Bio
Kathleen (Kate) Smits is a professor in SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering, the Solomon Professor for Global Development, and a Fellow of the Maguire Energy Institute. Her work focuses on solving critical safety challenges associated with oil and gas infrastructure, with an emphasis on translating research into practical tools and strategies used by industry operators.
She is widely recognized for her research on gas migration from pipeline leaks, as well as leak detection and quantification across both laboratory and field settings. Her work directly supports improved risk assessment, operational decision-making, and the development of more effective monitoring and mitigation practices within the natural gas sector.
Smits has authored over 100 journal publications and 200 conference presentations spanning gas transport, subsurface energy storage, leak detection, and contaminant remediation. In addition to her academic work, she serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.