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Isabel P. MontañezView profile

Professor

• Paleoclimatology
• Geochemistry
• Sedimentary Geology
• +4 more

Isabel P. Montañez is a Distinguished Professor and Director of the Institute of the Environment at the University of California, Davis. She holds a Chancellor's Leadership Professorship in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences within the College of Letters and Science. Her research focuses on reconstructing past climates through geochemical and sedimentological analyses, with particular emphasis on understanding climate transitions and ecosystem responses during Earth's deep history. Education: B.A. in Geology from Bryn Mawr College (1981), Ph.D. in Geology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1989). She joined UC Davis in 1998 after serving as an assistant and associate professor at UC Riverside. Research Interests: Montañez specializes in paleoclimatology, geochemistry, and sedimentary geology. Her work integrates field studies, numerical modeling, and laboratory analyses to study climate change impacts, including CO2 feedback mechanisms, glacial-interglacial cycles, and ancient climate extremes. Notable contributions include studies on the Late Paleozoic Ice Age, Carboniferous tropical forests, and Pleistocene hydroclimate records in Sierra Nevada caves. Awards and Recognition: Montañez has received numerous accolades, including the Arthur L. Day Medal (GSA, 2023), election to the National Academy of Sciences (2021), and the UC Davis Prize for Teaching and Scholarly Achievement (2021). She is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, AGU, AAAS, and other prestigious organizations. Leadership and Advocacy: As former GSA President (2017–2018) and director of the John Muir Institute of the Environment, Montañez champions transdisciplinary climate research and environmental justice. She leads initiatives to bridge deep-time climate science with modern climate challenges, emphasizing global collaboration and policy impact. Labs and Teams: Her research group collaborates with international teams on projects funded by NSF, NASA, and international agencies. Key collaborators include institutions in China, Europe, and South America, focusing on integrated climate and geochemical datasets.

Marco CoolenView profile

Associate Professor

• Molecular Paleobiology
• Geomicrobiology
• Paleoecology
• +3 more

Associate Professor Marco Coolen is an academic at Curtin University, serving as Deputy Director of the WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre. He holds a joint affiliation with the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences. His research focuses on molecular palaeoecology and geomicrobiology, particularly using ancient DNA (sedaDNA) to study past ecosystem-climate interactions and microbial responses to environmental changes. Coolen has led projects funded by institutions like the US National Science Foundation (NSF), investigating topics such as monsoon-driven OMZ expansions in the Indian Ocean and microbial activities in subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs. Education and Professional Background: Coolen completed his PhD in Oldenburg and held postdoctoral roles at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and the University of Groningen. He later served as an Associate Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) before joining Curtin in 2015. His expertise spans microbial ecology, lipid biomarkers, and bioinformatics analysis of metagenomic datasets. Research Interests: Coolen’s work integrates cutting-edge molecular tools (e.g., metatranscriptomics) with traditional geochemical proxies to reconstruct ancient ecosystems. Key areas include microbial life in impact craters (e.g., Chicxulub), permafrost thaw dynamics, and the role of organic matter in the carbon cycle. His recent studies explore microbial communities in extreme environments like hydrothermal systems and granitoid rocks. Awards and Grants: He has received the WHOI Ocean Life Institute Fellowship (2008–2011) and the NWO-ALW VENI Award (2004). His collaborations include high-impact groups such as Prof. Kliti Grice’s team at Curtin and international projects like IODP-ICDP drilling of the Chicxulub crater. Lab and Teams: Coolen leads the WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, focusing on interdisciplinary research in geobiology and organic geochemistry. He co-advises PhD students and supervises postdoctoral researchers in projects involving ancient DNA analysis and microbial genomics.

• Hydrogeology
• Mine Drainage
• Groundwater Contamination
• +4 more

Roger Beckie is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC), part of the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on physical, geochemical, and biological processes in environmental systems, particularly in hydrogeology, mine drainage, and groundwater contamination. He holds a B.A.Sc. from the University of Waterloo and a Ph.D. from Princeton University, and is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.). Key research areas include fugitive gas migration from energy wells, mine waste rock geochemistry, and groundwater hydrology. His work addresses challenges such as acid rock drainage prediction, metal attenuation mechanisms, and the impacts of subsurface gas migration in petroleum development regions. He collaborates with industry and government to advance environmental management strategies and has contributed to large-scale field experiments, including controlled gas release studies in northeastern British Columbia. Beckie supervises graduate students in interdisciplinary projects, emphasizing field investigations and numerical modeling. He is affiliated with UBC's Institute of Applied Mathematics and teaches advanced courses in groundwater hydrology and contamination. His research integrates hydrological, geochemical, and isotopic tools to address complex environmental systems, with applications in mining, oil and gas, and groundwater sustainability.

• Hydrogen Energy Storage
• Negative Emissions Technologies
• Life Cycle Assessment
• +7 more

Hanna Breunig is a Research Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Deputy of the Sustainable Energy & Environmental Systems Department. She holds a secondary appointment in the Earth Systems and Society Domain within the Climate and Ecosystem Science Division. Her work focuses on validating emerging energy technologies through process design, techno-economic modeling, and market analysis. Education: PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley (2015), MSc (2011), and BSc from Cornell University (2010). Her research spans hydrogen storage , CO2 capture/utilization , brine management , and technoeconomic modeling for systems in data centers, hospitals, mines, aviation, and ports. She co-leads the DOE HyMARC consortium and the systems analysis team for the ARCHES California Hydrogen Hub. Recent publications highlight advancements in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for hydrogen storage, solar hydrogen production , and high-temperature thermal energy storage . She has received accolades like the 2023 Energy & Environmental Science Lectureship and 2014 Schmidt MacArthur Fellowship. Scientific Awards: 2023 Energy & Environmental Science Lectureship 2021 Early Scientific Career Award 2019 CEC Bioenergy Project Leadership 2017 LDRD Early Career Award 2014 Schmidt MacArthur Fellowship Hanna mentors graduate and undergraduate students and contributes to tools like the BioSiting v2 software for U.S. bioeconomy resource analysis.

Karen CasciottiView profile

Professor

• Nitrogen Cycle Biogeochemistry
• Stable Isotope Geochemistry
• Marine Microbiology
• +3 more

Karen Casciotti is a Professor in the Department of Oceans and Professor of Earth System Science at Stanford University, where she has held a faculty position since 2011. She serves as Senior Fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and as Victoria and Roger Sant Director of the Earth Systems Program. PhD in Geosciences from Princeton University (2002) MS in Geosciences (Princeton) and Oceanography (UCSD) B.S. in Environmental Engineering Science from Caltech Her research focuses on marine nitrogen cycle biogeochemistry, particularly nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide (N2O) cycling in ocean waters. She combines stable isotope geochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, and geochemical modeling across scales from benchtop to global ocean systems. Recent work demonstrates urea utilization by diverse deep-sea microorganisms and its role in chemoautotrophy. Key publications (2023-2025) examine N2O dynamics in tropical oceans, nitrate assimilation pathways, urea metabolism in dark ocean communities, and isotopocule analysis methodologies. Her team developed the pyisotopomer software package for nitrous oxide isotopocule analysis. John Hayes Award (2020) Terman Fellow (2011) NRC Postdoctoral Fellow (2002) Harold W. Dodds Fellowship (2001) She advises doctoral students in oceanography and earth system science while serving as Co-Chair of the GEOTRACES Scientific Steering Committee and former Associate Editor for Marine Chemistry . Her lab investigates microbial nitrogen cycling, seawater chemistry, and climate-relevant trace gas production.

Russell DetwilerView profile

Associate Professor

• Fluid Flow in Porous Media
• Subsurface Contaminant Transport
• CO2 Sequestration
• +4 more

Russell Detwiler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine. He holds a Ph.D. and B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado and University of Vermont, respectively. As Associate Director of the UCI WEX Center, his work combines laboratory experimentation with computational modeling to study subsurface fluid dynamics. Education: Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Colorado B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Vermont Research Focus: Detwiler's research examines fluid flow processes in porous and fractured media, with emphasis on multiphase flow, subsurface property alteration, and environmental applications. Key areas include contaminant remediation, CO2 sequestration, geothermal energy, and nuclear waste management. Publication Trends: His recent work (2022-2024) emphasizes subsurface PFAS behavior, coastal aquifer modeling, and fracture clogging dynamics. Earlier research (2019-2021) focused on mineral precipitation effects and kinetic modeling for contaminant removal. Common sub-fields span fracture sealing mechanisms, particle retention, and reactive transport modeling. Laboratory: Leads the Subsurface Processes Visualization Lab, developing parallel computational models to scale laboratory observations to field applications. Research integrates high-resolution imaging with numerical simulation for subsurface system analysis.

Matthew LeybourneView profile

Associate Professor

• Geochemistry
• Environmental geochemistry
• Earth and related environmental sciences
• +3 more

Matthew Leybourne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geological Science and Geological Engineering at Queen's University, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Science. He holds a cross-appointment at the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Institute. His research focuses on geochemical and isotopic investigations of ancient and modern rocks, particularly developing analytical methods for ultra-low trace element concentrations. He leads projects at the Queen’s Facility for Isotope Research, including low-level trace material determinations for astroparticle physics applications. Education: PhD (1998) in Earth Sciences from the University of Ottawa; M.Sc. (1988) in Geology from Acadia University; B.Sc. (1985) in Geology from the University of Waikato. Research interests include ore deposit geochemistry, environmental geochemistry, and quality assurance in analytical methods. Key projects involve fluid geochemistry of ore deposits, marine hydrothermal systems, and isotopic tracers for astrophysics. His work bridges geology and physics, addressing questions about Earth’s early evolution and宇宙起源. Advising includes postdoctoral fellows focused on geochemical analysis and mineral exploration. He collaborates with the McDonald Institute on interdisciplinary projects combining geology with astroparticle detection. Affiliations include the Journal of Tethys, Canadian Geosciences Education Network, and the Society of Economic Geologists.

Olaf SchmidtView profile

Professor

• Soil Science
• Agricultural Sustainability
• Stable Isotope Analysis
• +7 more

Olaf Schmidt is a Professor at the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin (UCD). His academic career includes roles such as Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor (2008–2017) and extends back to a Post-doctoral Research Assistant position (1999–2001). He holds a Ph.D. from UCD (2000), an M.Sc. in Soil Science from the University of Aberdeen (1993), and a Diplom-Agraringenieur from Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (1992). Research Focus: Schmidt specializes in soil ecology, earthworm biology, stable isotope analysis, and sustainable agriculture. His work addresses topics like soil restoration, invasive species impacts, food authentication, and ecosystem rehabilitation. He leads projects such as Edaphobase 2.0 and the Gunnera tinctoria invasion studies. His research integrates molecular techniques, isotopic tracing, and large-scale data synthesis. Awards & Recognition: Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society (2023) Honorary Member of the Association of Applied Biologists (2022) Fellow of the Institute of Soil Science (2023) Teaching & Outreach: Coordinates modules on soil science, environmental microbiology, and the circular bioeconomy. Engages in public lectures on topics like earthworm contributions to soil health. Collaborates internationally, including a visiting professorship at the University of Agriculture in Kraków (2022). Grants & Impact: Contributed to the SmartGrass project, enhancing sustainable agricultural practices through multispecies swards. His work on peat alternatives and mine tailings rehabilitation has practical implications for environmental management and policy. Labs & Collaborations: Active in the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative and Soil BON network. Edaphobase 2.0 exemplifies his data-driven approach to soil biodiversity research.

Cristian Román-PalaciosView profile

Assistant Professor

• Phylogenetics
• Biodiversity Drivers
• Paleoclimatic Reconstructions
• +7 more

Cristian Román-Palacios is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, where he also serves as Coordinator and Advisor for the Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) and Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) programs. He is a core faculty member in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Management, Analysis and Visualization, and Environmental, Health and Biological Sciences. Education: PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona (2020) BS in Biology, Universidad del Valle, Colombia (2015) His research lies at the intersection of phylogenetics, biodiversity modeling, and machine learning, focusing on large-scale biodiversity patterns, the impacts of climate change on species survival, and the development of statistical tools for paleoclimatic reconstructions. He employs computational and data-intensive methods to explore evolutionary and ecological questions across diverse taxa. His recent publications (2024–2025) demonstrate a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research, combining computational biology, geochemistry, climate science, and open-source software development. Key themes include biodiversity informatics (e.g., Animal Culture Database), paleoclimatic modeling (e.g., clumped isotope thermometry), reproducibility in science, and tools for collaborative research (e.g., LabOps, SSARP). His work increasingly integrates data science with biological and environmental applications. Scientific Contributions: Published over 25 peer-reviewed papers, many as first author Research featured in Science News, Popular Science, CNN, USA Today Developed open-source tools: phruta , treedata.table , SSARP , LabOps Cristian advises graduate students through the infosci-msadvise@arizona.edu email and Calendly appointments. He was previously a staff researcher at UCLA’s Tripati Lab. He leads initiatives such as the Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate Change and Health and promotes inclusive, collaborative science through online toolkits and leadership ecosystems aimed at addressing climate and social inequities. His lab, the Román-Palacios Lab, and involvement with the Data Diversity Lab reflect his commitment to open, reproducible, and equitable research practices in data-intensive biology.

Till J.J. HanebuthView profile

Professor

• Marine geosciences
• Coastal changes
• Climate and ocean
• +10 more

Till J.J. Hanebuth is a Professor in the Department of Marine Science at Coastal Carolina University's Gupta College of Science. He leads the Coastal Geosystems Research Lab and is actively involved in numerous research projects focusing on coastal and marine geoscience. His work spans both fundamental research on sea level variability, river deltas, and continental shelf processes, as well as applied research addressing silting, erosion, and contamination issues. His educational background includes: Habilitation in Marine Geosciences from University of Bremen, Germany (2010) D.Sc. in Marine Geology from Chr.-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany (2000) M.Sc. in Geology-Paleontology from Philipps-University Marburg, Germany (1996) B.Sc. in Geology-Paleontology from University of Hamburg, Germany (1993) Hanebuth's research interests span a broad spectrum of marine geoscience topics with a particular focus on coastal systems in the Anthropocene. His work examines how climate-related rising water levels, weather events, rapid urbanization, and land-use practices modify coastal environments. He investigates sea level variability, river delta dynamics, sediment and hydrodynamics on continental shelves, paleoceanography, and the impacts of human activities on coastal systems. His research often involves international collaborations across multiple continents including Germany, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and Argentina. Analysis of Hanebuth's recent publications reveals a strong focus on continental shelf processes, sediment dynamics, and coastal change across diverse geographical regions including Southeast Asia, the Gulf of Cadiz, the Bengal Shelf, and the southeastern United States. His work frequently integrates geological, oceanographic, and anthropogenic factors to understand coastal evolution. A notable trend is the increasing attention to human impacts on coastal systems and the development of high-resolution records of environmental change using sediment cores and acoustic data. Hanebuth actively mentors students at all levels through the VIP (Vertically Integrated Projects) program. Undergraduate students progress through successive project-integrated courses building technical skills, while graduate students develop thesis research within his Coastal Geosystems Research Lab. He currently supervises one Ph.D., two MS, and one undergraduate student on the Bengal Shelf project examining monsoon, cyclones, tectonics, subsidence, and anthropogenic impacts. His laboratory offers students hands-on experience with advanced techniques including sediment coring, geochemical analysis, seismo-acoustic data processing, scanning electron microscopy, FTIR polymer measurement, Ground-Penetrating Radar surveying, and Real-Time Kinematic GPS elevation surveying. The lab collaborates with universities and institutions across South Carolina, other U.S. states, and internationally in Germany, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and Argentina.

Daniel P. SchragView profile

Professor

• Geochemical oceanography
• Stable isotope geochemistry
• Paleoclimatology
• +5 more

Daniel P. Schrag is the Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering, and Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University. His primary affiliation is with the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, with additional roles in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences and the Harvard Kennedy School, where he co-directs the Program on Science, Technology, and Public Policy at the Belfer Center. Harvard University Center for the Environment Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences Harvard Kennedy School (Belfer Center) His research spans Geochemical Oceanography , Stable Isotope Geochemistry , and Paleoclimatology , with a focus on understanding historical climate patterns, carbon cycle dynamics, and ocean temperature reconstructions. His work also addresses modern challenges like Climate Change , Carbon Sequestration , and Energy Technology , integrating scientific and policy-oriented approaches. Recent publications highlight his interdisciplinary work, including Border Carbon Adjustments for climate finance, Direct Air Capture Technologies , and analyses of Millennial-Scale Sea Level Changes . He explores Geoengineering , Climate Policy Economics , and Isotopic Records of Earth's history. Daniel P. Schrag's work bridges Earth Science and Policy Design , emphasizing actionable solutions to energy and climate challenges. He leads initiatives connecting academia to global policy frameworks, ensuring scientific rigor informs practical mitigation strategies.

Gilby JepsonView profile

Assistant Professor

• Tectonics
• Structural Geology
• Thermochronology
• +5 more

Gilby Jepson is an Assistant Professor at the School of Geosciences, University of Oklahoma, specializing in isotope geochemistry and thermochronology applied to tectonic and structural geology. His work focuses on orogenic systems in the North American Cordillera and Central Asia, integrating field and laboratory approaches. Education: Ph.D. (2018), University of Adelaide B.S., Hons. (2014), University of Adelaide Research interests include tectonics, structural geology, and thermochronology, with emphasis on resolving crustal exhumation processes, paleoclimate interactions, and novel mineral thermochronometers like monazite fission-track. His 2021-2022 publications highlight collaborations in paleoclimate, metallogeny, and orogenic collapse. Collaborative Themes: Interdisciplinary studies with paleoclimatology and sedimentology Development of apatite/monazite thermochronology Integration of U-Pb geochronology and trace element geochemistry

Buz BarstowView profile

Assistant Professor

• Synthetic Biology
• Sustainable Energy
• Bioengineering
• +2 more

Buz Barstow is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. His work focuses on developing sustainable solutions for energy and environmental challenges through synthetic biology approaches. Professor Barstow leads research in microbial engineering for resource recovery, with specific emphasis on rare earth element bioleaching using engineered organisms like Gluconobacter oxydans . His team investigates bio-accelerated weathering processes, microbial transformation techniques, and sustainable methods for critical metal recovery from waste streams. Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on: Enhancing bioleaching efficiency through genomic engineering Developing circular economy approaches for industrial wastewater Advancing fundamental understanding of microbe-mineral interactions Creating low-carbon biotechnology platforms Laboratory facilities include specialized equipment for microbial cultivation, molecular biology, and materials characterization that support interdisciplinary investigations at the biology-engineering interface.

Erik SperlingView profile

Associate Professor

• Geobiology
• Paleontology
• Marine Geochemistry
• +7 more

Erik Sperling is an Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Stanford University, affiliated with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment and holds a courtesy appointment as Associate Professor in the Department of Oceans. His research focuses on Earth’s environmental and biological evolution, particularly the interplay between atmospheric oxygen levels, marine redox conditions, and the emergence of complex life during the Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic eras. Research interests include paleoceanography, geochemical analysis of sedimentary records, early animal evolution, and the biogeochemical drivers of mass extinctions. He integrates fieldwork, laboratory geochemistry, and computational modeling to explore topics such as Ediacaran-Cambrian transitions, the role of oxygenation in metazoan diversification, and modern organismal responses to environmental stressors. His work spans geological time scales, from studying Precambrian shales and stromatolites to analyzing the physiological limits of marine organisms under deoxygenation scenarios. Recent studies emphasize the long-term oxygenation history of oceans, the ecological consequences of hypoxia-temperature interactions, and the application of novel geochemical proxies to reconstruct ancient environments. Laboratory activities include the Sperling Lab, which develops innovative methods for trace element analysis and integrates multi-proxy datasets to address questions in Earth’s history. Collaborations with institutions worldwide focus on global sedimentary geochemical databases and field projects in regions like the Yukon, Brazil, and Australia.

Nicole HurtigView profile

Assistant Professor

• Geochemistry
• Ore Formation
• Hydrothermal Systems
• +3 more

Nicole Hurtig is an Assistant Professor of Geochemistry in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Geochemistry from McGill University and has held academic positions at Colorado School of Mines and research fellowship at Colorado State University. Her research examines ore-forming processes, metal mobility in hydrothermal fluids, Re-Os isotope systematics in petroleum systems, and volcanic gas chemistry. Current projects focus on rare earth element (REE) geochemistry, including experimental studies of REE speciation in supercritical fluids and thermodynamic modeling of mineral solubility. Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on metal transport mechanisms in geological fluids, with particular emphasis on rare earth elements since 2021. Research methodologies combine experimental geochemistry with spectroscopic techniques and numerical simulations. Dr. Hurtig supervises graduate research in economic geology and maintains collaborations through the Hydrothermal Geochemistry and Critical Minerals community. She contributes to developing the MINES thermodynamic database for geochemical modeling applications.