My scientific and policy research interests are guided by the recognition that, over the last two centuries, human civilization has become a geological force; we are inducing planetary environmental conditions like those that Earth has not experienced for millions of years.

My scientific research focuses on employing statistical and process models to integrate diverse geological data sets, with the proximal goal of improving understanding of past Earth system states and the ultimate goals of testing and strengthening models of future global change. One area of particular emphasis is using records of past sea-level changes to improve estimates of ice sheet stability and future sea-level change

My policy-related research focuses on quantifying human impacts on the global climate, assessing the potential of different policies and technologies to mitigate these impacts, and incorporating climate change impacts into benefit-cost and risk management analyses.

Prior to joining the Rutgers faculty, I served as a AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Office of Policy and International Affairs. At DOE, I provided key technical support to the White House-led process on incorporating the social cost of carbon into regulatory analysis and played a leading role in the development and launch of the Clean Energy Ministerial's appliance and equipment efficiency effort, the Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment initiative.

Prior to this fellowship, I was a Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy postdoctoral research fellow at Princeton University. I received my Ph.D. in geobiology from Caltech and my S.B. in geophysical sciences from the University of Chicago.