I work at the interfaces of biological, geological and climatological sciences. The overall objective of my research is to understand long-term ecosystem dynamics under changing climatic conditions. To achieve this objective, I use "the natural experiments of the past" that are archived in geological deposits (e.g., lake sediments). These deposits offer a long-term holistic perspective into past environmental conditions, some of which do not exist today but may be analogs of different climatic conditions in the future. In pursuing my research interests, I integrate traditional paleoecological analyses and state-of-the-art analytical tools (e.g., genomic, geochemical, and numerical-modeling techniques). My students and I have conducted field research from the tropics to the Arctic to address a wide array of global change questions. We have authored more than 110 scholarly articles in top-tier disciplinary and interdisciplinary journals.

I am currently serving as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Despite my administrative duties, I continue to enjoy working closely with students on their research projects. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to contact me directly to explore research of mutual interest.