Bio

I am a low-temperature stable isotope geochemist who studies modern biogeochemical processes and cycles. I apply knowledge from the modern environment to address unresolved questions about major environmental and climatic perturbations in Earth’s history. I use the oxygen isotopic composition of phosphate (δ¹⁸O_p) and clumped isotopic composition (Δ₄₇) of sediment and biological hydroxyapatite to answer these questions. I primarily focus on the phosphorous cycle because it is an important limiting nutrient that regulates primary productivity.

I am associated with the Paleo3 Research Group.

Area(s) of Expertise

My research interests include:

1. Phosphorus sources, cycling, and coupling with the other nutrients carbon and nitrogen, and its implications on modern environmental processes
2. Refining the resolution of terrestrial paleotemperatures and hydrological patterns to better understand major climate perturbations in the geologic past
3. Eutrophication on a global scale: increased temperatures and role of phosphorus in initiating and sustaining Ocean Anoxic Events
4. Using the isotopic composition of biomineralized tissues to elucidate the evolution and underlying biochemical mechanisms of biomineralization