Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Chelsea Pederson

Please describe the type of research that you do and background as far as degree path.

My research involves the formation and alteration of carbonate sediments. Much of the work involves using the geochemistry of marine deposits to better understand the environment when they were formed (temperature, ocean chemistry, etc.). I received my BSc and PhD from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science before moving to the Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany for a postdoctoral position.

At USM, my research will be integrated into the different lecture courses that I’ll be teaching. I will also be leading field courses in some of my field sites as well - in particular The Bahamas. I’m currently collaborating with Dr. Davin Wallace’s group on reconstructing paleoenvironmental conditions and better understanding sea level fluctuations across the Mississippi shelf and will hopefully add other collaborations within the department as I continue to recognize overlap in research interests.

List the most recent (past, present or near future) projects that you are engaging in and provide info about that project’s funding.

Current projects include:

1. The lagoonal and near shore system of Abu Dhabi;
2. Ooid sand formation and early burial processes;
3. Experimental alteration of carbonates; and
4. Paleoenvironmental studies of the Mississippi shelf.

List the students that you are currently working with as well as their projects they are involved in.

• Co-advised PhD student on the lagoons of Abu Dhabi
• Co-advised PhD student working with modern ooids

Any other information that you would like to share which may be of interest to other potential faculty, students, or funding entities.

If you’re interested in an MSc project looking at the geochemistry recent sediments or experimental alteration of carbonates, please get in touch!