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Geophysics · Machine Learning · Signal Processing

Daniel Wells

Ph.D. — Seismologist & AI/ML Researcher

Applying deep learning and probabilistic methods to problems in seismology, geosciences, and signal intelligence.

Seismology Deep Learning Signal Processing Bayesian Inference Physics-Informed NN GANs HPC
P S

Background

I work at the intersection of geophysics and machine learning, developing tools and models that bridge traditional scientific methods with modern AI. My background spans earthquake seismology, ambient noise tomography, RF signal intelligence, and rare earth element characterization.

I hold a Ph.D. in Geophysics from the University of Utah (4.0 GPA) and completed a Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellowship at the USGS National Earthquake Information Center before joining Idaho National Laboratory.

6+
Peer-Reviewed Publications
3
Patents
$1.1M+
Grants Awarded
10+
Conference Presentations

Selected Work

AI Framework

Chimera

Flexible framework for accessible, automatic application of AI and ML to scientific data. Features auto-encoders and dimensionality reduction wrappers for rapid deployment across diverse input types.

Python Autoencoders Dimensionality Reduction

RF Signal Intelligence

WiFIRE — Wireless Signal ML Pipeline

ML pipeline for portable detection, classification, and open-set recognition of unknown wireless signals. Uses GANs, CNNs, and transformer architectures deployed on field hardware.

GANs Transformers Open-Set Recognition GNU Radio

Seismology · Deep Learning

Deep Learning Seismic Phase Picking (NEIC)

ML-based pipeline for reliable global seismic P and S phase identification, built for integration into daily USGS NEIC operations. Extended existing architectures with improved training methods.

PyTorch Seismology USGS

Geoscience · ML

GREENR — Rare Earth Element Geometallurgy

Supervised ML for categorical monazite classification; addressing fundamental data scarcity challenges in rare earth element geoscience with global dataset curation.

scikit-learn Geochemistry Classification

Energy · Physics-Informed ML

Geological Hydrogen Production

Physics-informed neural networks to explore parameter space (temperature, grain size) for optimal subsurface serpentinization conditions, accelerating clean hydrogen production research.

PINNs Multiphysics Clean Energy

Cyber Security · Anomaly Detection

Deep Learning Network Anomaly Detection

Unsupervised and deep learning methods to identify anomalous network communication activity within INL infrastructure, targeting production deployment.

Anomaly Detection Unsupervised ML Cybersecurity

Research

2025

IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing

A Comparative Analysis of Feature Extraction and Distance Loss Functions for Unknown Waveform Detection in the Time-Frequency Domain

Wells, D., Quach, A., Rajapakshe, O., & Saha, D.

In Preparation
2025

IEEE ICC 2025

Contrasting Time-Frequency Representations for Unknown Waveform Detection

Wei, X., Saha, D., Wells, D., & Quach, A.

2025

Seismica

Evidence for interaction of Wasatch Fault segments at depth

Wells, D. E., Bartley, J., Pankow, K.L., & Baker, B.

In Preparation
2024

Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America

Wasatch Fault Structure from Machine Learning Arrival Times and High-Precision Earthquake Locations

Wells, D. E., Lomax, A., Baker, B., Niemz, P., Pankow, K.L., & Bartley, J.

↗ DOI: 10.1785/0120230247
2022

Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth

Combining dense seismic arrays and broadband data to image the subsurface velocity structure in geothermally active South-central Utah

Wells, D., Lin, F. C., Pankow, K., Baker, B., & Bartley, J.

↗ DOI: 10.1029/2022JB024070
2020

Seismological Research Letters

Responding to the 2020 Magna, Utah earthquake sequence during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown

Pankow, K. L., ... Wells, D., et al.

↗ DOI: 10.1785/0220200265

Experience & Education

Experience

Research Data Scientist

Idaho National Laboratory

2024 – Present

Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Geophysicist

U.S. Geological Survey, Golden CO

2023 – 2024

Graduate Research Assistant & Duty Seismologist

University of Utah

2018 – 2023

Graduate Geophysics Intern

Sandia National Laboratories

2020 – 2023

Grants & Funding

PI — NNSA (NA-241) · $130,000

Seismic Sensor Infrastructure at WIPP

2025

Co-I — INL LDRD · $688,000

GREENR — Rare Earth Element Geometallurgy

2024

Mendenhall Fellowship · ~$300,000

Machine Learning for Global Seismology

2023

Education

Ph.D. — Geophysics

University of Utah · 4.0 GPA

2018 – 2023

B.S. — Geophysics

Western Washington University · 3.81 GPA

2012 – 2016

Patents

US202250192904A1

Spectrum Monitoring and Analysis (WiFIRE)

US11251889B2

Wireless Signal Monitoring and Analysis (WiFIRE)

US12418349B2

Spectrum Monitoring and Analysis (WiFIRE)

Get in Touch

Open to research collaborations, consulting, and discussions at the intersection of geophysics and machine learning. Feel free to reach out.

📍 Pocatello, ID 83201