In teaching I try to ensure that all courses have clear goals and offer a toolbox of skills which students can directly transfer to their research. My topical interests include global change for non-majors, meteorology and climatology, climate and society, dynamics and paleoclimatology of ENSO, physics of climate, Quaternary paleoclimatology and paleoecology, spatiotemporal statistics and data analysis, inferential statistics, experimental design, and field and isotope laboratory practica.
As a research mentor I encourage an informal, respectful, collaborative environment. If I have done my job properly, group members emerge with a deep understanding of the nature of paleoclimatic observations, strong analytical and quantitative skills, exposure to a hierarchy of climatological models, and a global perspective. They can manage long-term tasks, publish in the peer-reviewed literature, win research and training grants, and speak clearly about their work.
Courses Offered
| Name | Course title | Last offering |
|---|---|---|
| GEOL 789C | Advanced Data Analysis Workshop | Spr 2024@ Maryland |
| AOSC/GEOL123 | Causes and Consequences of Global Climate Change | Spr 2021 @ Maryland |
| GEOL 351/651 | Statistics for Geoscientists | Fall 2020 @ Maryland |
| GEOL 437 | Global Climate Change | Spr 2024 @ Maryland |
| GEOL 413/613 | Geoscientific Modeling | Fall 2023 @ Maryland |
| HDR Masterclass | Spatiotemporal Data Analysis Workshop | 2016 @ Univ of Wollongong |
| ATMO/GEOS597e | Spatiotemporal Data Analysis Workshop | Fall 2008 @ Arizona/Maryland |
| ATMO/GEOS 595c | Patterns and Mechanisms of decadal climate variability | Spr 2008 @ Arizona |
| NATS101 | Introduction to Global Change/Honors | Fall 2007 @ Arizona |
| NATS101 | Intro to Global Change, "AIT" section | Fall 2007 @ Arizona |
| GEOS595e | Journal Club: Topics in Dendrochronology | Spr 2007 @ Arizona |
| ATMO/GEOS513 | ENSO: Past, Present, Future | Spr 2006 @ Arizona |
| GEO101IN | Weather and Climate | Spr 2005 @ TOCC |
| GEOS595e | Topics, Tools and Techniques in Paleoclimate Research | Spr 2004 @ Arizona |
Supervisees and Their Research Projects
| Name | Dept. | Topic | Degree |
| Doria De Souza Etchells | GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh | Arctic climate variability and societal impacts 500-1500CE | PhD (exp 2027); co-supervising with A.P. Schurer, A. Dugmore, R. Jackson, G.C. Hegerl |
| Raelynn Wonnacott | Program in Applied Math and Scientific Computing | Paleoclimate data assimilation: methodology and applications | PhD (exp 2028) |
| Kevin Fan | Computer Science / Paleobiology Minor | Construction of a database of databases for paleoclimatic detection and attribution studies | BS (exp 2026) |
| Eleazar Quijada | Environmental Sciences, Berkeley | Testing a model for maximum latewood density of wood | SOARE-SWAG summer intern; BS (exp 2026) |
| Dylan Jones | GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh | Construction of a database of databases for paleoclimatic detection and attribution studies | BS (2024); research MS program, Chemistry, Univ St Andrews (exp 2025) |
| Katherine Taylor | GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh | Compound extreme heat and drought events: past, present, future | PhD (exp 2026); co-supervising with G.C. Hegerl, A.P. Schurer |
| Lucie Lucke | GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh | detection and attribution of climate change using paleoclimate data directly | research scientist (2023-2024), co-supervising with G.C. Hegerl |
| Gerald Tripp | Appalachian State University, Geology | Is ENSO changing because of solar forcing? | SOARE-SWAG summer intern; BS 2024 (exp) |
| Austin Mickles | Ursinus College Environmental Studies | radiative forcing of the hydrologic component of ENSO | SOARE-SWAG summer intern; BS 2023 |
| Mary Gbenro | ENSP | radiative forcing of the hydrologic component of ENSO | ERHS 2022; UMD 2026 (exp) |
| Austin Carter | Civil Engineering | bioengineering; radiative forcing of the hydrologic component of ENSO | BS 2024 (exp) |
| Sandy Hardian Susanto Herho | GEOL | radiative forcing of the hydrologic component of ENSO | MS 2022 |
| Zijiang (River) Yang | Civil Engineering | DDT remediation in soils and earthworms | PhD 2021; primary supervisor: A.Torrents; now postdoc at UMD/USDA/Beltsville |
| Urjoshi Nahid | Poolesville HS | External radiative forcing of ENSO activity | ERHS 2020 |
| Jenna Wollney | Geology | Volcanic forcing of ENSO activity | BS 2020; now faculty research assistant, Paleoclimate CoLaboratory |
| Anna Lowien | Geography/ENSP | stable isotope laboratory research assistant | NOAA Hollings Fellow (2017); BS 2019; now PhD student in hydrology, Univ New Hampshire |
| Jason Chase | Geology | stable isotope laboratory research assistant | BS 2019 |
| Julian Leal | Geology | stable isotope laboratory research assistant | BS 2019 |
| Amanda Speciale | Env Sci and Policy | acquisition of stable isotopic data from Australian wood | BS 2019 |
| Katie Haviland | Geography | stable isotope laboratory research assistant | BS 2017; now NSF GRFP recipient and graduate student, Cornell Univ |
| Brendan Shimizu | Eleanor Roosevelt HS | Acquisition and modeling of cellulose isotopic data from Queensland, Australia | ERHS (2017); UMD 2021 (exp) |
| Mathias Trachsel | Geology | Bayesian hierarchical modeling of paleoclimate using multivariate and nonlinear paleoclimatic observations: a case study in the Loeschental Valley | Swiss NRF Mobility Fellow in residence 2016-2018; research scientist, PalEON project, UW-Madison; now at Helvetia Versicherungen Schweiz, Basel |
| Xiaomin Zeng | Geology and University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou | data acquisition and modeling of isotopic composition of wood, southeastern Tibetan Plateau | CRC Fellow, 2016-2017; PhD 2017; now at Shaanxi Normal University |
| Ivie Ebhojiaye | Eleanor Roosevelt HS | Development of DIC carbon isotopic working standards | ERHS (2015); UMD Banneker/Key Scholarship awardee |
| Ann-Marie Stringer | Eleanor Roosevelt HS (2014) | Development of cellulose isotopic working standards | ERHS (2014); PG County Science Fair prize winner |
| Kaitlyn J. Steele | Geology | ENSO paleoclimatology in Indonesia | research technician, USDA, Beltsville; now Associate Scientist, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA |
| Grace Duke | Geology/AOSC | Proxy system modeling; ENSO variability over the past millennium in observations and simulations | B.S. 2015 (Hons); B.S. 2016 (Hons); now graduate student at University of Otago |
| Emily Boluda | Eleanor Roosevelt HS (2013) | Development of cellulose isotopic working standards | Case Western Reserve class of 2017 |
| Christina Justice | Environmental Science and Policy Program | Small sample analysis of carbonates by high throughput CF-IRMS | B.S. 2014; graduate student in Geography |
| Laura-Ray Diederich | Biology | ENSO paleoclimatology in Queensland, Australia | B.S. (2014) |
| Alex S. Lopatka | Geology | Impact of climate change on civilization in the Southern Cook Islands over the past millennium | Ph.D (2018); now with American Institute of Physics |
| Leah Mudd | Eleanor Roosevelt HS (2012) | Development of cellulose isotopic working standards | ERHS (2012); Towson Univ, B.S. (2016); undergraduate research assistant, summer 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| Bjorn Boysen | Monash Univ (Melbourne, Australia) | ENSO paleoclimatology in Queensland, Australia | B.S. (Hons) 2012, now with Australian Dept of Environment and Primary Industries |
| Kristina Taylor | Biochemistry | ENSO paleoclimatology in Queensland, Australia | B.S. (2013) |
| Leandra Bitterfeld | Biology | ENSO paleoclimatology in Queensland, Australia | B.S. (2014) |
| Heagan Ahmed | Eleanor Roosevelt HS (2011) | Small sample analysis of carbonates by high throughput CF-IRMS | ERHS (2011); Cornell University (2014) |
| Adam Farrell | Geology | Carbon sequestration in basalts | B.S. (2011) |
| Austin Green | Geology-Honors | ENSO paleoclimatology in Queensland, Australia; JHU Applied Research Laboratory intern | B.S. (2013) |
| Grant Jiang | Geology-Honors | Development of cellulose standards; ENSO paleoclimatology in Queensland, Australia; Woods Hole intern (2011, 2012); study abroad in Norway, AY 2011-2012; | B.S. (2013) |
| Andrew Gonyo | Geology | Small sample analysis of carbonates by high throughput CF-IRMS | analyst, DynCorp International |
| Diane Thompson | University of Arizona (UA)/Geosciences | Process modeling of coral climate proxy records (w/ J.E. Cole) | co-supervised for 2010-2011 project; Ph.D. 2013; postdoctoral research fellow, NCAR/ASP, 2013-2016; Asst. Prof, Univ, Arizona/ Geosciences |
| Nick Gava | Geology | ENSO paleoclimatology in Queensland, Australia | 2009-2011; Rockville, MD |
| Matt Glazewski | Geology | Forecasting bias in a greenhouse world | 2009-2010; now with National Weather Service |
| Suz Tolwinski-Ward | UA/Applied Math | Bayesian hierarchical modeling of paleoclimates | Ph.D. (2012); NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, NCAR/IMAGe, 2013-2014; now at: AIR Worldwide, Risk Modeling Group |
| Adam Csank | UA/GEOS/LTRR | Arctic paleoclimatology (w/ S.W. Leavitt); Papua New Guinea stable isotope dendroclimatology; | Ph.D. (2011); now assistant professor at: Nipissing Univ. (North Bay, ON) and research scientist, Univ Nevada-Reno |
| Ruth Penniston | UA/ENVS | Australian isotope dendroclimatology | B.S. (2010); Teach for America; Fulbright Fellow, Norway; masters student at Columbia University |
| Megan Rheaume | UA/GEOS | Australian isotope dendroclimatology | B.S. (2009); environmental consulting |
| Ana Kursinski | UA/ATMO | GPSRO water vapor retrievals and ENSO prediction | Postdoc 2008-09 |
| Micheal Hailey | UA/GEOS/LTRR | stable isotope laboratory technician | B.S. 2007 |
| Sarah White | UA/EEB | stable isotope laboratory manager | M.S. 2011; website editor, Southwest Climate Change |
| R. Scott St. George | UA/GEOL/LTRR | south central Canadian hydrology (w/ D.M. Meko) | Ph.D. 2007; now Associate Professor, Geography, Univ. Minnesota-Twin Cities |
| Kevin Anchukaitis | UA/GEOS/LTRR | Cloud forest paleoclimatology | Ph.D. 2007; LDEO postdoctoral scholar; Assistant Research Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Associate Professor, University of Arizona |
| April Chiriboga | UA/GEOS/LTRR | Carbon cycle and forests | co-supervised in 2005; Ph.D. (2015); now at Colby College |
| Brooke Rabe | UA/Math | tree-ring and climate modeling | B.S. 2009; Ph.D. program in Statistics at Ohio State |
| Mau-Chuang Foo | UA/ECE | Cloud forest paleoclimatology | B.S. 2008 |
| Jonathan Buchanan | UA/Physics | stable isotope laboratory manager | B.S. 2007; Raytheon Missile Systems |
| Erin Gleeson | UA/GEOS | Peruvian dendroclimatology | B.S. 2006; now program director, Mountain Institute |
| Cristina Luis | UA/GEOS | State space analysis of ENSO activity | M.S. 2004; USAF |
| Brianna Muhlenkamp | UA/Engineering | tree-ring and climate modeling | B.S. 2005; Shell Exploration and Production |
| Praveen Kundurthy | UA/Astrophys-Biol | Peruvian dendroclimatology | B.S. 2005 |