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ERICH VICTOR ZORN, PhD, PG
616 Moreland Drive  Pittsburgh, PA 15243  (412) 860-5297  erich.zorn@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erichzorn
PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST & GEOPHYSICIST
Geoscientist recognized for providing technically superior solutions to multifaceted geological challenges, leading complicated
investigations, completing comprehensive fieldwork and analysis, and managing geological operations with integrity and
respect for all levels of multidisciplinary teams, clients, and corporate management. Professional Geologist that thrives in high
energy, fast-paced, demanding environments, with seasoned ability to plan and implement multiple priority projects
concurrently. Known for cultivating positive and productive teamwork environments, for the ability to communicate
exceptionally with all levels of personnel and upper management, and for creating dynamic reports that are easily
comprehended and implemented. Passionate about defense and national security, energy technologies, and infrastructure
applications of the geoscience engineering disciplines, and the possibilities that exist to protect and serve our society through
applied geotechnical skill sets, a comprehensive education, and the resolve and fortitude to make a positive lasting difference.
Core Competencies:
 Technical Writing & Reporting
 Geological Team Management
 Field Investigation Management
 Spreadsheet Modeling
 Data Mining
 Environmental Assessment
 Subsurface Characterization
 Geotechnical Investigation
 Rock and Soil Coring and Sampling
 Geotechnical Data Analysis
 Geological Mapping
 Construction Monitoring
 Slope Instrumentation
 GIS Analysis
 Well Log Interpretation
and Correlation
 MATLAB Modeling and
Programming
 Geophysical Principles
 Seismology Principles
 Anisotropy Modeling
 Passive Seismic Monitoring
 Microseismic Analysis
 Hydraulic Fracturing
 Rock Properties
 Emergency Preparedness
 Workplace Health and
Jobsite Safety
EXPERIENCE PROFILE
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
National Energy Technology Laboratory, US Department of Energy 2015 - Present
Engaged in projects concerning national energy security and unconventional resource development for the US
Department of Energy and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. Appointment began as a professional internship
and advanced into post-doctoral research position, designed to expand on thesis and PhD work.
 Integrating microseismic data collected during hydraulic fracturing of unconventional shale resources with well logs and
rock properties, resulting in the comprehension of geomechanical drivers of the microseismic response and the
establishment of predictive and critically useful relationships.
 Analyzing passive broadband surface seismic data acquired during hydraulic fracturing for evidence of “long period/long
duration” seismicity, which is undetected by conventional monitoring and could be linked to greater stimulated reservoir
volume. Results in process of publication.
Professional Geoscience Graduate Intern
Chevron Energy Technology Company Summer 2015
Successfully acquired the knowledge and skill sets necessary to support a summer project entitled “Well log-based
forward modeling of fracture-related anisotropy in an unconventional shale reservoir.”
 Developed a MATLAB workflow that elegantly and faithfully modeled the seismic Azimuthal AVO response to
orthorhombic rock anisotropy associated with oriented fractures and layered media, resulting in the implementation of
the program into priority internal company workflows.
Software Proficiencies
Petrel (Schlumberger)
Kingdom Suite – SMT (IHS)
RokDoc (Ikon)
Hampson Russell ProAZ (CGG)
Jason Geoscience Workbench (CGG)
Seismic Processing Workshop (Parallel)
Meyer MView (Baker Hughes)
RockPro (Chevron)
AASPI (University of Oklahoma)
MATLAB (Mathworks)
ArcGis (ESRI)
Spotfire (TIBCO)
JMP Pro – Statistical Discovery (SAS)
AutoCAD and Microstation
Word, Excel, PowerPoint

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 Evaluated an alternative commercial product by learning the software, testing its functionality and adherence to
accepted theory, contrasting results to MATLAB outputs, and documenting results in well-designed presentations. A few
deficiencies were uncovered in the commercial product that the personally designed MATLAB program handled with full
transparency.
Professional Geoscience Graduate Intern
Chevron Energy Technology Company Summer 2014
Comprehensively tested prospective software programs designed to enhance internal seismic processing and
interpretation offerings in support of a summer project entitled “Seismic-based inverse modeling of fracture-related anisotropy
in carbonate reservoir.”
 Self-taught workings of Linux computing architecture in short order to implement primary assignments.
 Comprehensively studied and contrasted seismic attribute results of commercially available software with results from
lesser known software alternative; presented advisory report that resulted in Chevron’s commitment to superior attribute
calculator.
 Chevron made financially impactful decisions regarding software purchases based upon this summer project.
Project Geologist/Field Team Leader
Rizzo Associates 2008-2012
Managed field operations, geological research and reporting, mapping and hazard assessment. Served as senior lead
geologist mentoring junior level geologists. Excelled at core logging, site reconnaissance, site research and geotechnical
reporting.
 High Profile Projects: Braka Nuclear Power Plant Project in United Arab Emirates, Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant
Geological Mapping and Seismic Hazard Project in Turkey, KCB2 Nuclear Power Plant Geotechnical Investigation in
Netherlands, Slovenia Fault Study, Callaway Missouri Nuclear Power Plant Seismic Hazard Analysis Liquefaction Survey.
 Highlighted Achievements: Directed major civil engineering/infrastructure and energy projects in both domestic and
international settings, with many career highlights including:
 Led geotechnical investigation of Braka Nuclear Power units in United Arab Emirates, achieving all end goals and
exceeding expectations in primitive conditions within a foreign military compound.
 Developed approved plan to remediate a flowing-borehole condition within the Braka nuclear reactor foundation
footprint. Coordinated all drilling contractor activities and movements in this highly sensitive space, including borehole
cleanout, grout mixing to engineering specification, and placement via tremie method. Successful in correcting this
problem and preventing an adverse future condition.
 Completed physically and intellectually challenging geological re-mapping project in southern Turkey within a 5km
radius of a high profile proposed nuclear power plant site, presenting final report to Turkish authorities.
 Conducted highly specialized seismic hazard analysis to assist US Geological Survey soil liquefaction expert in
investigation of 25km radius of Callaway Nuclear Power Plant in Missouri for evidence of recent earthquake activity
resulting in soil instability.
 Professional Development: Professional Geologist License for Commonwealth of PA (2010).
Engineering Geologist/Field Geologist
URS Corporation 2005-2008
Directed field operations and office investigations related to civil infrastructure projects. Excelled at production of
geotechnical reports and calculations, soil and rock core logging and sampling, and geological mapping. Led operations related
to construction monitoring for railroads and bridges, extensive slope stability analysis, landslide delineation, karst delineation,
landfill and contamination delineation, geological mapping, environmental monitoring during directional drilling in protected
areas, rock core logging in protected areas, rock core logging in challenging geological settings, slope stability instrumentation
monitoring, and post-catastrophe landslide remediation.
 Notable Clients: Norfolk Southern Corporation, CSX Railroad, Equitable Gas, DuPont, Allegheny Technologies, US Army
Corp of Engineers, PennDOT, PA Turnpike Commission, Florida Power, Chevron Pipeline Company, Air Products, Ashland
Oil, BP, Shell, PA Department of Environmental Protection.
 Key Projects: Norfolk Southern Keystone Buildout, DuPont Landfill Investigation, Post-Katrina New Orleans Levee
Rehab and Geotechnical Investigation, McIntosh Power Plant Micro-Pile Installation, Chevron Pipeline Co. Environmental
Monitoring, Mon-Fayette Expressway Geotechnical Supervision, Forward Township, PA Fly Ash Landslide Investigation
and Remediation.

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 Professional Development: OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER Certification, Foundation Engineering and Soil Mechanics
(Point Park Engineering Classes), and PennDOT Level 1 Drilling Inspector Certification.
Field Technician
US Filter Operating Services 2002-2003
Accountable for environmental air and water sampling, remediation, water treatment facility and pump station
operation, and comprehensive field services for industrial facilities and municipal authorities.
 Gained invaluable perspective on the value of team collaboration, personal responsibility, authentic humility, and
professional confidence.
 Developed a lifelong commitment to workplace safety, and adherence to job site regulations and best practices, after
being an eyewitness to a tragic job site accident occurring to a senior coworker who had developed complacency for
personal safety. This incident was the catalyst for becoming a passionate advocate for risk assessment, utilization of
safety equipment, cooperative teamwork, and personal assertiveness and responsibility in the workplace.
EDUCATION PROFILE
Doctor of Philosophy, Geoscience, 4.0 GPA
University of Pittsburgh 2012-2016
Professional Development, Geotechnical Engineering
Point Park University & University of Wisconsin 2005-2006
Master of Science, Structural Geology, 3.98 GPA
University of Pittsburgh 2003-2005
Bachelor of Science, Geology, 3.56 GPA
University of Pittsburgh 1998-2002
Relevant Coursework
Exploration and Environmental Geophysics
Geophysical Wireline Logging
GIS and Remote Sensing
Environmental and Isotope Geochemistry
Groundwater Geology
Foundation Design
Foundation Engineering
Soil Mechanics
Continuum Mechanics of Materials
Hydraulic Fracturing Mechanics & Application
Professional Affiliations
Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)
Geophysical Society of Pittsburgh (GSP)
Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
Geological Society of America (GSA)
Highway Geology Symposium (HGS)
PA Council of Professional Geologists (PCPG)
Licenses & Certifications
 First Aid/CPR/AED (2016)
 Professional Geologist License, Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, License No. PG004936 (2010)
 40-Hour HAZWOPER Certification (2006)
 Certified Level 1 Drilling Inspector, PennDOT (2006)
Awards & Honors
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) - PhD Internship (2015-2016)
University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, Center for Energy - R.K. Mellon PhD Fellowship (2013-2015)
U.S. Department of Energy, NETL Regional University Alliance - PhD Scholarship (2012-2013)
Henry Leighton Memorial Scholarship (2004)
University of Pittsburgh - Magna Cum Laude (2002)
Boy Scouts of America - Eagle Scout (1998)
PhD Dissertation
Integrated Analysis and Interpretation of Microseismic Monitoring of Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale
MS Thesis
Meso and Micro-scale Analysis of Foliated Rocks of the Southern Coast Belt: A Transect from Whistler to Lillooet, British Columbia

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PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Zorn, E.V., Harbert, W., Hammack, R., Kumar, A. (2016). “Geomechanical Lithology-Based Analysis of Microseismicity in
Organic Shale Sequences: A Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Example”, The Leading Edge (In Review).
Kumar, A., Zorn, E.V., Hammack, R., Harbert, W. (2016). “Long period, long duration (LPLD) seismicity observed during
hydraulic fracturing of the Marcellus Shale in Greene County, Pennsylvania”, The Leading Edge (In Review).
Kumar, A., Zorn, E.V., Hammack, R., Harbert, W. (2016). “Surface Seismic Monitoring of Hydraulic Fracturing Activity in
Pennsylvania and West Virginia”, URTeC: 2435574.
Zorn, E.V. (2016). “Integrated Analysis and Interpretation of Microseismic Monitoring of Hydraulic Fracturing in the
Marcellus Shale”, Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, USA, PhD Thesis.
Zorn, E.V., Hammack, R., Harbert, W. (2014). “Time Dependent b and D-values, Scalar Hydraulic Diffusivity, and
Seismic Energy from Microseismic Analysis in the Marcellus Shale: Connection to Pumping Behavior During
Hydraulic Fracturing”, SPE-168647-MS, Society of Petroleum Engineers - Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference, The
Woodlands, Texas, USA, 4-6 February 2014.
Zorn, E.V., Hammack, R., Harbert, W., Capo, R., Sharma, S., Siriwardane, H. (2013). “An Evaluation of Zonal Isolation After
Hydraulic Fracturing; Results From Horizontal Marcellus Shale Gas Wells at NETL’s Greene County Test Site in
Southwestern PA”, SPE 13ERM-P-65, Society of Petroleum Engineers - Eastern Regional Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA,
20–22 August 2013.
Zorn, E.V., Kutschke, W.G., Petersen, W.K, Meyers, J.R. (2007). “Rock Cut Slope Instrumentation within Variable and
Potentially Unstable Sedimentary Rock Strata”, Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Field Measurements,
Geotechnical Special Publication No. 175, ASCE, Reston, VA.
Zorn, E.V., Kutschke, W.G., Petersen, W.K., and Meyers, J.R. (2007). “Geotechnical Challenges Posed by Weak Claystone
in Deep Cuts”, Proceedings of the 58th Highway Geology Symposium, Pocono Manor, PA.
Zorn, E.V. (2005). “Meso and Micro-scale Analysis of Foliated Rocks of the Southern Coast Belt: A Transect from
Whistler to Lillooet, British Columbia”, Department of Geology and Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, USA, M.S.
Thesis.
Zorn, E.V., Anderson, T.H., Campbell, P.A. (2005). “Distinct Zones of Ductile Deformation Between Whistler and Lillooet,
BC”, Joint Meeting Pacific Section, AAPG & Cordilleran Section GSA April 29–May 1, 2005, San José, California.