Sarah Marshall

Postdoctoral Fellow in Hydrogeology

Understanding the height of groundwater in the subsurface, known as the water table, is beneficial for many applications. However, it is often based on limited measurements at groundwater wells, which are expensive to drill and only cover a minor extent of an aquifer.

I am a hydrogeologist and groundwater modeller who is passionate about improving the way geoscientific models are used for decision-making. Currently, I am researching innovative approaches to water table mapping. This includes developing geostatistical methods for integrating hydrogeological, geophysical, remote sensing and other diverse datasets. Quantifying the uncertainty and worth of various data is an important consideration.

My background includes experience working as a hydrogeologist for Geoscience Australia and completing a PhD with Flinders University, in collaboration with Rio Tinto and the United States Geological Survey. I have a broad range of technical interests including analytical and numerical modelling, inverse model approaches, subsurface system conceptualisation, and geostatistics.

Technical skills

  • Hydrogeological system conceptualisation
  • Analytical and numerical groundwater modelling
  • Inverse modelling and geostatistics

Professional experience

August 2021 – Present
Postdoctoral Fellow: CSIRO Deep Earth Imaging Future Science Platform

March 2017 – February 2021
PhD Candidate, National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, Flinders University, Adelaide

January 2011 – March 2017
Hydrogeologist/Hydrochemist, Geoscience Australia, Canberra

Education

Ph.D Hydrogeology
Flinders University (2021)

Graduate Diploma in Environmental and Resource Economics
Australian National University (2016)

Graduate Certificate in Groundwater Hydrology
Flinders University (2015)

Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours)
University of Adelaide (2010)

Selected publications

Marshall, S. K., P. G. Cook, L. F. Konikow, C. T. Simmons, S. Dogramaci, 2020. Conjoint use of hydraulic head and groundwater age data to detect hydrogeologic barriers. Hydrogeology Journal 28(3): 1003–1019

Marshall, S. K., P. G. Cook, A. D. Miller, C. T. Simmons, S. Dogramaci, 2019. The effect of undetected barriers on groundwater drawdown and recovery. Groundwater 57(5): 718–726