
Daniel Lehrmann, Ph.D.
- Gertrude and Walter Pyron Professor of Geosciences , Geosciences
Daniel Lehrmann is the Gertrude and Walter Pyron Professor in the Geosciences Department at Trinity University, where he teaches courses in paleontology and sedimentary geology. He is originally from Wisconsin where he received his bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and his master's degree in geology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas.
His research focuses on the factors controlling the evolution of marine sedimentary basins, the evolution of carbonate platforms and tropical reefs, changes in Earth’s chemical and biological systems, diagenetic alteration of carbonate sediments, and major events in the history of life such as the end-Permian mass extinction.
Techniques employed include field work, satellite image analysis, GIS, petrography including fluid inclusion geothermometry, CL and point counting, geochemistry, biostratigraphy, paleoecology, database assembly, forward stratigraphic modeling, and statistical analysis.
Much of this research has focused on the factors controlling basin and carbonate platform evolution in the Nanpanjiang Basin of south China, but has also included studies of additional basins in north China and in sedimentary systems from numerous localities around the world such as Indonesia, Japan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Recent studies in central and western Texas include sedimentologic and geochemical studies of microbial carbonate reefs in the Cambrian Wilberns Formation, analysis of the geochemistry and sedimentology of Dinosaur Track sites in the Lower Cretaceous Glen Rose Formation, and sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Eagle Ford Formation.
Through research collaborations Lehrmann has co-advised graduate students at Rice University, Stanford University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Lehrmann’s research program has been continuously funded by external grants for more than 25 years. These grants totaling more than $2 million have been awarded by the National Science Foundation, The Petroleum Research Fund of the America Chemical Society, The Fulbright Program, and several oil companies.
Prior to Joining Trinity in 2010, Lehrmann held an endowed professorship in international relations at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He has received the Erasmus Haworth Distinguished Alumni Honors in Geology Award from the University of Kansas. He has won a SEPM best paper award, honorable mention for best paper in Palaios, and has presented as distinguished lecturer at UT Austin.
Lehrmann is associate editor for the Journal of Sedimentary Research and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin. He is actively involved with local geological organizations such as the Southwest Research Institute, Edward Aquifer Authority, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Witte Museum, South Texas Geological Society, and the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists. He regularly involves students in participation in geologic activities such the South Central section meeting of the Geological Society of America and the Texas Hydro-geo Workshop. In 2017 he served as the field trip chair, chaired a technical session, and led a field trip for the South Central Section meeting of the Geological Society of America Meeting in San Antonio. He serves on the EAST executive committee and actively supports AAPI diversity initiatives. Lehrmann provides geologic support for Geo-Parks and UNESCO World Heritage sites in China. He frequently hosts Chinese professionals and students on research visits to the US.