Job title:
Professor
Bio/CV:
Francis Macdonald's research focuses on the interactions of tectonics, climate, and biological evolution through Earth history. This work begins with geological mapping, and uses stratigraphic analysis, isotope geochemistry, geochronology, paleomagnetism, and paleontology to reconstruct paleoenvironments and tectonic histories. Recent projects have focused on Snowball Earth, the Great Unconformity, the impact of tropical mountains on global climate, and the tectonic evolution of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Macdonald was awarded the GSA Young Scientist Award (Donath Medal) in 2014 and the AGU Early Career Award (Macelwane Medal) in 2019. He holds a B.S. in Geology from Caltech and a Ph.D. in Geology from Harvard University.
Role:
