Sarah Slotznick
Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences
My research integrates field observations with laboratory measurements, incorporating diverse techniques such as rock magnetism, paleomagnetism, optical and electron microscopy, and x-ray spectroscopy. Using these techniques, I probe questions spanning geologic time from the Modern to the Archean, with each time period providing distinct perspectives into the interaction of the biosphere and the Earth.
Email: sslotz [at] dartmouth [dot] edu
Postdoctoral Scholars
Erik Tamre
Neukom Postdoctoral Fellowship
Erik uses the information recorded in genomes together with the geological record to look backwards into the evolution not just of organisms, but also their adaptations: what does it depend on whether an anatomical structure or a metabolic process survives over geological time? His background in molecular phylogenomics as well as sedimentary geology is especially useful for understanding the evolution of microbes, which completely dominated the biosphere for most of Earth history. At Dartmouth, Erik is a Neukom Postdoctoral Fellow co-mentored by Olga Zhaxybayeva (Biological Sciences).
Thom Chaffee
Postdoctoral Scholar, Lecturer
Thom is a postdoc with a strong interest in teaching and mentorship. He completed his BS in Geology at Caltech in 2018, and his PhD in Geophysics at Stanford in 2025 as an NSF Fellow. His research covers topics ranging from lunar magnetism and extraterrestrial minerals to fundamental rock and mineral magnetism. In the Dartmouth Mag Lab he is studying the unique magnetic properties of minerals important for the energy transition. Thom uses a mix of experimental and modeling approaches, equally at home in the laboratory as on the computing cluster.
Graduate Students
Lauren Morrison
MSc Student
Lauren is excited about sedimentology. She spent time studying modern systems in Alaska in her undergraduate and is now focusing on studying the iron mineralogy of the colorful Triassic Chinle Formation of Petrified Forest National Park to determine its formation processes.
Laurie Zielinski
PhD Student
Laurie has an academic curiosity about Earth History. She will combine her background in geophysics fieldwork with a focus on Precambrian rocks to study red-beds throughout the Proterozoic. Combining rock magnetism with paleomagnetism and microscopy, Laurie hopes to provide more robust constraints on how, when, and where hematite formed in these ancient samples.
Currently looking for a graduate student to join the team!
Fall 2023
Post-baccalaureate Scholars
Noah Da Silva
Post-Baccalaureate Scholar, BA '25
Noah was a double major in Biology and Earth Sciences and is constantly thinking of cool innovative projects to combine his interests. His senior thesis on endangered microsnails relationship with soil/rock type won the Dr. Warren Upham Geology Prize for Outstanding Thesis. His current project is focused on performing magnetostratigraphy to provide temporal constraints for early mammalian fossils from Mongolia.
Undergraduate Students
Julija Vizbaras
Undergrad Research Assistantship F'23, S'25
Julija loves learning about the earth sciences and specifically has a deep interest in mineralogy. Her project focused on understanding the hematite grain population within 1.4 billion-year-old red beds. She hopes to combine her interest in public policy and the earth sciences in the coming years!
Aidan Silvestro
Undergrad Research Assistantship S'24, F'24
Aidan discovered the Earth Sciences Department upon arriving at Dartmouth. He is excited to do research building on his experience learning about paleomagnetism and Earth History in EARS 2. He will be measuring the mineral magnetism preserved in 1.4 billion-year-old rocks to understand if they are good magnetic recorders.
Erin Rasmussen
WISP Intern W'25, S'25
Erin is excited to combining an interest in the natural world and engineering. Her project focuses on preparing paleomagnetic samples and measuring rock magnetism carried in 1.4 billion-year-old red beds. She has enjoyed working with power tools and testing her 3-D spatial skills.
Research Group Alums
Reva Gandhi – BA '27, WISP Intern W'24, S'24
Napu Blas – BA '27, EARS Research Assistantship W'24
Abby Paquette – BA '26, WISP Intern W'23, S'23
Olivia Moehl – MSc '25 – Science Technician at Summit Station, Greenland
Ashton Lewis – BA '25, Rox STAR Fellowship S'25
Abdullah al Maruf – MSc '24 – Scientist at LBNL
Josephine Benson – MSc '24 – EHS Manager at Technic Inc.
Peter Blatchford– BA '24 – PhD student at Harvard
Spencer Meek – BA '24 – Environmental Scientist at AECOM
Maria Groveza – BA '24 – MSc Student at ETH
Sami Lofman – BA '24 – Singer/Songwriter
Joseph Biasi – NSF Postdoctoral Fellow – Professor at University of Wyoming
London Warburton – BA '23, Senior Thesis – PhD Student in Strauss Lab
Jack Kreisler – BA '22, Senior Thesis – Teacher at Steamboat Mountain School
Sophia Haley – BA '22 – Scientist at Weston & Sampson Engineers Inc.
Dylan Davis – BA '22 – MSc Student at CSU
Theodore Green – BA '21, Senior Fellow – PhD Student at Princeton University
Fall 2022