معرفی
Laura Wasylenki, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. Her research focuses on isotope geochemistry, particularly the biogeochemical cycles of metals like nickel (Ni), tungsten (W), and zinc (Zn) in marine and environmental systems. She investigates mechanisms of isotope fractionation during mineral surface interactions, such as sorption to manganese oxides (e.g., birnessite), and their implications for paleoenvironmental reconstructions and modern marine budgets.
Her work addresses critical questions in marine geochemistry, including the role of Mn oxyhydroxides in Ni cycling, the fidelity of carbonate records for Ni isotopes, and the impact of sorption processes on isotope fractionation. She also explores biogeochemical controls on metal transport, such as uranium sequestration in plant roots and the environmental health implications for communities like the Navajo people.
Her recent studies emphasize experimental validation of isotope fractionation mechanisms and their application to understanding Earth's history, such as linking Siberian Traps aerosols to the end-Permian mass extinction via Ni isotopes. Collaborations with NAU's Chemistry Building, Wettaw Biochemistry Building, and Science Lab Facility enable advanced laboratory and field-based research.
Key themes in her publications include refining marine nutrient budgets, developing cleaning protocols for ancient seawater proxies, and advancing methodological frameworks for interpreting metal isotope systems in environmental and paleo contexts.
