About

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology at Rowan University. My research interests are palaeoceanography and paleoclimatology, and I am especially interested in modes of tropical climate variability. The El Niño Southern Oscillation is the largest source of inter-annual climate variability on planet Earth and a focus of my research. I also investigate tropical variability in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as changes in the mean climatic background conditions and their relationship to climate variability. 

In my research I use various methods of geochemical and isotopic analysis to infer past climate conditions. These include stable isotope analysis (δ18O, δ13C) on aggregate or individual foraminifera specimens, trace element analysis (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Cd/Ca) using inductively-coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), or laser ablation (LA-ICPMS). I also use organic chemistry techniques to measure long-chain ketone unsaturation indices (Uk'37). I am also working on projects to more fully explore the effects of ENSO on local and regional climate, as well the effects of sea level rise on the New Jersey coast.

I have a PhD from the City University of New York in Earth and Environmental Science (2015). I was a post-doctoral researcher at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, NY for two years before becoming an Assistant Professor at the new Department of Geology in the School of Earth and Environment at Rowan University. The Department was founded in 2016 and is the academic steward of the Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park, a K/Pg boundary fossil site in New Jersey. 




Max and I, Giant Ledge

I teach classes on Paleoclimatology, climate change, climate variability and societal impacts, ocean-atmosphere interactions, quaternary geology, and have run our speaker series and colloquium for two years (if you're interested in giving a talk, email me!). I have also taught Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Invertebrate paleontology and special topics courses and individualized research courses.