Bio
Ally is a 4th year PhD candidate at Columbia University, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in New York City. Her research focuses on global volatile cycling and volcano-climate interactions. She is particularly interested in using interdisciplinary approaches to reconstruct volcanic histories. Previously, she has used petrology, paleoclimate proxies, and physical and climate modeling to investigate the impact of the caldera-forming eruption of Okmok Volcano in 43 BCE. She is now analyzing IODP/ODP/DSDP sediment cores from the Pacific to estimate the sulfur flux and isotopic composition of subducting materials to determine how they influence the S budget of arc magmas.
Her time on IODP Expedition 398 prompted her to think about volcano-climate interactions on longer timescales: she aims to characterize the volatile content of Santorini magmas over the lifetime of the volcanic arc, and evaluate whether external forcing such as tectonic and sea level changes influence the subsurface magmatic system.
Ally is also passionate about connecting science and art, both in furthering her own conception of science and as pedagogical tool. She has worked with scientists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to develop a “Field Guide” to the Met that highlights volcano-related works. She also has her own ceramics practice, and her works often incorporate volcanic materials and themes.
Research Advisors: Terry Plank, Yves Moussallam