Ronnakrit Rattanasriampaipong
Graduate Student
Doctoral Candidate
Paleoceanography and paleoclimatology (Cenozoic–Mesozoic), Paleothermometry, Organic geochemistry, Lipid biomarkers, Stable isotope geochemistry, Archaeal ecology evolution in global oceans, Data sciences
Research
Dissertation: (Tentative) Beyond TEX86: Evaluating Archaeal Evolution Coupled with Oceans and Climate Changes using Tetraether Lipids
Advisor and chair committee: Dr. Yige Zhang
Committee members: Drs. Ethan Grossman, Robert Korty, Jason Sylvan
Towards complete TEX86-based sea surface temperature (SST) records for the entire Cenozoic era
- Identified spatio-temporal gaps in publicly available Cenozoic TEX86 records
- Collected core samples at Gulf Coast Repository (GCR) (College Station, TX) for lipid biomarker analysis (multiple visits)
- Conducted analytical work for coarse-resolution SST reconstructions from ten ODP/IODP sites
Archaeal lipids trace ecology and evolution of marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea
- Compiled and quality controlled an extensive dataset (n ~ 4,000 entries from 79 publications) of isoprenoidal glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) derived from different archives
- Identified diagnostic distribution patterns of GDGT assemblages that trace marine archaeal ecology and evolution
Impact
Born and raised in a concrete jungle like Bangkok, Thailand, the two ways that I could learn about our Planet Earth and the world around me were either: (1) watch nature documentaries narrated by David Attenborough or (2) become an Earth investigator (geologist) myself. I choose both!
From studying tsunami deposits in the southern part of Thailand to evaluating hydrocarbon fields and assessing geologic risks in the Gulf of Thailand, I am now an aspired paleoceanographer/organic geochemist at Zhang Lab, Department of Oceanography, TAMU. Since Fall 2018, I have become a lipid biomarker enthusiast—especially glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers or GDGTs—and a self-taught Pythonista who uses statistical approaches to tackle some not-well-understood aspects of the TEX86 paleotemperature proxy and the ecology and evolution of marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA).
I am proud to be a Fulbright Thai Graduate Grantee, a Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellow, and a finisher of couples of ultra-distance (50–160km) running events.
Selected Publications
Judd, E. J., Tierney, J. E., Huber, B. T., Wing, S. L., Lunt, D. J., Ford, H. L., Inglis, G. N., McClymont, E. L., O’Brien, C. L., Rattanasriampaipong, R., Si, W., Staitis, M. L., Thirumalai, K., Anagnostou, E., Cramwinckel, M. J., Dawson, R. R., Evans, D., Gray, W. R., Grossman, E. L., Henehan, M. J., Hupp, B. N., MacLeod, K. G., O'Connor, L. K., Sánchez-Montes, M. L., Song, H., Zhang, Y. G. (2022). The PhanSST global database of Phanerozoic sea surface temperature proxy data. Sci. Data, 9(753). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01826-0
Rattanasriampaipong, R., Zhang, Y. G., Pearson, A., Hedlund, B., and Zhang, S. (2022) Archaeal lipids trace ecology and evolution of marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 119(31), e2123193119.
Rattanasriampaipong, R. (2016). Potential Sources of Mercury in Southern Pattani Basin, the Gulf of Thailand. Bulletin of Earth Sciences of Thailand. 8(2), 133–144.
Education
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE STATION, TX, USA
Ph.D. Oceanography | July 2018–present
CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY, BANGKOK, THAILAND
M.Sc. Petroleum Geosciences (International Program) | July 2015–June 2016
B.Sc. Geology | July 2009–May 2013
Awards
Research Grants and Fellowships
Texas Sea Grant’s Grants-In-Aid of Graduate Research Program, Texas Sea Grant, 2022–2024
Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowship, US Science Support Program associated with the International Ocean Discovery Program (USSSP-IODP), 2021–2022
Academic Fellowships and Scholarships
College of Geosciences Fellowship*, College of Geosciences, TAMU, 2022–2023
*Merit-based Graduate Fellowship from College of Geosciences, TAMU, that acknowledges excellence in academic performance
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth P. Pipes Endowed Fellowship, 2022–2023
Oceanography Graduate Scholarship**, Department of Oceanography, TAMU, 2018–2023
**Merit-based Graduate Scholarship from the Department of Oceanography, TAMU, that acknowledges excellence in academic performance
Susanne Leininger '77 and Steve Leininger Scholarship, 2022–2023
Donald & Melba Ross Graduate Scholarship, 2021–2022
Donald & Melba Ross Graduate Scholarship, 2020–2021
James Sharp Graduate Scholarship, 2019–2020
Donald & Melba Ross Graduate Scholarship, 2018–2019
Fulbright Thai Graduate Scholarship, Foreign Fulbright Student Program, 2018–2020
Chevron Thailand Graduate Scholarship, Chevron Thailand, 2015–2016
Chevron Undergraduate Scholarship, Chevron Thailand, 2012–2013
Mitsui Oil Exploration Company (MOECO) Undergraduate Scholarship, 2011–2013
Travel Grants
Fall Meeting Student Travel Grant, American Geophysical Union (AGU), 12/2022
Oceanography Graduate Council (OGC) mini-grant, TAMU Oceanography, 12/2021
OGC mini-grant, TAMU Oceanography, 12/2019
Research and Presentation Award, Graduate and Professional School (GPS), TAMU, 12/2019
Honors and Awards
A representative of 2018 Fulbright Thai Grantees to give an acceptance speech at the Award Recognition Ceremony, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, June 6th, 2018
Champion of The Hitachi Trophy 2013 Senior Project Competition, April 2013
Links
Research Group: https://chemclimatology.wordpress.com/
Personal Webpage: https://ronnygeologist.wixsite.com/ronnygeologist
Full CV: https://tinyurl.com/4wwabnfr
Additional Information
Advisor: Dr. Yige Zhang
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE STATION, TX, USA
Graduate Assistant Lecturer | Department of Oceanography, TAMU
Teaching semesters (total students = 201): Spring 2021 (116), Summer 2021 (37), Summer 2022 (48)
- Oceanography (OCNG 251): Teaching an asynchronous online Introduction to Oceanography class for non-oceanography major undergraduate students (Link to class recordings)
- Served as an instructor of record responsible for planning class curriculum, providing feedback, and grading assignments and exams
Research Staff | R/V Trident Research Cruise, Galveston Bay, Texas, November 3rd, 2018
Chief Scientist: Dr. Jessica Fitzsimmons, Co-Chief Scientist: Garrett Walsh
- Collected seawater samples with Niskin bottles in Galveston Bay
- Measured seawater properties (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) using handheld CTD
- Observed other oceanographic sampling operations: seafloor grab sampling, water turbity using Secchi disk, seawater pumping for biological and trace metal analyses
CHEVRON THAILAND EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION LIMITED, BANGKOK, THAILAND
Development Geologist, Satun-Funan Asset Team, August 2016–June 2018
Horizons Earth Scientist, Accelerated Earth Scientist Orientation Program, June 2013–July 2015
- Identify hydrocarbon potentials and conduct detailed geological assessments within the extensional basin (mainly fluvio-deltaic depositional environments) based only multiple data sets including wireline logs, 3D seismic, and historical production data
- Manipulate geological data from over 5,000 drilled wells and establish meaningful data visualizations – such as detailed pore pressure analysis and geo-statistical reserves booking
- Integrate cross-disciplinary data including geological, petroleum engineering, and drilling engineering data to optimize hydrocarbon exploration and production
- Re-evaluate and discriminate regional pore pressure and temperature regime to enhance the accuracy of predrilled reserves prediction for all undeveloped projects in the Gulf of Thailand
- Developed a new method for reservoir pressure evaluation using wireline logging and gas show
Student Intern, Reservoir Management Team, two consecutive summers, April–May 2012/13
- Well logging interpretation (triple combo suites) and stratigraphic correlation (mainly fluvio-deltaic depositional environments)
- Pore pressure profile prediction and oil and gas reserves estimation for YUWA platform
- Re-targeting geological targets for nine future platforms in Dara geologic trend
FIELD/CRUISE EXPERIENCE
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE STATION, TX, USA
Research Staff | R/V Trident Research Cruise, Galveston Bay, Texas, November 3rd, 2018
Chief Scientist: Dr. Jessica Fitzsimmons, Co-Chief Scientist: Garrett Walsh
- Collected seawater samples with Niskin bottles in Galveston Bay
- Measured seawater properties (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) using handheld CTD
- Observed other oceanographic sampling operations: seafloor grab sampling, water turbity using Secchi disk, seawater pumping for biological and trace metal analyses
CHEVRON THAILAND EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION LIMITED, BANGKOK, THAILAND
Shore-based Operational Geologist | Chevron Thailand Headquarter, Bangkok, Thailand
- Project(s) Duration: 6 months, July–December 2017
- 2 infill projects in Jakrawan Gas Field: 20 wells drilled with 90% accuracy between pre-drill and post-drill hydrocarbon reserves estimations
- Conducted real-time stratigraphic correlation (wireline triple combo) and re-evaluated pore pressure profile during drilling operations
- Evaluated economic justifications on a well-by-well basis to optimize project costs and maximize hydrocarbon resources
Wellsite Geologist Trainee | T-11 Tender Rig, Gulf of Thailand, November 2nd–13th, 2014
- Observed and learned real-time drilling operations at Moragot E platform, Moragot gas field, the Gulf of Thailand
Key learning activities: Formation pressure acquisition (HSFT-II tool), Formation Integrity Test (FIT), Rig-floor operations
