Ingalls Lab at Penn State

The team

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Meet Our Team

Current members and friends of the Ingalls lab.
Dr. Miquela Ingalls
Wilson Faculty Fellow in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
​Assistant Professor of Geosciences
​Graduate Faculty in the Biogeochemistry + Astrobiology Dual-title Programs

Barr Postdoctoral Fellow, Caltech, 2018-2020
Postdoc, CU-Boulder, 2017-2018
​PhD, University of Chicago, 2017
BS, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2011


Miquela works in modern and ancient environments to better understand how chemical sediments archive Earth history information using field geology, petrography, and stable isotope geochemistry. She uses tools that investigate post-depositional processes from in situ microbial metabolism to burial diagenesis. Miquela also develops  novel geochemical proxies for the conditions under which life evolved on early Earth and other planets.  Outside of lab, Miquela can be found running all day in Rothrock with her dog, Poppy, or eating tacos.  CV here.
Hanna Leapaldt
NASA FINESST fellow
PhD, Penn State, in progress
MS, Penn State, 2022
BS, University of Minnesota (Duluth), 2019


I work on characterizing microbial carbonate facies petrographically and geochemically. I am interested in better understanding microorganisms' role in early diagenesis of carbonate, contributing to the development of carbonate biosignatures, and constraining changes in microbial carbon cycling and metabolisms throughout Earth history. I mainly work on microbial carbonates in small alkaline lake settings. I focus on these lakes both for their role in creating the terrestrial carbonate record and because of the potential analog environment they serve for the evolution of early life on Earth and the deposition of carbonate on Mars. When not on the lake for research, you can find me floating, boating, or boarding on the lake.
Ran He
Graduate student
​PhD, Penn State, in progress
BS, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), 2020

Ran is interested in the controls on the stable isotope geochemistry of iron carbonates, which were particularly common during global warm periods such as the PETM and Eocene hyper thermals. Ran combines detailed sedimentological and petrographic analyses with field geology and high-temperature experiments to investigate the clumped isotope behavior of siderite. 

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Cole J. Stern
University Graduate Fellow
PhD, Penn State, current
​BS, Geology, Weber State University, 2023
MFA, Dramaturgy, Columbia University, 2020
​BA, Theater, Folklore, Denison University, 2017

Cole is interested in the structural changes to calcite caused by trace elements. He is currently focused on how phosphorus is entombed in calcite, standardizing the identification of trace P on various instruments, and the relationship between aqueous P and weathering in natural systems. This work has implications for higher resolution models of phosphorous in early Earth history  and the sequestration of phosphate in modern systems. When not in the lab Cole partakes in dramaturgy, attending dance, reading, weightlifting, and constructing small plastic models of science fiction armies.
Amanda Urist
Dual BS-MS, Bunton-Waller Scholar
BS and MS, Penn State, in progress

Amanda’s interested in the phosphate record preserved in carbonates through the GOE to the Neoproterozoic. She uses carbonate associated phosphate as a proxy for paleoenvironment to determine when phosphorus enriched seawater supported productivity of life. She also studies how diagenesis alters geochemical signatures in carbonates to better understand influences on their formation and changes in ocean chemistry during a critical period for the development of life. Outside of the lab you can find her reading, drinking coffee, or climbing.
Dr. Ellen Olsen
Postdoc and Lab Manager
PhD, University of Oregon, 2023
​BS, Western Washington University, 2015
Emily Stoller
Undergraduate student
BS, Penn State, in progress

Emily is passionate about environmental conservation and the policy implementation involved in the fight for climate justice. She is especially interested in analyzing the effects of human practices on the environment and understanding how chemical and physical aspects of ecosystems work to promote life. In her free time, Emily enjoys singing in the Penn State Concert Choir, hiking gat Shavers Creek, and skiing! 
Riley Foster
Undergraduate student
BS, Penn State, in progress

Riley is interested in characterizing carbonate-forming microbial communities through bioherm cores and recognizing biological influences on the rock record to better inform environmental interpretations. He enjoys hiking, art and collecting an endless number of new hobbies. ​
Dr. Anna Waldeck
Agouron Institute Postdoctoral Fellow
ISEN Postdoctoral Fellow, Northwestern University, 2021-23
PhD, Harvard University, 2021
​BS, The University of Chicago, 2014
CV

Anna uses novel stable isotope tools to understand climate- and geobiology-related processes that shape our world. During her PhD, she generated triple oxygen isotope records of sulfate minerals to track atmospheric pO2 across the last 550 million years. At Northwestern, she measured calcium and strontium isotopes across Cretaceous Ocean Anoxic Events to understand marine responses in a high-pCO2 world.  At Penn State, Anna’s research focuses on applying stable isotopes to understand carbonate mineral formation in modern Green Lake. Working in a modern setting allows her to test hypotheses about ancient Earth. Outside of research, Anna enjoys exploring outdoors and trying new foods.
Emma Enos
Undergraduate student
BS, Penn State, in progress

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Former lab mates
Megan Martin
Graduate student
MEd, Penn State, in progress
​BS, Michigan State University, 2015

Megan worked on microbial nitrogen transformations in the carbonate karst subsurface of the FL Keys with an application to wastewater remediation.
Dr. Allie Wyman
postdoc 2021-22
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2021
MS, Western Michigan University, 2014
BS, Western Michigan University, 2012

Allie uses lake sediments to reconstruct environmental and climatic changes over the last millennium. She employs a multi-proxy approach, using sediment minerology, carbonate stable isotopes, and lipid biomarkers to develop a comprehensive understanding of how lake systems change through time. Allie is also very interested in using proxy system modeling to better understand how proxies record environmental data. CV here.

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Kate Meyers
now EPA
MS, Penn State, 2023
​BA, Franklin & Marshall College, 2019 

Originally from South Florida, Kate is returning to a familiar landscape to study groundwater nutrient fluxes in the Florida Keys. She is particularly interested in understanding the variables that impact adsorption of wastewater-derived phosphorus to the Key Largo Limestone. Kate is excited to blend techniques from biogeochemistry and hydrogeology to inform future wastewater management practices in carbonate aquifers. Outside of the lab, she is frequently found rock climbing, mountain biking, or home brewing!
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  • Home
  • People
  • Research
  • Teaching
    • Carbonate Seminar Content
  • Updates
  • Outreach + Pop Sci
  • Contact
  • Teaching