معرفی
Jen C Latimer serves as Chair of the Department of Earth & Environmental Systems and Professor of Geology at Indiana State University within the College of Arts & Sciences. With expertise spanning biogeochemistry, environmental geology, and climate science, she leads a dynamic research program focused on nutrient and metal cycling in aquatic and urban environments.
Dr. Latimer earned her educational credentials from prestigious institutions, completing a Masters of Jurisprudence (MJ) from Indiana University in 2018, a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from Indiana University in 2004, an M.S. in Geology from Indiana University Indianapolis in 1998, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Purdue University Indianapolis in 1995. Her interdisciplinary background bridges law, geology, and chemistry.
Her research program examines biogeochemical processes across multiple spatial and temporal scales, from ancient Southern Ocean sediments to contemporary urban soil contamination. She has developed significant expertise in environmental justice applications of geochemical research, particularly regarding lead distribution in urban environments and its disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities. Her teaching portfolio includes Oceanography, Earth Materials, Environmental Pollution and Human Health, Environmental Justice, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, and Geochemistry.
Dr. Latimer's scholarly output demonstrates a strategic evolution from paleoceanographic studies toward applied environmental justice research. Her recent publications reveal growing emphasis on community-engaged scholarship that addresses urban contamination while advancing fundamental biogeochemical understanding. This dual focus on basic science and practical community applications characterizes her distinctive scholarly approach.
- Longevity Award, Our Color Shines (March 2023)
- Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research/Creativity Award (April 2021)
- Faculty Sustainability Leadership Award (April 2019)
- Distinguished Supervisor Award for Student Professional Development (2015)
Dr. Latimer has secured over $800,000 in research funding from agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and US Geological Survey. Her current projects examine mercury levels in northeastern Indiana streams, soil lead contamination in urban community gardens, and climate change impacts on Lake Tanganyika's biodiversity. She actively mentors undergraduate researchers, with numerous students presenting their work at national conferences including the American Geophysical Union and Geological Society of America meetings.
As Program Coordinator for the Terre Haute Lead Project since 2012, Dr. Latimer has led community-based participatory research initiatives examining urban soil contamination. She serves in significant administrative roles including Department Chair and Vice Chair of the Graduate Council, and has contributed to multiple university committees focused on teaching excellence, graduate education, and strategic planning.
