Redefining the Field: How LSU Professor Eirini Poulaki is Opening Doors for Women in Science

Through her research and commitment to mentoring students, LSU College of Science assistant professor and geoscientist Eirini Poulaki is expanding knowledge of the natural world while inspiring the next generation of women and girls in science.

For International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Poulaki reflects on what first drew her to the field and how her work is shaping future scientists. 

What first sparked your interest in science and geology? 

I grew up in Greece, which has fascinating geology with earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountains next to the ocean, among other geologic phenomena that intrigued me. I did not know that I could study all these complex systems, but I was curious and wanted to understand them. A huge moment that solidified my love for geology was during my undergraduate thesis, when I studied Andros Island, an island in the northern Cyclades that my family is from. The blue and green folded rocks and complicated geology were both inspiring and challenging to try and understand how these rocks were formed.  Studying the geology of a landscape from where my family came from gave science a more concrete meaning. 

Did growing up in Greece influence your curiosity about Earth sciences and the natural world? 

Absolutely! I was not a great student in middle and high school, and my grades were average. However, I was very curious about the processes that took place around me. Little did I know that understanding earthquakes and deformation requires physics; understanding volcanic eruptions and magma composition requires chemistry; and understanding geochronology and the age of the Earth requires math, all of which I hated in high school, but later came to appreciate as essential tools for answering the questions that initially sparked my curiosity.  

“ Fieldwork, research, and leadership in geoscience are not defined by gender, but by curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to ask questions about the natural world. ”

Who were your role models or mentors early in your academic path — especially other women in science?  

A turning point for me was when I began working with Dr. Konstantinos Soukis from the University of Athens, my Alma Mater. He encouraged me to conduct my undergraduate thesis research on Andros Island, and this experience gave me even greater motivation to pursue science. Having a teacher, but above all, a mentor who believed in me and guided me gave me the confidence and motivation to continue my research and to begin my graduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Since I moved to the US, I have been surrounded by inspirational women scientists who have served as role models to help me on my journey. For example, I recently conducted geologic fieldwork on a National Science Foundation-funded grant with an all-female team of professors, postdocs, and graduate students.  

What upcoming projects or expeditions are you most excited about?

I am currently the Lead-PI of a large collaborative NSF grant to investigate the conditions of  slow earthquakes in the rock record. Last summer, we spent a month in the Cyclades, Greece, collecting samples and making structural and petrographic observations. The next key site to investigate these processes is the Franciscan Complex in western California, where we will do fieldwork later this year. This NSF project involves three U.S. institutions (LSU, Fort Lewis College, and the University of Washington), as well as collaborators from Greece and the US. We also have an outstanding team of students and a postdoc conducting research on these rocks. It is one of the most fun and collaborative projects I have been involved in, and I am excited to see the findings that will come out of this work.  

Can you explain in simple terms what your research on Earth’s crust and mantle aims to uncover? 

My group’s research is centered around understanding the metamorphic and structural behavior of the Earth’s lithosphere. Specifically, we are interested in (1) the nature of deformation and fluid-rock interactions along subduction zone plate boundaries, which has implications for understanding modern tectonic processes including earthquakes; and (2) constraining fluid pathways and reactions during mantle exhumation, which controls  chemical properties and deformation in oceanic lithosphere and has implications for deep-sea hydrothermal circulation, the biosphere, and carbon and hydrogen cycles.  

What challenges have you faced as a young faculty member, and how did you overcome them?  

Managing work-life balance has been one of the most significant challenges I have faced as a young faculty member. Developing and teaching new courses, mentoring students, and setting up and running a research lab are all time-intensive responsibilities, and early on it often felt as though there was no clear boundary between work and personal life. Prioritizing tasks, setting realistic expectations for myself, and recognizing that not everything needs to be done at once or perfectly. Equally important was learning to protect time outside of work, which I think is helping me stay energized and effective as a teacher, mentor, and researcher. 

What advice would you give to girls interested in STEM fields, especially geology?  

Unfortunately, there are still stereotypes about what women can or cannot do. Science needs diverse minds, and women are no less capable of succeeding and excelling than men. In geology, especially, we move forward in understanding the Earth through curiosity, asking questions, and noticing patterns. My advice is to be curious, observe the world around you, and let that curiosity guide you. Take different classes, go out in nature, and ask why and how, from the rocks under your feet to the Mississippi River, curving through Louisiana. Skills can be learned, but curiosity and motivation are cultivated. 

How do you hope your career will inspire the next generation of geoscientists, especially young women?  

Throughout my career, I have encountered skepticism about whether I would be able to work in the field as a structural geologist. When I was applying for graduate programs and asking male professors for letters of recommendation, some told me that, as a woman, I could not work in the field. This reflects a persistent myth, that women cannot be field geologists. I am encouraged to see that gender statistics in geology and many STEM fields have been changing in recent years, but these assumptions still surface in subtle and overt ways. I hope my career and other women’s careers in the same field help challenge these outdated ideas by simply showing what is possible. Fieldwork, research, and leadership in geoscience are not defined by gender, but by curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to ask questions about the natural world. If young women see someone who looks like them doing fieldwork, leading research projects, and building a career in geoscience, I hope it makes the path feel more accessible.

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