Emma Hartke
B.S. & M.S. Geoscience
Ph.D. Dual-Title Candidate Geoscience & Climate Science
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I am a biogeochemist that studies molecular fossils to reconstruct ancient climates.
I combine my geologic expertise with core principles from biology and chemistry to interpret molecular fossils preserved in the rock record. These molecular fossils, called ‘lipid biomarkers’, are diverse and ubiquitous through geologic time and space, and make great tools for reconstructing past environmental conditions on Earth.
Research
I have conducted research on biogeochemical topics across the geologic timescale, from exploring Silurian ocean anoxia using high-resolution chemostratigraphy to uncovering how early human agriculture changed local landscapes during the Holocene with lipid biomarkers.
Field Experience
I have conducted and collaborated on field work domestically and internationally, and have participated in numerous field courses throughout my academic career.
Teaching Experience
I have been passionately teaching undergraduate courses at Penn State since the first semester of my M.S. degree in 2020. Courses taught covered introductory to advanced topics in geology from class sizes ranging from 20 to 300+.
