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Profile

Dr. Brachfeld is the Vice Provost for Research at žž�� State University. Dr. Brachfeld's team in the Office of Research supports and facilitates research production, administration, and compliance. Dr. Brachfeld is particularly interested in working across university divisions and offices to build our culture of research, modernize žž��'s research infrastructure, engage in research master planning, and advance žž��'s leadership role in New Jersey as a public doctoral research university.

Dr. Brachfeld is an active researcher, an elected member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society, previous recipient of the Antarctic Service Medal, NSF Early Career Award, CSAM's Sokol Faculty Fellowship, and the University's Distinguished Scholar award. Her expertise is in marine geology, Antarctic System Science, paleoclimatology, paleomagnetism, environmental magnetism, and planetary magnetism. Dr. Brachfeld has earned over $4M in research funding from the National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, International Ocean Discovery Program, and Antarctic Drilling Program, and served as PI or co-PI on 5 instrumentation grants. She has served as an invited member of advisory boards for multiple NSF-funded national facilities and programs including the Institute for Rock Magnetism, Antarctic Marine Geology Research Facility, US Polar Rock Repository, Antarctic Research and Supply Vessel Scientific Advisory Committee, and the Polar Subcommittee of the Advisory Board to the NSF Geoscience Directorate. She currently chairs the Science Communication subcommittee of the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling (USAC) and serves on the editorial board of the journal Marine Geology.

Dr. Brachfeld has participated in 11 marine geology and geophysics and paleoceanographic expeditions to Antarctica, the North Atlantic Ocean, and Arctic Ocean aboard the research vessels Nathaniel B. Palmer, Laurence M. Gould, US Coast Guard Cutter Healy, JOIDES Resolution, Marion Dufresne, and the Araon, and served in leadership roles as watch chief on 6 expeditions. She was an invited member of the Antarctic Drilling Program McMurdo Ice Shelf Science Team. Eight žž�� State University students have joined Dr. Brachfeld on these expeditions. Dr. Brachfeld is especially proud of her 70+ žž�� State University student advisees who are now gainfully employed as environmental professionals, geoscientists, K-12 educators, education and outreach specialists, government employees, postdocs and research scientists, professors, and those pursuing advanced degrees.

Dr. Brachfeld previously served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research in the College of Science and Mathematics where she oversaw curriculum, research support, facilities, and finance. Prior to serving in the Dean's Office Dr. Brachfeld was Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Director of the PhD program in Environmental Management, Graduate Program Coordinator and Undergraduate Program Advisor for the MS and BS programs in Earth and Environmental Science, and was the Founding Director of the electron microscopy facility now known as the Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Laboratory.

Dr. Brachfeld has longstanding interests in student fellowships and research grants, professional development and career planning, academic leadership development, and helping students and early career scientists locate level-appropriate research grant programs. She serves as a Resource Faculty Member for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Please see her links section for pointers to student scholarships, student research grants, graduate and postdoctoral research fellowships and websites listing job opportunities in geoscience, environmental science, geography, sustainability, and GIS.

Google Scholar Profile:
ORCID Profile:

EDUCATION
Ph.D. Geophysics, University of Minnesota, MN, 1999
M.S. Geology, California Institute of Technology, CA 1992
B.S. Geology, University of Rochester, NY 1990

APPOINTMENTS
Vice Provost for Research, 07/2024 to present
Acting Vice Provost for Research, 8/2022 - 06/2024
APLU Council on Research (CoR) Research Leader Fellowship Program, 6/2024 to present
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research, College of Science and Mathematics, 7/18-7/22.
Acting Associate Dean, College of Science and Mathematics, 9/17-6/18
Director, PhD Program in Environmental Management, žž�� State University, 7/15-8/17
Chair, Earth and Environmental Studies, žž�� State University 9/13-8/17
Professor, Earth and Environmental Studies, žž�� State University, 9/13 to present
Adjunct Scientist, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 2009 to present
Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Studies, žž�� State University, 9/07-8/13
Assistant Professor, Earth and Environmental Studies, žž�� State University, 9/03-8/07
Research Associate, Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, 2002-2003
Byrd Postdoctoral Fellow, Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, 2001-2002
Postdoctoral scientist and adjunct instructor, Geology and Geophysics, University of Minnesota, 1999-2000
Instructor, Youth and Family Programs, Science Museum of Minnesota, 1997
Instructor, College of Liberal Arts Honors Division, University of Minnesota, 1996
Instructor, College of Extension and Continuing Education, University of Minnesota, 1992

RECENT PUBLICATIONS
* indicates current or former žž�� student author
§ indicates a student author at another institution

Cowan, E.A., Wang, Z., Brachfeld, S., Vengosh, A., Hageman, S.J., Seramur, K.C., Pearson, W.F., §Wilson, J., §Karcher, R., Hill, R., 2024. Role of coal ash morphology and composition in delivery and transport of trace metals in the aquatic environment, Environmental Pollution, .

*Reilly, B., Tauxe, L., Brachfeld, S., Kenlee, B., Gutjhar, M., Dale, A., Hernández-Almeida, Hemming, S., Bailey, I., Zheng, X., Cheu, D., Taglienti, R., Weber, M.E., Raymo, R., Williams, T., 2024. A geochemical mechanism for >10 m offsets of magnetic reversals inferred from the comparison of two Scotia Sea drill sites, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, .

Dong, Y., *Gachetti, A., *Wu, Q., *DePalma, M., Hu, X., Brachfeld, S., Yang, Z., Jiang, S., Cui, Y. 2024. Paleoenvironment reconstruction of the eastern Tethys during the pre-onset excursion prior to the PETM. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, .

Bierman, P.R., Christ, A.J., §Collins, C.M., §Mastro, H.M., §Souza, J., Blard, P.-H., Brachfeld, S., Courville, Z.R., Rittenour, T.M., Thomas, E.K., Tison, J.-L., Fripiat, F., 2024. The Camp Century sub-glacial sediment core: scientific history, sub-sampling approach, and physical characterization of a rare archive from beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet, The Cryosphere, .

Brachfeld, S., §McCartney, K., Hammer, J.E., Shea, T., Giachetti, T., 2024. Evaluating the role of titanomagnetite in bubble nucleation: Rock magnetic detection and characterization of nanolites and ultra-nanolites in rhyolite pumice and obsidian from Glass Mountain, California, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, .

§McCartney, K., Hammer, J.E., Shea, T., Brachfeld, S., Giachetti, T., 2024. Investigating the role of nanoscale titanomagnetite in bubble nucleation via novel applications of magnetic analyses, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, .

Wang, C-C., Hemming, S., O’Connell, S., §Carter, E., Rasbury, T., Williams, T., *Reilly, B.T., Brachfeld, S., Li, S., 2024. Stratigraphy and provenance of glacial-marine sediments off Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, during the mid‐Pleistocene transition and implications for ice sheet dynamics, Quaternary Science Reviews, 325, 108483, .

*§Verhagen, C., Jung, J.-I., Tikoo, S.M., Wittman, Z., Kring, D.A., Brachfeld, S., Wu, L., Burns, D.H., Gulick, S.P.S., 2023. The Nature of Secondary Fe-oxides and Sulfides in Upper Peak Ring Suevite from the Chicxulub Impact Structure, Minerals, 13(3), 353, .

§Dong, L., Polyak, L., Xiao, X., Brachfeld, S., Liu, Y., Shi, X., Fang, X., Bai, Y., Zhu, A., Li, C., Zhao, S., Wu, C., Wang, C., 2022. A Eurasian Basin sedimentary record of glacial impact on the central Arctic Ocean during MIS 1-4, Global and Planetary Change, Global and Planetary Change, .

§Wang, Z., Cowan, E.A., Seramur, K., Dwyer, G.S., §Wilson, J.C., §Karcher,R., Brachfeld, S., and Vengosh, A., 2022. Legacy of coal ash contamination in lake sediments and implications for prevalent risks to aquatic ecosystems, Environmental Science & Technology, .

Armbrecht, L., Weber, M., Raymo, M., Peck, V., Williams, T., Warnock, J., Hernández-Almeida, I., §Hoem, F., Kato, Y., *Reilly, B., Hemming, S., Bailey, I., Martos, Y.M., Gutjahr, M. Brachfeld, S., and the Exp. 382 Scientists, 2022. 600,000 year old marine eukaryote sedaDNA reveals diatom transition in Antarctica (IODP Exp. 382), Nature Communications, .

Warnock, J.P., *Reilly, B.T., Raymo, M.E., Weber, M.E., Peck, V., Williams, T., Armbrecht, L., Bailey, I., Brachfeld, S., Du., Z., Gerson, F., Garcia, M.M., §Gluder, A., §Guitard, M., Gutjahr, M., Hemming, S., Hernández-Almeida, I., §Hoem, F.S., §Hwang, J.-H., Iizuka, M., Kato, Y., §Lee, B., Martos, Y.M, O’Connell, S., Pérez, L., Ronge, T.A., Seki, O., Tauxe, L., §Tripathi, S., Zheng, Z., Stoner, J., and Scherer, R.P., 2022. Latitudinal variance in the drivers and pacing of warmth during mid-Pleistocene MIS 31 in the Antarctic Zone of the Southern Ocean, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, .

Bailey, I., Hemming, S., *Reilly, B., Rollinson, G., Williams, T., Weber, M., Raymo, M., Peck, V., Ronge, T., Brachfeld, S., O’Connell, S., Tauxe, L., Warnock, J., Armbrecht, L., Cardillo, F., Du, Z., Fauth, G., Garcia, M., §Glueder, A., §Guitard, M., Gutjahr, M., Hernandez-Almeida, I., §Hoem, F., §Hwang, J.-H., §Iizuk, M., Kato, Y., §Kenlee, B., Martos, Y., Perez, L., Seki, O., §Tripathi, S., Zheng, X., 2022. Episodes of early Pleistocene West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat recorded by Iceberg Alley sediments, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, .

Weber, M. E., Bailey, I., Hemming, S.R., Martos, Y.M., *Reilly, B.T., Ronge, T. A., Brachfeld, S.A., Williams, T., Raymo, M. E., Belt, S.T., Smik, L., Vogel, H., Peck, V., L. Armbrecht, L., Cage, C., Cardillo, F.G., Du, Z., Fauth, G., Fogwill, C.J., Garcia, M., Garnsworthy, M., §Glüder, A., §Guitard, M., Gutjahr, M., Hernández-Almeida, I., §Hoem, F.S., §Hwang, J. -H., §Iizuka, M., Kato, Y., §Kenlee, B., O’Connell, S., Pérez, L.F., Seki, O., Stevens, L., Tauxe, L., §Tripathi, S., Warnock, J., Zheng, X., 2022. Antiphased dust deposition and productivity in the Antarctic Zone over 1.5 million years, Nature Communications, 13 (1), 1-18.


*Reilly, B., Tauxe, L., Brachfeld, S., Raymo, M., Bailey, I., Hemming, S., Weber, M., Williams, T., Garcia, M., §Guitard, M., Martos, Y., Perez, L., Zheng, X., Armbrecht, L., Cardillo, F., Du, Z., Fauth, G., §Glueder, A., Gutjar, M., Hernandez-Almeida, I., §Hoem, F., §Hwang, J., §Iizuka, M., Kato, Y., §Lee, B., O’Connell, S., Peck, V., Ronge, T., Seki, O., §Tripathi, S., Warnock, J., 2021. New magnetostratigraphic insights from Iceber Alley on the trends and rhythms Antarctic climate during the Plio-Pleistocene, Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, V36(2), .

Perez, L.F., Martos, Y.M., Garía, M., Weber, M.E., Raymo, M.E., Williams, T., Bohoyo, F., Armbrecht, L., Bailey, I., Brachfeld, S., §Glüder, A., §Guitard, M., Gutjar, M., Hemming, S., Hernández-Almeida, I., §Hoem, F.S., Kato, Y., O’Connell, S., Peck, V., *Reilly, B., Ronge, T., Tauxe, L., Warnock, J., Zheng, X., and the IODP Expedition 382 Scientists, 2021. Miocene to present oceanographic variability in the Scotia Sea and Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics: Insight from revised seismic-stratigraphy following IODP Expedition 382, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, .

*Reilly, B., McCormick, M., Brachfeld, S., Hayley, B., 2020. Authigenic ferrimagnetic iron sulfide preservation due to non-steady state diagenesis: A perspective from Perseverance Drift, Northwestern Weddell Sea, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, .

§Pereira, P.S., van de Flierdt, T., Hemming, S., Frederichs, T., Hammond, S., Brachfeld, S., *Doherty, C. Kuhn, G., Smith, J., Klages, J., Hillenbrand, C-D., 2020. The geochemical and mineralogical fingerprint of West Antarctica's weak underbelly: Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers, Chemical Geology, .

§Dove, I.A., Leventer, A., Metcalf, M., Brachfeld, S., Dunbar, R., Manley, P., Shevenell, A., Murray, R., Hommeyer, M., Kryc, K.A., McLenaghan, N., Taylor, F., Huber, B., 2020. Marine geological and geophysical investigation of Edward VIII Gulf, Kemp Coast, East Antarctica, Antarctic Science, 1-13, .

Wellner, J.S., Scambos, Domack, E.W., Vernet, M., Leventer, A., Balco, G., Brachfeld, S., Cape, M.R., Huber, B., Ishman, S., McCormick, M.L., Mosley-Thompson, E., Petit, E., Smith, C.R., Truffer, M., van Dover, C., Yoo, K.-C., 2019. The Larsen Ice Shelf System, Antarctica (LARISSA): Polar Systems Bound Together, Changing Fast, GSA Today, 29, 1-7, .

§Dipre, G., Polyak, L. , Kuznetsov, A. , Oti, E., Ortiz, J., Brachfeld, S., Xuan, C., Lazar, K., Cook, A., 2018. Plio-Pleistocene sedimentary record from the Northwind Ridge: first insight 2 into paleoclimatic evolution of the western Arctic Ocean for the last >5 Ma, Arktos: PAST Gateways Special Issue, v4, 2018.

§Pereira, P.S, van de Flierdt, T., Hemming, S.R., Hammond, S.J, Kuhn, G., Brachfeld, S., *Doherty, C., and Hillenbrand. C.-D., 2018. Geochemical fingerprints of glacially eroded bedrock from West Antarctica: detrital thermochronology, radiogenic isotope systematics and trace element geochemistry in Late Holocene glacial-marine sediments,” Earth-Science Reviews, 182. 204-232. .

§Kyrmanidou, A., §Vadman, K., Ishman, S., Leventer, A., Brachfeld, S., Domack, E., Wellner, J.S. 2018. Late Holocene oceanographic and climatic variability in the Perseverance Drift, northwestern Weddell Sea based on benthic foraminifera and diatoms, Marine Micropaleontology, 141:10-22.

Cowan, E.A., §Epperson, E.E., Seramur, K.C., Brachfeld, S.A., and Hageman, 2017. S.J., Magnetic susceptibility as a proxy for coal ash pollution within riverbed sediments in a watershed with complex geology (southeastern USA), Environmental Earth Science, 76:657, .


SELECTED RESEARCH GRANTS

Collaborative Research: Linking Marine and Terrestrial Sedimentary Evidence for Plio-pleistocene Variability of Weddell Embayment and Antarctic Peninsula Glaciation, S. Hemming (Columbia University, lead PI), I. Bailey, M. Kaplan, B. Keisling, S. Brachfeld (MSU PI), T. Williams, S. O’Connell, B. Reilly, L. Tauxe, J. Warnock, E.T. Rasbury, $191,890, NSF Office of Polar Programs, 09/01/21 to 08/31/2024.

Collaborative Research: Tracing coal ash solids in the environment- Implications for long-term contamination of the aquatic ecosystem, A. Vengosh (Duke University, lead PI), E. Cowan (Appalachian State University), and S. Brachfeld, $23,621, NSF Geobiology and Low Temperature Geochemistry, 03/01/2020 - 02/28/2023.

U.S. Science Support Program Office in Association with the International Ocean Discovery Program (USSSP-IODP), S. Brachfeld (PI), “Antarctic Ice Sheet Dynamics tracked by Lithic Clast and Fe-oxide Provenance,” Expedition 382 Post-expedition Post-Expedition Activity Award, sub-contract from Columbia University, U.S. Science Support Operator for IODP, $17,994, 12/01/2019 – 02/28/21.

Collaborative Research: Elucidating the role of titanomagnetite in rhyolite vesiculation, J. Hammer (lead PI Univ. Hawaii), S. Brachfeld (MSU PI), and T. Shea (co-PI), NSF Petrology and Geochemistry, $116,991, 04/01/19 – 03/31/22.

MRI: Acquisition of an Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometry (ICP MS) for elemental concentration and speciation analysis at žž�� State University, X. Li (PI) with co-PIs S. Brachfeld, Y. Deng, N. Goodey, and S. Passchier, $168,245, National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Program, 09/01/15-08/31/19.

Collaborative Research: Deglacial ice dynamics in the Weddell Sea embayment using sediment provenance, National Science Foundation Antarctic Earth Sciences Program (with collaborators from Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Imperial College, London, British Antarctic Survey, and the Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany)

Static and shock pressure treatment of synthetic Mars basalts: Implications for understanding the evolution of crustal magnetic anomalies, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mars Fundamental Research Program (with collaborators from the University of Hawaii and Manoa, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Harvard University).

Acquisition of a spinner magnetometer and ancillary paleomagnetic equipment at žž�� State University, National Science Foundation Earth Sciences Instrumentation and Facilities Program.

Enhancing Holocene Ice Sheet and Ice Shelf Geochronology using Geomagnetic Paleointensity Variations, National Science Foundations Antarctic Earth Sciences.

Collaborative Research in IPY: Abrupt Environmental Change in the Larsen Ice Shelf System, a Multidisciplinary Approach, Cryosphere & Oceans, Marine and Quaternary Geosciences, & Marine Ecosystems, National Science Foundation Antarctic Integrated System Science Program (with collaborators from 16 universities and research institutes in the U.S., Belgium, Canada, UK, and South Korea)

Acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope at žž�� State University, National Science Foundation, Major Research Instrumentation, Earth Sciences Division.

SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS
Provost's Research Award, 2017
College of Science and Mathematics Faculty Research Award, žž�� State University, 2011
Herman and Margaret Sokol Faculty Fellow, 2010
Elected to Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 2007
žž�� State University Distinguished Scholar, 2006
National Science Foundation Early Career Award, 2004
Antarctic Service Medal, 2001

CURRENT AND FORMER ADVISEES AND LAB MEMBERS
Joanna Carlsen, M.A. in Teaching, 2005, now Physician's Assistant
Michael Cacciapuoti, B.S. in Geoscience, 2006, now Earth Science educator in NJ
Gina Quiñones, M.A. in Environmental Studies 2006, now Project Environmental Scientist at ARCADIS
Dr. Juliana Pinzon-Coutinho, B.S. in Biology, 2008, now practicing Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Douglas Sieradzki, M.S. in Geoscience, 2008
Luisa Bouhot, B.S. in Business Administration, 2009, now Director of Operations at Proof Logistics Group
Dr. Cathleen (Dale) Doherty, B.S. in Biology, 2007, M.S. in Geoscience, 2009, now Associate Professor, Dept. Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Director of the Inorganic Analysis Facility, Rutgers University Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute
Kenneth Kacperowski Jr, M.S. in Geoscience, 2009, now Senior Geologist at WSP Environment and Infrastructure USA
Dr. Daniel Hauptvogel, BS in Geoscience 2008, MS in Geoscience 2010, now Instructional Associate Professor at University of Houston
Dr. Melissa Hansen, M.S. in Geoscience, PhD in Environmental Management 2016, now instructor at Kean University and žž�� State University
David Cuomo, M.S. in Geoscience, 2010, now Geologist with the Louis Berger Group
Carl Natter, M.S. in Geoscience 2011, now Project Scientist at Ransom Consulting
Brian Tate, M.A. 2011, now Environmental Scientist at Potomac-Hudson Environmental
Tommy Clayton, B.S. in Geoscience, 2012, now Earth Science educator in NJ
Dr. Jesse Kolodin, M.S. in Geoscience 2012, now Government Representative 2, New Jersey State Department of Banking and Insurance
Leah Thiel, M.A. in Environmental Studies, 2013, now Assistant Project Manager, Apex Companies, LLC
Dr. Brendan Reilly, M.S. in Geoscience 2013, now Assistant Research Professor and Director, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory Core Repository
Deepa Shah, M.S. in Geoscience, 2013, now Ph.D. student at Oregon State University
Christopher Connallon, B.S. in Geoscience 2013, now Geologist at the Maryland Geological Survey
Diana Flores, B.S. and MS in Geoscience, 2013 and 2015, now Senior Geospatial Data Steward at Bayer
Joseph Kowalski, M.A. in Environmental Studies, 2014, now Environmental Geologist at Ambient Environmental
Rachel Perez Darley, M.S. in Geoscience, 2014, now Field Arborist at AECOM
Molly Borst, M.S. in Geoscience, 2014, now Senior Manager, Pearl River Site Affairs & External Engagement at Pfizer
Kelly Searfoss, M.S. Geoscience, 2014, now Science Educator in NJ
Elen Teo, M.S. in Sustainability Sciences, 2014
Natalie Romanoff, M.S. Geoscience, 2015, Now Compliance Officer with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Jason Darley, B.A. in Geography, 2015, M.S. in Earth and Environmental Science 2017, now Environmental Specialist II at NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Kathleen Ottens, B.S. in Geoscience, 2015
Michael Maresch, M.S. in Geoscience, 2015
David Sharpe, M.S. in Geoscience, 2015, Environmental Geologist at Ambient Environmental, Inc.
Dr. J. Mitchell Clay, MS in Earth and Environmental Science, 2017, now Laboratory Manager Austin Peay State University, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Ashley (Cirone) Hodge, M.S. in Earth and Environmental Science, 2017, now Source Water Protection Coordinator, Maine CDC Drinking Water Program
Dr. Isamar Cortes, B.S. in Sustainability Science, 2017, M.S. in Earth and Environmental Science 2019, PhD 2024, žž�� State University, now postdoc at Cardiff University
Shane Nicols-O'Neill, BS in Earth and Environmental Science, 2018, now MS Student at žž�� State University
Richard James, M.S. in Sustainability Science, 2020, now Marketing Coordinator / Digital Media Specialist at First Environment
Molly Minogue, BS in Earth and Environmental Science, 2020
Olga Libman-Roshal, PhD in Environmental Science and Management, in progress
Kelly McCartney, PhD in Earth and Planetary Science, University of Hawaii (J. Hammer and T. Shea, advisors), 2024
Dr. Christina Verhagen (BS alum), postdoctoral research associate, in progress

Specialization

Global climate change, paleoclimatology, marine geology and geophysics, paleomagnetism, environmental change in Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean, Earth systems science, planetary magnetism, geochemistry, and light and electron microscopy

Links

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Research Projects