Fred Andrus

Dr. Fred Andrus is a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Alabama, specializing in reconstructing paleoclimate and paleoenvironment through sclerochronological and isotopic analysis of marine and freshwater mollusk shells, coralline algae, and fish otoliths. His work bridges paleoclimatology, isotope geochemistry, and human-environment interaction across diverse regions including the Southeastern US, Pacific coast, Aleutian Islands, coastal Peru, and Greenland.

• Education:
• PhD in Geology, University of Georgia (2000)
• MA in Anthropology, University of Georgia (1995)
• BA in Anthropology, University of Georgia (1990)

His research develops high-resolution climate proxies using stable oxygen and carbon isotopes for temperature and salinity reconstruction, alongside nitrogen isotopes for pollution tracking. His lab group (2025) includes students analyzing mollusk shells for El Niño variability, sea ice extent, and human coastal adaptation.

Recent publications focus on shell ring chronology in the Georgia coast (2024), ammonite aptychi analysis (2024), and Antarctic sea-ice proxies (2024). He has mentored 15+ graduate students in projects spanning Quaternary ecology, upwelling systems, and prehistoric resource management.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute fellowship for Hillary Sletten (2016)
• Advising:
  • PhD/MS students in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina
• Collaborations with institutions in Boston, Western Washington, and Smithsonian