Allison Jacobel

Dr. Allison Jacobel, Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences

Spanning a broad arc of climate system studies, my research projects to date have examined the ontogeny of modern corals, investigated tropical hydroclimate dynamics, assessed the controls on paleo productivity and deep-ocean carbon sequestration, and explored the origin of abrupt climate change events. All of these the topics share three features: they 1) further our investigation of the coupled ocean-atmosphere system, 2) employ novel biogeochemical proxies and techniques, and 3) help improve predictions of future climate change. The scientific questions that I find most compelling go beyond reconstructing paleoclimate; they elucidate the underlying drivers and mechanisms of change in the climate system.

My approach to Earth and climate science is grounded in using the chemical composition of microfossils, sediments, and organic biomarkers to reconstruct environmental conditions and processes. Specifically, I use radiogenic (U, Th, and Pa) and stable isotopes (O, C, and N), trace element ratios (e.g., Mg/Ca), elemental abundances, foraminifera assemblages, and alkenone biomarkers to reconstruct ocean properties including temperature, salinity, circulation patterns, primary productivity, carbon storage, and oxygen concentrations.

In my free time I enjoy cycling, photography, and spending time with my dog Freya.

B.A. Macalester College ‘11, M.A. Columbia University ‘13, Ph.D. Columbia University ‘17, Voss Postdoctoral Fellow Brown University ‘20

Current Members of the FOR@M

Maya Millner ‘26.5 (Summer Research Assistant)

Maya is a junior feb, a major in Biology, minor in ECSC from Los Angeles, California. She is spending the summer in the FOR@M, studying Barium excess as a proxy for paleoproductivity in the Line Islands around the last glacial maximum as part of the lab’s new NSF grant. She is also helping pick Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi from the California margin in an effort to reconstruct past carbon cycle changes. Maya is particularly interested in the many foraminifera species and which conditions lead to the appearance of which species in any particular depth. In her free time, Maya enjoys getting outside with her friends and playing ultimate frisbee.

Anne Thompson ‘26.5 (Summer Research Assistant)

Anne Thompson is a rising junior Feb ECSC-Bio joint major from Reno, NV. She is currently working on a sediment core from the California Margin (ODP 1019) measuring Barium excess to help constrain respired carbon storage in the ocean and to evaluate the alkenone abundance as a productivity proxy. Anne is interested in the intersection between biology and earth and climate science, specifically how various life forms can help inform our current understanding of the global climate system. She is currently very fascinated by paleoceanography and also hopes to someday research the impacts of shifting wildfire regimes in the Western US. In her free time, Anne loves having adventures outside, trying out new recipes, and reading. 

Ella Powers ‘27 (Research Assistant + Summer RA)

Ella Powers is a sophomore Environmental Studies and ECSC joint major from Hamden, CT. In the FOR@M, she is working on a multicore from the Iceland Basin (CE23011). By analyzing the oxygen isotopes of the polar foraminifera species Globigerina bulloides she plans to create a high-resolution climate reconstruction spanning the last glacial cycle. Ella is interested in international environmental policy related to our oceans and working with all stakeholders to implement sustainable solutions. In her free time, Ella enjoys spending time outdoors, listening to music, and making art, both edible and nonedible!

Ashley Rodriguez ‘25 (Research Assistant, SiTrAC Scientific Party)

Ashley is currently a junior joint majoring in Biology and ECSC from East Los Angeles, California. She is currently working on examining multicore sediment from the North Atlantic that she helped to collect aboard the Celtic Explorer's on a recent cruise to Greenland (CE23011). Using oxygen isotopes of the polar foraminifera species, N. pachyderma she plans to create a high-resolution climate reconstruction of the last glacial cycle with specific focus on the 8.2ky freshwater forcing that occurred in the N. Atlantic. Ashley is also interested in bridging the gap between earth sciences and biological sciences with the goal of learning more about the potential for new climate proxies based on biological features of other marine index fossils. She also hopes to dabble in genetics soon. In her free time Ashley spends time outdoors soaking up the sun or catching a Middlebury sports game with friends

Hope Jerris ‘25 (Research Assistant)

Hope is a junior feb ECSC major from Branchburg, New Jersey. In the FOR@M she is picking and analyzing the B/Ca ratios of Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi from sediment cores from the Line Islands to reconstruct changes in deep ocean carbonate chemistry over the last glacial cycle. Hope has a newfound interest in the stories that benthic foraminifera can tell, and hopes to transfer the skills that she develops in this lab to paleo-research on salt marshes. When she’s not talking about forams, Hope can usually be found knitting or baking something sourdough.

Lake Willett ‘25 (Research Assistant)

Lake is a junior feb ECSC major from New Paltz, New York. She is currently working to develop age-depth models for sediment cores from the Line Islands using oxygen isotope stratigraphies, and examining coarse fraction percentages to help quantify dissolution. While Lake is still developing her specific research interests, she is fascinated by many things "micro" right now: how the tiny creatures and processes in aquatic environments affect larger water systems. When she's not picking forams, Lake can be found somewhere in the mountains, rain or shine!

Past Members of the FOR@M

Amanda Manoogian ‘23.5 (Research Assistant)

Lily Applebaum ‘23.5 (Research Assistant)

Kyra McClean ‘23 (Senior Thesis)

Elle Thompson ‘25 (Research Assistant)

Theresa Barth ‘24 (Research Assistant)

Molly Klingner ‘24 (Independent Study)

Sam Messina ‘23.5 (Senior Thesis)

Hugh Easton ‘23 (Research Assistant + Summer Research Assistant)

Raffi Najarian ‘23 (Senior Thesis)

Shane Lusk ‘22 (Senior Thesis)

Rachel Nahirny ‘21.5 (Senior Thesis)