Dr. David Foster is a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida with expertise in geology, geochemistry, geochronology, and geotectonics. He integrates data from a broad spectrum of field and laboratory methods to define the tectonic, magmatic, and thermal evolution of the Earth’s crust and Earth materials. This research uses insights gained from detailed analysis of ancient rocks and crustal structures across the globe to understand the modern dynamic systems of planet Earth. Foster has completed research field expeditions across the globe from the deserts of Australia and Africa, to rainforests of Papua New Guinea and Panama, and in the mountains of New Zealand and the Rockies. He has also designed and established three major analytical instrumentation labs for the analysis of isotopic ratios in rocks and minerals at universities in Australia and the USA.
Dr. Foster has held faculty and leadership positions at La Trobe University, Australia, the University of Melbourne, Australia and at the University of Florida where he served as Chair of the Department of Geological Sciences from 2013 to 2022. He currently directs the Tectonics research group and the Thermochronology research lab at UF. Dr. Foster’s research has been funded by numerous grants from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Geological Survey, Australian Research Council, and private industry. The results of his research are published in more than two hundred peer-reviewed papers in top-tier Earth science and general science journals and in over thirty books. He and his collaborators have presented more than 350 papers at national and international scientific conferences.
As an educator, Foster has mentored numerous Ph.D. students that are now in leadership positions in global exploration companies, faculty at major academic institutions, and researchers in government labs. His undergraduate courses focus on real world examples and the landscapes of National Parks to engage students of all backgrounds. He is the author of a successful book on the Geology of American National Parks that is used at universities across the country.
Dr. Foster has a Ph.D. in geology from Albany University, State University of New York, an MS degree in geology from the University of Montana, and completed his undergraduate work at State University of New York, Potsdam.
David Foster is an elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America and was awarded the Stillwell Medal from the Geological Society of Australia for his research accomplishments. His list of other awards includes: the Colonel Allan R. and Margaret G. Crow Term Professorship, Exemplary Advisor and Mentor with the National Science Foundation SE Alliance for Graduate Education, and the Research Foundation Professorship at the University of Florida, amongst many others.