Postdoctoral Researchers

Dr. Gavin Piccione (https://gavinpiccione.github.io/) – Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2023-Present

B.S. Geosciences (Summa cum Laude), Stony Brook University, 2016; Ph.D. Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 2023;

I am a geochemist and geochronologist with broad interests in the processes that link Earth’s climate and hydrosphere through time. My research leverages both traditional and novel terrestrial sedimentary archives to create time-resolved datasets that describe paleoclimate evolution on decadal to million-year timescales. I have applied these methods to reconstruct the rates of Antarctic ice sheet growth and retreat, and the impact of glaciers on global geochemical cycles. While at Brown, I am working with Dr. Daniel Ibarra on projects investigating the temporal variability of hydroclimate in the western US, as well as weathering beneath ice sheets. Before arriving at Brown, I earned my bachelor’s degree (with Honors) in Geoscience at Stony Brook University, and my PhD in Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California Santa Cruz.

Dr. Evan Ramos (Website) – NSF EAR Postdoctoral Fellow, 2021 to 2023; Affiliated Postdoc 2023-2024 (Primarily at Rice University)

B.A. Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Boston University, 2015; M.S. Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 2017; Ph.D. Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 2021

Evan is a geochemist whose research concerns the role of fluid-rock interactions in biogeochemical cycles, namely the carbon cycle. His M.S. research addressed fluid flow in hydrothermal environments and its influences on metamorphic decarbonation and, by extension, Phanerozoic climate. During his Ph.D., he studied the controls of silicate weathering by examining both modern and ancient surface environments with Li isotopes. At Brown and Rice University, where he is primarily appointed, he will research the coupling of the inorganic (i.e., silicate weathering) and organic carbon cycles by combining geochemical analyses of soils, river sediment, and river water with reactive transport models.

Graduate Students

Catherine (Cathy) A. Gagnon (IBES Profile; LinkedIn) – DEEPS Ph.D. Candidate (4th year)

B.S. Geoscience (w/ hydrogeology concentration), The Pennsylvania State University, 2020

I came to Brown in Fall 2020 as a grad student interested in using stable isotope geochemistry methods to address questions related to past climate. My undergraduate work at Penn State involved constructing carbonate oxygen and carbon, and organic carbon isotope records of Holocene lake sediments near a Neolithic settlement in Dalmatia, Croatia. The work provided a climate context for an important time and location for the spread of early farming. My current project involves reconstructing the hydroclimate of Clayton Valley, NV from the late Pliocene to present using a combination of isotope measurements and lake balance modeling techniques. Through my work, I hope to improve future climate change projections for the western United States. In addition to research, I’m involved in k-12 earth science outreach through DEEPS STEP/DEEPS CORES. I currently reside in Providence with my little black cat.

Sebastian (Seb) Muñoz (IBES Profile) – DEEPS Ph.D. Candidate (3rd year) – Brown Presidential Fellow & NSF Graduate Research Fellow – co-advised by Larry Smith

B.S. Geological Sciences (hydrogeology honors) and B.A. Liberal Arts, University of Texas, Austin, 2018

Sebastian spends all of his time thinking about, studying, or boating on rivers. He is interested in how surface water chemistry will change in response to human activities and climate change. Previous work includes studying rock glaciers contributions to river flows in northern Chile, and understanding surface water and groundwater interactions downstream of a dam in the Colorado River near Austin, TX.

M. Justin Custado (IBES Profile) – DEEPS Graduate Student (2nd year)

B.S. Chemistry, University of the Philippines – Diliman, 2015 & M.S. Environmental Science, University of the Philippines – Diliman, 2021

• Mónica Geraldes Vega – DEEPS Graduate Student (1st year) – co-advised by Kim Cobb

B.A. Geological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, 2022

Mónica is broadly interested in paleoclimate, biogeochemistry, and geochronology. Her undergraduate work at Mount Holyoke College involved deciphering siliciclastic paleolake levels of a Jurassic rift lake in Western Massachusetts using physical and geochemical proxies. At Brown, she’s switched gears a little and is into learning about more geologically recent carbonate records via stalagmite samples from the Philippines. She is driven by questions related to tropical paleoclimate and general excitement about learning and sharing knowledge. She is also enjoying her transition from her native Dominican Republic to Providence life, where she is getting better at cooking every day.

Research Technicians

Jesse Miller, A.B. with Honors, Geological Sciences, Brown University, 2023

Summer 2022 SPRINT|UTRA Award and Research at Brown Grant

2023 GSA NE-SE Regional Meeting Presentation: Temperature Dependent Dissolution Experiments of Basalt, Dacite and Pumice from The Little Deschutes River Valley

Senior thesis: Temperature dependent dissolution experiments of basaltic andesite, dacite and pumice from the Little Deschutes River Valley, Oregon

Manuscript Forthcoming!

Undergraduates

Anna Dubey, A.B. Candidate, Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology, Brown University, 2025.

Anna is a third-year student at Brown studying Biology, as well as Comparative Literature in Ancient Greek. Her research interests lie at the intersection of evolutionary biology and climatology. She is currently working on a project with Cathy using carbonate isotope data from Searles Lake in San Bernardino County, CA, to gain an understanding of the paleoclimate. Other than research, her activities include working for climate activism movements and educating high school students in earth science and environmental justice.

Celia Kong-Johnson, A.B. Candidate Geology-Chemistry and Applied Math, Brown University, 2025

Fall 2023 SPRINT|UTRA Award

AGU 2023 Fall Meeting Presentation: Insights into paleorainfall variability in the Philippines using the geochemistry of a speleothem spanning 28 to 51 kyrs BP

I am a current third-year at Brown University and plan on concentrating in geochemistry, with a possible double concentration in applied math. I am most interested in paleoclimate studies and applying these findings to future climate change research. I am currently working with Natasha, analyzing carbon and oxygen isotope records in speleothems from Colombia and the Philippines to help model past vegetation and rainfall in the area. Outside of academics here at Brown, I am on the Track and Field team. I also enjoy visiting and exploring National Parks with my family.

Daniel Graves, Sc.B. Candidate, Environmental Sciences, Brown University, 2024

I am a senior at Brown University studying Environmental Sciences on the Conservation track. I am interested in conservation and sustainability and modeling paleoclimate. In the lab, I am working on a senior thesis recreating past precipitation environments in the Great Basin by using water balance modeling and lake level proxy data. Outside of the lab, I play frisbee and am involved in the Brown Outdoor Leadership Training.

Jonah Bernstein-Schalet, Sc.B. Candidate Geology-Biology, Brown University, 2024.

2023-24 Voss Undergraduate Fellowship Award

AGU 2023 Fall Meeting Presentation: Linking Post-Wildfire Soil Geochemistry to Carbon Processes and Chemical Weathering

Jonah is a 4th-Year Undergraduate who is enthusiastic about learning about all things related to the Earth. He loves spending time outside applying concepts from the classroom to understand the many processes occurring around him. Currently, he is interested in using soil and water samples to characterize the impact of wildfires on catchment-scale chemical and physical weathering. Previous lab work includes generating sea-surface temperature records using biomarkers in ocean-floor sediment cores. Outside of science, Jonah is passionate about fitness, hiking, and philosophy.

Whitney Vieira Ribeiro, Sc.B. Candidate Geology-Biology, Brown University, 2024.

Whit is a 4th-year undergraduate at Brown University concentrating in geobiology. They are interested in questions about periods of extinction and transition in the geologic record. Currently they’re working with Ted to reconstruct end-Cretaceous climate using carbon clumped isotopes in paleosols from the Songliao basin, China. Whit loves finding earth-science workbooks and thinking about developing accessible modes of science education. They also enjoy running, playing Sudoku, and spotting paw prints in sidewalk cement.

Marina Benson, Sc.B. Candidate Geology-Biology and B.A. Candidate Music, Brown, 2024

2023-24 Voss Undergraduate Research Fellow

Marina is a senior at Brown who is interested in the impact of human activities on aquatic ecosystems. In collaboration with the Marine Biological Laboratory, Marina examines trace metals and stable isotopes to identify sources of nutrient pollution in estuarine ponds on Martha’s Vineyard. Her research seeks to understand how pollutants impact the broader biological communities within the ponds. In past research she has used isotope paleothermometry to look at Indian Summer Monsoon dynamics over orbital and millennial timescales. Outside of lab work, Marina enjoys participating in campus theatre and performing with her jazz-funk band, Em’s Femmes.

Former Group Members

Postdocs

Dr. Natasha Sekhon (Website; IBES Profile) – Voss Postdoctoral Research Associate and Presidential Diversity Postdoctoral Fellow, 2021 to 2023

Now Assistant Professor at Occidental College!

Dr. Kristina Butler (https://kristinalbutler.com/; https://futurerockdoc.com/) – NSF EAR Postdoctoral Fellow, 2023

Now Assistant Professor at UT Dallas!

Graduate Students

Theodore (Ted) Bobik – Sc.M. Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences, Brown University, 2024

Thesis: Filling in the Gaps: Paleosols as Regional Recorders of Hydroclimatic Change in Northeast China at the Cretaceous – Paleogene

Paper forthcoming!

Undergraduates

Shaw Miller, Sc.B. with Honors, Geology-Biology, Brown University, 2023.5