Research Areas

My research uses natural radiocarbon (14C, half-life 5730 years) coupled with organic geochemical tools like wet chemical extractions, 13C NMR, physical separations, chromatographic and spectroscopic studies to address problems related to carbon and climate. By combining geochemical tools with a chronometer (14C) I can answer questions about both mechanisms and timescales of carbon movement between reservoirs. I am particularly interested in problems related to the movement of carbon between fast and intermediate-cycling carbon pools, including the terrestrial biosphere, the atmosphere, rivers, and ocean sediments. New research in my lab includes the development of organic carbon oxidation state (Cox) as a tracer of Earth system processes.