Research Interests

• Geochemical proxies: development and calibration
• Holocene paleoceanography and paleoclimate
• Effects of biomineralization processes on chemical composition of foraminiferal tests

Paleoproxy calibration and the carbonate ion effect

The goal of my research is to evaluate the degree to which calcite saturation exerts a significant control on the uptake of Mg and other metals into benthic foraminiferal calcite, the effect of bottom water temperature on the magnitude of this “precipitation effect,” and the effect of post-depositional dissolution on foraminiferal test composition.

I work primarily with benthic foraminifera from surface sediments (core tops) along depth transects covering variable depths, carbonate saturation levels, and bottom water temperatures.

Personal Interest

When I have some free time, I enjoy sewing and pattern making, painting and other crafts, cooking, and fantastically bad horror films.

Education and Qualifications

2003 - B.A. Boston University – major: Earth Sciences, minor: Marine Biology
June 2004 – present: Ph.D student, Rutgers University, IMCS research and teaching assistant

Cruise Experience

May 2004, 10 days, R/V Knorr, PI: Yair Rosenthal, saturation effects on benthic foraminiferal Mg/Ca-temperature relationship.

June 2004, 25 days, R/V Knorr, Co-PI: Yair Rosenthal and Lloyd Keigwin, Holocene changes in the Gulf Stream and western Sargasso Sea.