Current Fosdick Lab Members
Lab PI
Julie Fosdick, Ph.D. (Associate Professor) she/her
Education
Ph.D., 2012: Geological & Environmental Sciences, Stanford University
M.S., 2007: Geological & Environmental Sciences, Stanford University
B.S., 2004: Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara
Email: julie.fosdick at uconn.edu
Curriculum Vitae Repository of Publications
Julie is a geoscientist with expertise in thermochronology, geochronology, and sedimentary basin analysis. Her research focuses on reconstructing ancient and active mountain-building and erosion to understand how tectonics, magmatism, and surface processes interact to shape the Earth’s continental lithosphere. Julie holds a B.S. with high honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University in Geological and Environmental Sciences. Julie was a National Science Foundation Earth Science Postdoctoral Fellow through the University of Arizona from 2012-2013. Julie is the recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to explore the detrital thermochronologic signals of sediment recycling in orogenic systems, with focus on the Argentine Sierras Pampeanas and development of monazite (U-Th). She directs the Basin Analysis and Helium Thermochronology Laboratory service center at UConn and serves as the Department of Earth Sciences Undergraduate Research Coordinator. Julie was a founding board member of the Geological Society of America Geochronology Division and served as its Secretary/Treasurer from 2018-2021.
Current Graduate Students
Julian Biddle (Ph.D. Candidate)
Education
M.S., 2017: Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso
B.S., 2015: Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso
Email: julian.biddle at uconn.edu
Julian’s research will involve using structural, sedimentologic, and low-temperature thermochronologic techniques to understand the mountain-building and basin development of the Sierras Pampeanas in Argentina. He is particularly focused on using the apatite, zircon, and monazite (U-Th)/He thermochronology systems to help constrain the thermal history of the Sierras Pampeanas.
Arielle Mota (M.S. Student)
Education
B.S., 2023: Geology, Northern Illinois University
Email: arielle.mota at uconn.edu
Arielle received her B.S. in Geology from Northern Illinois University where she studied past climate in the Northern Latitudes using peat cores. Her Masters research at UConn will focus on quantifying long-term erosion rates through modern catchment detrital apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronology in the modern Sierras Pampeanas ranges in Argentina.
Ozan Sinoplu (Ph.D. Student)
Education
M.Sc., 2023: Geology, Auburn University (USA)
B.Sc., 2019: Geological Engineering, Middle East Technical University (TUR)
Email: ozan at uconn.edu
Website: www.ozansinoplu.com
Ozan’s research interests revolve around Paleozoic to recent tectonic problems in various settings. His work at UConn includes investigating basin history in Sierras Pampeanas through geochemistry, sedimentology and geo/thermo-chronology. In a broader context, this work aims to further the understanding of polycyclic sedimentation and related proxies in orogenic basins.
Former Graduate Students
Tony Edgington (M.S. 2023) www.anthonyedgington.com
Rebecca VanderLeest (Ph.D. 2020) now Assistant Professor at CSU Ft. Collins Research Website
Jacqueline Giblin (M.S. 2019) now PhD Candidate at Arizona State University Research Website
Isabelle Bristol (M.S. 2019) now Research Assistant at Delaware Geological Survey LinkedIn
Rsme Ali (M.S. 2016 Indiana University), now Chemistry Scientist at Catalent Pharma Solutions LinkedIn
Joel Lenoard (M.S. 2016 Indiana University) now Assistant Professor at New Mexico Tech Research Website
Ellen Reat (M.S. 2016 Indiana University) now Regional Explorationist at Chevron Energy Technology Company LinkedIn
Louis Wersan (M.S. 2015 Indiana University) now Senior Geologist at Hi Crush, Inc., LinkedIn
Former Undergraduate Students
Brigid Bernier (B.S. 2023) admitted to the graduate program at Oklahoma University
Tatiana Sihpol (B.S. 2023) admitted to the graduate program at University of California, San Diego
Aquia Providence (B.S. 2021) admitted to the graduate program at Wesleyan University
Nicholas DeSisto (B.S. 2020) admitted to the graduate program at California State University Fresno
Former Postdocs and Laboratory Technicians
Dr. Cullen Kortyna, Postdoctoral Scholar (2022-2024), now Research Scientist at the University of Colorado TRaIL Research Website
Dr. Megan Mueller, Laboratory Technician and Research Scientist (2021-2023), now NSF Earth Science Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Arizona Research Website
Dr. Chelsea Mackaman-Lofland, NSF Earth Science Postdoctoral Fellow (2020-2022), now Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Research Website
Dr. Adam Goldsmith, Laboratory Technician and Research Scientist (2018-2021), now instrument technician at Applied Spectra