The motivation behind Suckale’s research is to create knowledge that reduces the risks associated with natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, induced earthquakes, tsunamis and ice-sheet collapse. She develops original computational methods for simulating the multiphase nonlinearities that underly abrupt change in many Earth systems. Prior to joining graduate school at MIT and the Harvard Kennedy School, Suckale worked as a scientific consultant for different international organizations aiming to reduce the impact of natural and environmental disasters in vulnerable communities.