I am a Research Chemist and Mendenhall postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center. My research investigates sedimentary organic carbon stored in critical marine mineral environments.
My research interests broadly include the marine organic carbon and nitrogen cycles and long-term carbon storage in marine environments. At USGS, my research aims to understand the source and bioavailability of organic carbon sequestered in marine mineral host sediments. This is key to determining how this stored carbon could be impacted by potential disturbances and what implications this could have for benthic communities. To do this, I apply a range of geochemical tools, including elemental, isotopic, spectroscopic, and biomarker analyses.
Professional Experience
2022 - Present: Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, USGS, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
2021 - 2022: Geological Analyses Contractor, USGS, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
2019 - 2021: Academic Cooperation Program Researcher, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
2016 - 2021: Graduate Student Researcher, University of California, Santa Cruz
May - Aug 2015: National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellow, Maryland Sea Grant
July - Dec 2014: Climate Change and Organic Geochemistry Research Assistant, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Jan - June 2013: Process Development Researcher, Cubist Pharmaceuticals
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Ocean Sciences: 2021, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
B.S. in Chemistry: 2015, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Honors and Awards
Communicating Research Effectively Outreach Award, 2021
Dissertation Fellowship (University of California, Santa Cruz), 2020
Achievement Reward for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Fellowship, 2020
Certificate in Inclusive Inquiry STEM Education (Institute for Scientist and Engineer Educators), 2019
Dr. Earl H. Myers & Ethel M. Myers Oceanographic & Marine Biology Trust Award, 2019
Campus Sustainability Plan Grant (University of California, Santa Cruz), 2018
Student Research and Education Award (Seymour Marine Discovery Center), 2017
Reagents Fellowship (University of California, Santa Cruz), 2016
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2016