Jennifer McKay

Jennifer McKay holds a Courtesy Appointment in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) at Oregon State University. Her research focuses on marine and sedimentary geochemistry, particularly using stable isotopes and trace metals to reconstruct past ocean conditions such as productivity, oxygenation, and carbon cycling over geological time.

• Honours BSc, Geology, University of Western Ontario, 1988
• MSc, Geology, University of Western Ontario, 1992
• PhD, Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2004

Dr. McKay's research interests center on stable isotope biogeochemistry, marine geochemistry, and paleoceanography. She investigates how isotopic signatures and trace metal distributions in marine sediments can serve as proxies for past environmental conditions. Notably, her work explores silver as a potential paleoproductivity indicator and examines seasonal dynamics of organic matter deposition on continental shelves.

Her recent publications reveal a strong trend in paleoenvironmental reconstruction, with emphasis on oxygen minimum zones, deglacial climate change, and biogeochemical cycling in marine and lacustrine systems. She frequently employs stable isotope analysis (e.g., δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C) and trace metal geochemistry across diverse settings including the Pacific Northwest, Southern Ocean, and Arctic margins.

• American Geophysical Union (1997–present)
• Geochemical Society (2010–present)

Dr. McKay has been involved in numerous collaborative research projects, often contributing geochemical expertise to interdisciplinary teams studying climate change, ocean circulation, and sediment diagenesis. While no formal students are listed, her extensive publication record indicates active mentorship and research leadership. She has contributed to methodological advances in isotope measurement techniques and interlaboratory comparisons.

She is affiliated with the Oregon State Stable Isotope Collaboratory, where she conducts high-precision isotopic analyses. Her work supports broader efforts to understand long-term changes in ocean chemistry and climate, with implications for future climate modeling and resource management.