Greg Hirth is known for his pioneering work in tectonophysics, a branch of geophysics that examines the movement of the Earth’s crustal plates, the formation of mountains, earthquakes and other geological phenomena associated with the Earth’s tectonic activity. His research focuses on rock deformation, microstructures in natural rocks, structural geology and modeling. He has led research teams that have helped explain what triggers earthquakes that occur deep beneath the Earth’s surface and integrative analyses of processes that control the formation and deformation of lithospheric plates. 

In early 2024, Hirth was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, two of the highest honors that a scholar can receive. He has been recognized with the George P. Woollard Award from the Geological Society of America, among other honors. 

In addition to his academic achievements, Hirth has held leadership roles within the American Geophysical Union and served as chair of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences (DEEPS). 

Hirth earned his bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from Indiana University followed by master’s and doctoral degrees in geological sciences from Brown.