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Sharon A Fitzgerald, PhD

Intro:

I am a biogeochemist who has been with the Survey since 1991. I was born and raised in Queens, NY and have lived in Wisconsin (doctorate and hired into the USGS), Michigan (post doc), Florida (attached to the USGS), Puerto Rico (attached to the USGS), Alberta (attached to the USGS), and now in Raleigh still with the USGS. I am trained in early diagenetic processes involving organic matter decomposition in bed sediments and pelagic-benthic coupling processes. I have extensive experience with sediment coring and porewater extraction.  I have an interest in using biogenic silica in lake sediments to reconstruct paleoclimate.

 

Professional positions:

U.S. Geological Survey, Hydrologist or Research Hydrologist (1991 to present), Madison/Middleton WI, St. Petersburg FL, Guaynabo Puerto Rico, Calgary AB, Canada, Raleigh, NC.

National Research Council, Post Doctoral Fellow (1990-91), NOAA/Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI.  Research Proposal/Topic: “An Organic Carbon Budget for Pelagic/Benthic Coupling in Lake Michigan.”

 

Education:

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee: PhD – 1989, Geosciences/Biogeochemistry (major), Limnology (minor), Dissertation:  “The Biogeochemistry of Amino Acids in Sediments from the Great Lakes.”

Queens College (City University of New York):  B.A. - 1982, Environmental Biogeochemistry within Geosciences (Major), No minor (96 credits in the major)

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