Tim Conway

Tim Conway is an Associate Professor in the Chemical Oceanography department at the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science, where he leads research on trace metal biogeochemistry and isotope geochemistry. His work focuses on the role of micronutrients and toxins in marine biogeochemical cycles, utilizing advanced instrumentation like MC-ICPMS and HR-ICPMS to analyze trace metals across diverse marine environments including aerosols, sediments, and seawater. He actively contributes to the International GEOTRACES program and serves as Associate Editor for Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.

Dr. Conway earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in 2010. His research spans trace metal cycling of iron, zinc, nickel, cadmium, and copper, with emphasis on isotopic tracers to understand sources (e.g., sediments, aerosols, hydrothermal vents), transport mechanisms, and biological utilization. Key environments include polar oceans, continental shelves, and open-ocean transects, addressing critical questions about micronutrient supply to phytoplankton and implications for the global carbon cycle.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in trace metal isotopes within GEOTRACES frameworks, with growing focus on anthropogenic impacts and polar biogeochemistry. His work spans Pacific, Southern, and Atlantic Oceans, examining sedimentary sources, atmospheric deposition, and hydrothermal inputs. Recent studies increasingly integrate multi-element approaches and explore climate-relevant processes like iron limitation in high-nutrient regions.

Dr. Conway currently leads NSF-funded projects on trace metals in the North/South Pacific (GEOTRACES sections GP17-OCE, GP21, GP11), Amundsen Sea (GP17-ANT), and West Florida Shelf nutrient cycling. His group actively recruits graduate students and postdocs for collaborative research involving national and international partners.

• NSF-funded projects on North/South Pacific trace metals (GP17-OCE, GP21, GP11)
• Amundsen Sea biogeochemistry (GP17-ANT)
• West Florida Shelf nutrient dynamics

He directs the Marine Metal Isotope and Trace Element lab at USF, equipped with Thermo Neptune Plus MC-ICPMS and Element XR HR-ICPMS. The lab supports GEOTRACES intercalibration efforts and develops novel methods for trace metal isotope analysis, maintaining strong collaborations with global oceanographic institutions to advance understanding of marine elemental cycles.