Kathleen Wendt

Kathleen Wendt is an Assistant Professor (Senior Research) at the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University. She specializes in reconstructing Earth's climate history using cave formations and polar ice cores, with a focus on high-precision uranium-series dating and abrupt CO2 dynamics during glacial periods.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Earth Sciences (Paleoclimate), University of Innsbruck (2015-2018)
• M.S. in Earth Sciences (Isotope Geochemistry), University of Minnesota (2013-2015)
• B.S. in Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota (2008-2013) with Summa cum laude honors

Her research explores rapid carbon cycle dynamics during glacial periods via West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide ice cores and Devils Hole cave calcite crusts. Key projects include analyzing CO2 fluctuations at decadal scales, reconstructing groundwater recharge over 750,000 years, and investigating orbital forcing impacts on hydroclimate. Her work integrates U-Th dating, stable isotope analysis, and multi-proxy climate reconstructions.

Recent publications highlight collaborations on glacial-interglacial hydroclimate, Heinrich Stadial mechanisms, and Southwestern USA groundwater history. She co-edits the Ice Core Chapter of the Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science and serves on the Climate of the Past editorial board. Her professional service includes convener roles at EGU and AGU and invited lectures across the U.S. and Europe.

She leads undergraduate courses on Climate Science and Global Change, and mentors outreach initiatives like K-12 education visits and virtual Q&A sessions for educators in Greenland, Canada, and the U.S.