Research

Research Themes

1. Documenting anthropogenic impacts on mollusc calcification
2. Interpreting molluscan shells as records of Holocene environments
3. Understanding environmental and biological controls on mollusc biomineralization

All of these themes are focused on ecologically, economically, and/or culturally significant mollusc species (e.g., edible clams, mussels, oysters)

Research Questions

• What is the relationship between the environment and shell characteristics in a particular mollusc species?
• How have shell characteristics changed through time in response to environmental and climatic changes? Over what scales?
• What are the spatial and temporal scales of changing shell characteristics?
• How do shell characteristics respond to and record biological and environmental signals?

Research Methods

• Optical microscopy
• Statistical data-synthesis methods (RStudio)
• Morphological measurements
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
• Geochemical analysis (stable isotopes, trace elemental ratios)

Research Policies

The ideal QuIP lab member is interested in shells, coastal environments, and/or climate change in the past or present. We also value a commitment to ethical science (e.g., minimally invasive methods, fieldwork only when necessary, community partnerships whenever possible). This means that fieldwork is an exception, not the norm, in the QuIP Lab. We draw from existing datasets or museum collections rather than conducting extractive or invasive fieldwork. The QuIP lab strives to provide an inclusive environment for aspiring scientists of any background, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or dis/ability.