Coring a stalagmite sample at Sitting Bull Falls Cave, NM (July 2017).
(c) Kara Posso |
Thank you for stopping by!
I am currently in my 5th (last) year as a PhD candidate in the Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas, Austin. My dissertation research lies in the nexus of low-temperature geochemistry, paleoclimatology, and modern instrumental observations to understand climate change in terrestrial environments.
I use stable isotope compositions and trace element concentrations in cave deposits (stalagmites) to reconstruct past hydro-climate dynamics affecting the southwestern United States. By monitoring the contemporary karst recharge zone and cave environments I also aim to contextualize past climate variability. Concepts from aqueous geochemistry, hydrology, and geochemical modelling are incorporated to understand the modern system. Prior to graduate school, I gained a B.S. in Earth System Sciences with a minor in Comparative Literature from University of California, Irvine. My senior thesis focused on reconstructing rainfall records for the East Asian Monsoon in stalagmites from Laos. More information on my current and past projects can be found here. In addition to my academic research interests, I'm impassioned about scientific outreach, increasing diversity in the geosciences, and pedagogy. Details can be found here and here. |
