Mike Kaplan

Mike Kaplan serves as a Lamont Research Professor at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), where he has maintained his primary academic appointment since 2006. His work bridges multiple earth science disciplines with a focus on polar and climate systems.

Education

• B.A. summa cum laude, SUNY Buffalo (1992)
• M.Sc., University of Maine-Orono
• Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder

Research Profile: Dr. Kaplan's investigations span Geochemistry, Paleoclimate, and Glaciology with specialized expertise in Cryosphere dynamics and Polar Studies. His fieldwork integrates Low Temperature Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry to reconstruct environmental changes through geological time, particularly examining Glacial-Interglacial transitions using Geomorphological evidence. Current research emphasizes Anthropocene impacts on Environmental Geology systems.

Professional Recognition

• Royal Society of London Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Edinburgh
• Elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America (2019)

Career Trajectory: Following his Ph.D., Kaplan served as a Research Associate at University of Colorado-Boulder before completing sequential postdoctoral appointments at University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Edinburgh, and LDEO. His continuous faculty appointment at LDEO since 2006 demonstrates sustained research leadership in Earth sciences.