predawn@mit.edu

CV (updated April 8, 2013)

Bio:

I am an interdisciplinary scientist working on research questions at the intersection of microbial ecology and atmospheric science. Currently, I am a postdoctoral associate at MIT. I am working on the publications from my dissertation, which was a measurement-based study of the significant, but poorly understood microbe-mediated soil sink for atmospheric H₂. My advisor is Ron Prinn TEPCO Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, Director of the Center for Global Change Science, and Co-Director of the Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change.

I am exploring possibilities for a postdoctoral position in 2013. I am interested in utilizing and expanding my skill set in microbial ecology to study biogeochemical processes that exert a significant control on our atmosphere (via climate-relevant trace gases or aerosols). I also aim to continue my participation in atmospheric flux measurements.

In October 2012 I defended my doctoral dissertation (link to .pdf) entitled “Field Measurement of the Fate of Atmospheric H₂ in a Forest Environment: from Canopy to Soil” in the Climate Physics and Chemistry track of the Program in Oceans, Atmospheres and Climate, Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, MIT. For my thesis work, I built a custom instrument to measure the flux of atmospheric H₂ into the soils both above and below the forest canopy at Harvard Forest. I isolated H₂-consuming soil microorganisms from Harvard Forest and characterized their ability to scavenge atmospheric H₂ with undergraduate mentee Deepa Rao. Deepa was awarded the Christopher Goetze Prize for Undergraduate Research for her Bachelor of Science Thesis on this topic.

For my undergraduate studies, I attended California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo. I received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (summa cum laude) in 2005 with a concentration in Polymers and Coatings. I was able to apply my studies in chemistry (and in the German language) during a six-month internship at BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany, where I researched inorganic additives to aid the spray drying process of polymer suspensions. There, I was inspired to go to grad school for my PhD so I could someday lead my own research program. I also found that I was much less interested in applying chemistry for product development than I was for using it as a tool for understanding the natural world and its sensitivity to anthropogenic forcing.

I am originally from Southern Oregon. My three sisters and I attended public schools in the Phoenix-Talent School District. We are all now scientists of various sorts (soil scientist, forester, dietitian) probably as a result of my father’s interest in science (semi-retired forester). My mother is a retired kindergarten teacher and tai chi enthusiast. My hobbies include hiking, camping, biking, yoga, rock climbing, and learning languages.