopes to inspire some future scientists.

Mentor: Noel Jackson, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Geology.