Laura O'Connell

Laura O’Connell is an Assistant Professor of Carbonate Sedimentology in the Department of Marine & Earth Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), affiliated with The Water School. She holds a B.S. in Marine Science and Geology from the University of Miami and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Geological Sciences and Engineering from Queen’s University, Canada.

Her interdisciplinary research explores the intersections of marine biology, ecology, and geology, focusing on marine seafloor communities, sediment production by organisms, and carbonate mud genesis. Fieldwork locations include Australia, Alaska, and Panama. She actively contributes to FGCU’s Environmental Geology program and teaches courses like Physical Geology and Environmental Geology, with plans to develop specialized courses in Marine and Carbonate Sedimentology.

Dr. O’Connell emphasizes hands-on field teaching and student engagement, leveraging her decade of diverse teaching experience. She joined FGCU in Spring 2024, driven by her alignment with The Water School’s interdisciplinary mission.