Shannon Doherty

Dr. Shannon Doherty is an Assistant Professor in the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, specializing in biological oceanography. Her research focuses on the intersection of plankton ecology and ocean biogeochemical cycles, using stable isotopes and biomarkers to understand how marine ecosystems respond to climate change.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School, University of Miami (2021)
• B.S. in Geology (minor in English), Allegheny College (2016)

Her research explores how zooplankton food webs influence nutrient flux in marine environments, with a particular emphasis on planktic foraminifera as proxies for both modern and ancient marine ecosystems. She employs advanced chemical methods including compound-specific stable isotope analysis of amino acids to investigate ecological and biogeochemical processes.

Dr. Doherty's work has significant implications for understanding oceanic responses to environmental changes, particularly in oxygen-deficient zones and pelagic ecosystems. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges marine biology, geochemistry, and paleoceanography to develop novel proxies for reconstructing past ocean conditions and predicting future ecosystem changes.

Research Specialties:

• Marine biogeochemistry
• Plankton ecology
• Paleoceanography
• Marine organic geochemistry
• Stable isotope ecology

Based at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, she continues to advance our understanding of marine ecosystems through innovative research and education in biological oceanography.