Claudio Berti was named director and state geologist at the Idaho Geological Survey (IGS), according to a University of Idaho news release.
Berti will serve as chief operating officer of IGS, a state agency which collects data on geology, minerals, energy, hazards, land resources and water resources to share with Idaho citizens, the news release stated. He will work with the IGS advisory board to direct the survey, manage day-to-day operations and continue relationships with relevant departments at UI and other institutions.
Berti reports to UI through the Office of Research and Economic Development. ORED announced Berti’s new position to UI.
“I’m very excited at the opportunity to lead the agency as director,” Berti said in the news release. “Idaho’s economy is tied to its resources in many ways, and it’s important that we serve this state and its citizens in the best way we can. I look forward to building new relationships and collaboration with stakeholders.”
The news release said Berti began working at IGS in January 2019 as the digital mapping and geographic information systems lab manager. His job was to translate data collected from field geologists into maps freely available to the public.
Berti began his career in Italy where he served as survey geologist for the Italian Geological Survey, University of Chieti adjunct professor and consulting geologist with the Italian National Highway Agency, according to the release.
He came to the U.S. in 2009 as a postdoctoral student and adjunct professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He became a professor of practice, director of field operations and director of the field camp program for students at Lehigh. After seven years there, he spent two years as an assistant professor at the University of Delaware.
UI associate vice president for research Bradley Ritts shared his excitement about Berti’s promotion in the news release.
“We are delighted that our international search revealed such a strong candidate within the Idaho Geological Survey,” Ritts said. “Claudio (Berti) made an immediate impact in his short time at the IGS, and I have complete confidence in his ability to lead the organization in its continued strong service to the state.”
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]