Yi Wang

Dr. Yi Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Tulane University's School of Science & Engineering. His research focuses on understanding historical changes in ocean oxygenation and developing novel geochemical proxies to reconstruct past ocean conditions.

Dr. Wang received his academic training through the following institutions:

• Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan (2020)
• B.S. in Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry, Xiamen University (2015)
• B.S. in Economics, Xiamen University (2015)

Dr. Wang's research centers on redox reconstruction (oxygenation) shifts throughout Earth's history to better understand natural versus anthropogenic forcing mechanisms. He applies multiple redox proxies, including isotopes and trace metals, along with data-model comparison methods to investigate patterns of natural oxygenation forcing and large-scale oceanic responses to atmospheric circulation changes. His work spans multiple timescales, from the Mesoproterozoic (1.38-1.39 Ga) through the Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Events, to the Pleistocene, Holocene, and modern anthropogenic impacts. A key focus is understanding metal isotope fractionation mechanisms, particularly how manganese oxides affect thallium isotopic signatures.

Dr. Wang's publications demonstrate a strong focus on developing and applying novel metal isotope proxies, particularly thallium isotopes, to reconstruct past ocean oxygen conditions. His research spans multiple geological periods and employs both modern calibration studies and paleo-applications. A significant portion of his work investigates the mechanisms behind metal isotope fractionation, which is crucial for accurate paleo-reconstruction across various time scales from Mesoproterozoic to modern anthropogenic impacts.

Dr. Wang has received numerous awards and honors throughout his academic career:

• John Dorr Award (Outstanding Graduate), University of Michigan (2021)
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Postdoctoral Scholarship (2020)
• Sigma Xi (2019)
• AGU Outstanding Student Presentation Award (2019)
• Shell Scholarship, University of Michigan (2019)
• Barbour Scholarship, University of Michigan (2018)
• And several other fellowships and academic honors

Dr. Wang has mentored students including R.F. Phillips, who appears as a student mentee on one of his publications. He has secured significant research funding, including an NSF grant (OCE 2310174) totaling $688,078 as lead PI, and a Post-Expedition Award for IODP 390 worth $19,938. His research has been supported by NASA funding for studies on manganese oxide mineralogy and thallium isotopic fractionation.

Dr. Wang has worked with prominent research institutions including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), where he served as a Research Associate and Postdoc Investigator from 2020-2024. His research utilizes core top collections from the WHOI core repository and involves collaborations with researchers at multiple institutions. He has also participated in IODP (International Ocean Discovery Program) expeditions, including recent work with samples from IODP 390/393 cruise.