Professor Anouk Verheyden-Gillikin is a senior lecturer in geosciences and is also a part of the ESPE department. Her main research interest is tropical dendrochronology, which is the study of tree rings. She is also the head of the stable isotope lab in Olin.

What is the focus of the research lab?

The focus of the Stable Isotope Research Lab is anything to do with stable isotopes. Stable isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons. Because of this, isotopes of the same element will behave slightly different. This difference is what we study and has broad applications as hydrology, paleoclimate, biogeochemistry, soil sciences, ecology, plant physiology chemistry, environmental studies, archeology, volcanology, forensic science, nutrition assessment studies, and many more.

What are some of your current projects?

My role as lab manager is to facilitate the research of students and faculty. Currently we have several students working on isotopes in 1) paleoclimate reconstruction using speleothems from Peruvian caves with Profs. Rodbell, Gillikin and Dr. Olson; 2) groundwater and precipitation with Prof. Stahl; 3) ticks to trace their hosts with Prof LoGiudice; 4) soils and sediments from the Pine Bush with Prof Corbin; 5) to determine environmental information from archeological plant materials with Prof. Committo. I am also involved with research on toxins in tuna, wastewater in bivalves (blue mussels), and using isotopes in hair to investigate changes in diet as
roads are built through the Amazon.

What kind of work do research students do in your lab? What prerequisites do you recommend
for this research?
Research students prepare their own samples before analysis. Depending on the type of research, this can mean drilling out small quantities of carbonates using release the carbon as carbon dioxide. Other research requires weighing out ticks, fur, sediment or food samples and packing them in tiny tin cups (fine motor skills required). We also employ work study students who are a huge help at keeping the lab running. As for prerequisites:
most introductory geosciences classes provide the basics of stable isotopes, but I also provide tailored training depending on a student’s background.

How do you connect your work with the greater scientific community?

Many of the students using the stable isotope lab will present their data either at scientific conferences or through publication. Students that I’ve worked recently with have presented at the Geological Society of America and the Past Global changes meetings. I also take part in writing scientific papers by helping develop analytical methods, interpret the isotope data, and writing parts of the papers. I have recently co-authored papers in PNAS, Frontiers in Marine Science, QuaternaryResearch, and Biogeosciences.