2017 - present 

Assistant Professor in Geological Sciences and Water Science Program, University of California, Northridge (CSUN)

Education

2013    Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)

            Dissertation: Mercury Speciation and Transport at the Land-Sea Margin

            Advisor: A.Russell Flegal (UCSC)

            Committee:  Peter W. Swarzenski (USGS); Andrew T. Fisher (UCSC); Carl H. Lamborg (WHOI, now at UCSC); James C. Zachos (UCSC)

1998    M.Sc. in Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)

            Thesis: Mercury Speciation in Acid Mine Drainage: New Idria Quicksilver Mine, CA

            Advisor: A.Russell Flegal (UCSC)

            Committee:  Robert P. Mason (UMD, now at UCONN); Robert P. Anderson (UCSC, now at INSTAAR/UC Boulder)

1995    B.Sc. with Honors in Geology (major) and Mathematics (minor), Indiana University (IU), Bloomington

            Senior Thesis: High Precision Sanidine 40Ar/39Ar Results from Mesozoic Rhyolite Dikes Near Lake Gaston, NC and VA

            Advisors: Robert P. Wintsch (IU); Michael J. Kunk (USGS, Reston, VA)

Postdoctoral Fellowships

Nov 2015   NSF Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Nov 1st Start Date)

            Research Focus: The Role of Phytoplankton Blooms in Nearshore Marine Mercury Bioaccumulation

            Sponsors: Katherine R.M. Mackey (UC Irvine, Earth System Science) Carl H. Lamborg (UC Santa Cruz, Ocean Sciences)

            

Dec 2013   Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Postdoctoral Scholar, Woods Hole, MA (in collaboration with the USGS)

            Research Focus: Mercury Cycling in Salt Marsh Ecosystems: Cape Cod, MA

            Sponsors: Carl H. Lamborg (WHOI Marine Chem & Geochem); Kevin D. Kroeger (USGS, Coastal & Marine Geology)

 

Awards

Honors

2015 Doris M. Curtis Outstanding Woman in Science Award, Geological Society of America

2014 Dissertations Symposium in Chemical Oceanography (DISCO XXIV) Participant

2013 Departmental Outstanding TA Award, UC Santa Cruz (also received in 2012, 2011, 2009)

2010 Student Oral Presentation 3rd Place Award, NorCal SETAC, Berkeley, CA

2000 Association of Bay Area Governments Outstanding Staff Award, Oakland, CA

1998 University-wide Outstanding TA Award, UC Santa Cruz

1995 Geology Faculty Award for Outstanding Senior, Indiana University

1994 Department Award for Outstanding Junior (Professional Development), Indiana University

1993 N. Gary Lane Beginning Geologist Award, Indiana University

Fellowships

2012 Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation Environmental Fellowship

2012 UC Santa Cruz Doctoral Sabbatical Fellowship 
2012 UC Santa Cruz Earth & Planetary Sciences Department Teaching Service Fellowship

2008  UC Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Program (UCTSRTP) Research Fellowship

Grants 

2013 Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant, UC Natural Reserve System  (awardees)

2013 Institute of Marine Sciences, Packard Ocean Science and Technology Endowment (proposal co-writer)

2009 Graduate Student NorCal SETAC Research Scholarship

2009 Myers Oceanographic and Marine Biology Trust Research Award, Santa Cruz, CA

2009 Friends of Long Marine Lab Student Research Award, UC Santa Cruz

2008 Center for the Dynamics and Evolution of the Land-Sea Interface (C.DELSI) Research Award, Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP), UC Santa Cruz

Additional Professional Experience

2016 (Fall)    Associate Faculty, Saddleback Community College, Geology Department, Mission Viejo, CA.2016   

2010-2011    Technical Consultant for ITSI (now Gilbane) and EPA

                     Description: Riparian and reservoir sampling design and remediation strategies, Klau/Buena Vista Mercury Mine Superfund Site

1999-2006    Engineering Geologist & Environmental Specialist, San Francisco Bay Water Board, Oakland, CA

                     Description: Environmental remediation (mine sites, streams, groundwater, wetlands/slough)

1998-2000    Staff Research Associate, University of California, Santa Cruz

                     Description: Estuarine trace metal cycling (sample collection/analysis, data interpretation)

1996             Research Assistant, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), W. Atlantic cruise

                     Description: On-board analysis of arsenic and antimony species