CHRIS POULSEN, Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Chris is a climate scientist, who studies Earth's past and future climate change using both theoretical (climate models) and observational methods. He is interested in what the past can reveal about how the climate system works and how the modern climate system is changing. He has published on climate topics including snowball Earth dynamics, extreme greenhouse climates, mountain-uplift induced climate change, ice-age cycles, and plant physiological forcing of past and future climate.
Chris grew up in southwestern Montana. After graduating from Carleton College in Minnesota, he earned a PhD from the Pennsylvania State University followed by a post-doc at the University of Chicago. He landed at the University of Michigan in 2003, where he is now a Professor. Chris has not forgotten his roots, and returns to Big Sky country every summer to teach at UM's Camp Davis near Jackson, Wyoming. View Chris' curriculum vitae.
Chris grew up in southwestern Montana. After graduating from Carleton College in Minnesota, he earned a PhD from the Pennsylvania State University followed by a post-doc at the University of Chicago. He landed at the University of Michigan in 2003, where he is now a Professor. Chris has not forgotten his roots, and returns to Big Sky country every summer to teach at UM's Camp Davis near Jackson, Wyoming. View Chris' curriculum vitae.
PAUL ACOSTA, Research Fellow
Paul is an Earth science buff and pretty much an enthusiast for any type of science. In particular, he is curious about the interactions between the mountains and the atmosphere. Currently, he is using physics-based, global climate models to better quantify the ancient elevation of various planetary-scale mountain ranges such as the Andes and Tibetan Plateau during the Cenozoic era.
Paul is a California native, he got his B.S. in Geology and Environmental Science from UC Santa Cruz. His doctoral work has allowed him to travel to the Northeast (University of New Hampshire) and the Midwest (Purdue University), where he worked on understanding future climate change in the greater New England region and modern dynamics of the Indo-Asian monsoon. On his spare time, Paul enjoys outdoor activities, such as climbing, white water kayaking, or backpacking.
Paul is a California native, he got his B.S. in Geology and Environmental Science from UC Santa Cruz. His doctoral work has allowed him to travel to the Northeast (University of New Hampshire) and the Midwest (Purdue University), where he worked on understanding future climate change in the greater New England region and modern dynamics of the Indo-Asian monsoon. On his spare time, Paul enjoys outdoor activities, such as climbing, white water kayaking, or backpacking.
PHOEBE ARON, PhD Pre-Candidate
Phoebe uses water isotopes as tracers of hydrologic processes. She studies large-scale hydrologic dynamics of modern and paleoclimate in the Peruvian Andes and small-scale water use in the forests at the UM Biological Station.
Phoebe grew up outside of Washington DC and studied chemistry and environmental science at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Outside of work she enjoys ultimate frisbee, backpacking, distance cycling, and jigsaw puzzles.
Phoebe grew up outside of Washington DC and studied chemistry and environmental science at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Outside of work she enjoys ultimate frisbee, backpacking, distance cycling, and jigsaw puzzles.
SOPHIA MACAREWICH, PhD Pre-Candidate
Sophia is interested in past extreme warming events, particularly the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, as it is argued to be the best paleoclimate analogue of modern climate change. She would like to better understand what climatic mechanisms are responsible for sustaining such high temperatures, as well as the associated environmental changes that occurred during the early Eocene.
Sophia grew up on the West Coast between Los Angeles and San Diego, and then moved up the coast to study Physical Geography and Environmental Science at UC Santa Barbara. In her free time, she enjoys camping, drawing, baking, and doing yoga.
Sophia grew up on the West Coast between Los Angeles and San Diego, and then moved up the coast to study Physical Geography and Environmental Science at UC Santa Barbara. In her free time, she enjoys camping, drawing, baking, and doing yoga.
HONG SHEN, PhD Pre-Candidate
Hong (Dora) got her Bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Science in Nanjing University in 2013 and joined our lab in 2014. She is now working on untangling how landscape and climate co-evolved in the Andes and how stable oxygen isotope can be linked to climate change and topography in south Asia.
ALEX THOMPSON, PhD Pre-Candidate
Alex aims to study how climate changes lead to alterations in the hydrologic system and put stress on the natural and human world. By exploring Holocene climates, he intends to investigate similarities between recent paleoclimate and future climate change. Both tropical African and South American climates are of interest to Alex.
Alex grew up in Dexter, MI and earned a double major from the University of Michigan in Earth and Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. In between undergraduate and graduate studies, he worked in environmental data management consulting at Industrial Economics, Inc. in Cambridge, MA. Alex enjoys outdoor adventure and playing musical instruments, such as the ukulele, drums, and more.
Alex grew up in Dexter, MI and earned a double major from the University of Michigan in Earth and Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. In between undergraduate and graduate studies, he worked in environmental data management consulting at Industrial Economics, Inc. in Cambridge, MA. Alex enjoys outdoor adventure and playing musical instruments, such as the ukulele, drums, and more.
JIANG ZHU, Research Fellow
Jiang is working on simulating Earth's climate in the deep past. He aims to better understand the climate dynamics and ocean circulation in past warm worlds, from which he hopes to learn about our climate future. Jiang is one of the key developers of the isotope-enabled Community Earth System Model. He is also interested in applying isotope-enabled model to investigate past climate and hydrological changes.
Jiang received a PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Spring 2017. For his PhD, he worked on various projects, including the evolution and dynamics of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation during the last deglaciation, the ENSO variability at the last glacial maximum, the Holocene temperature conundrum, and simulating and interpreting water isotopes during abrupt climate changes. Jiang got his B.S. and M.S. in atmospheric sciences from Peking University in China. Jiang enjoys music, movies, fictions and soccer games. Visit Jiang's website to learn more about him and his work.
Jiang received a PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Spring 2017. For his PhD, he worked on various projects, including the evolution and dynamics of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation during the last deglaciation, the ENSO variability at the last glacial maximum, the Holocene temperature conundrum, and simulating and interpreting water isotopes during abrupt climate changes. Jiang got his B.S. and M.S. in atmospheric sciences from Peking University in China. Jiang enjoys music, movies, fictions and soccer games. Visit Jiang's website to learn more about him and his work.
