Areas of Expertise

The Breecker Group studies biogeochemical processes occurring at or near the land surface. We study soils and paleosols, caves and stalagmites, and other materials, such as volcanic glass, that give us insight into ancient Earth. We study timescales ranging from seasonal cycles to hundreds of millions of years. We use observations, mathematical models and both laboratory and field-based experiments to address an evolving range of questions. To learn more about the research we are doing, please see our research group website.

Postdocs

Timothy Gallagher
My research centers on developing a more complete understanding of the soil carbon cycle and the role that soils play in the global climate system. By studying the geologic record, I am able to refine our understanding of Earth History and inform responses to modern challenges, such as climate change and the intensification of land-use on a global scale. I study...

Elizabeth Cassel, now at the University of Idaho
Liz is advancing the understanding of the paleoelevation of the western United States and the Western Cordillera in South America. She is a leader in the use of felsic volcanic glasses to determine the past elevation of Earth's land surface.

Graduate Students

Evan J Ramos , Ph.D., expected 2021 (Co-supervisor)
I am a second-year PhD student whose research focuses on the usage of stable isotopes, computational geochemistry, and hydrology to refine earth systems models for geochemical cycles. Whether deep in the crust or at the Earth's surface, I see the physics and chemistry of fluid-rock interactions as a unifying lens to probe whole-Earth geochemical cycles. [bold]My past projects include[/bold]: -Using thermodynamic modeling...

Lily Jackson , Ph.D., expected 2019 (Committee Member)
My current research focuses on the tectonic history of the northern Andes, including timing and magnitude of major paleo-elevation changes affecting the northern Andes of Peru and Ecuador. My current methods include provenance analysis such as detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and siliciclastic petrology, stable isotope geochemistry to infer paleoclimate and paleoelevation, and other traditional methods in sedimentology.

Lily Serach (Supervisor)

Natasha Sekhon (Co-supervisor)
Paleoclimatology & Isotopic Geochemistry

Peter Carlson, Ph.D., 2018 (Co-supervisor)

Sol Cooperdock, M.S., 2017 (Supervisor)

John Warden, Ph.D., 2016 (Co-supervisor)

Tim Charlton, M.S., 2016 (Co-supervisor)

Chris Cacciatore, M.S., 2016 (Supervisor)

Michael Patson, M.S., 2015 (Supervisor)

Brandon Okafor, M.S., 2014 (Supervisor)

Marlo Gawey, M.S., 2013 (Supervisor)

Lacey Pyle, M.S., 2012 (Supervisor)

Nate Meyer, M.S., 2012 (Supervisor)

Kyle Meyer, M.S., 2012 (Co-supervisor)

Year	Semester	Course
2018	Fall	GEO 401	Physical Geology
2018	Summer	GEO f660B	Field Geo-Tx/Nm/Co/Wy/Mt/Id/Ut
2018	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2018	Spring	GEO 291	Asian Monsoon
2018	Spring	GEO 191	Proposal Writing
2017	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2017	Fall	GEO 401	Physical Geology
2017	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2017	Spring	GEO 191	Proposal Writing
2017	Spring	GEO 388H	Environmental Isotope Geochem
2017	Spring	GEO 376E	Environmental Isotope Geochem
2016	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2016	Fall	GEO 401	Physical Geology
2016	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Stbl Isotp Biogeochem
2016	Spring	GEO 191	Proposal Writing
2015	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2015	Fall	GEO 401	Physical Geology
2015	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Stbl Isotp Biogeochem
2015	Spring	GEO 191	Proposal Writing
2015	Spring	GEO 388H	Environmental Isotope Geochem
2015	Spring	GEO 376E	Environmental Isotope Geochem
2014	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Stbl Isotp Biogeochem
2014	Fall	GEO 401	Physical Geology
2014	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Stbl Isotp Biogeochem
2014	Spring	GEO 191	Proposal Writing

Research Group Website