Research Profile. I am a geoscientist developing applications of paleomagnetism for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. I focus on developing a paleomagnetic proxy for anoxia using rock-magnetism, geochemistry, geochronology, and stratigraphy. My longer-term goal is to develop a coefficient that expresses marine and oceanic connectivity, linked with a set of proxies, including rock magnetic ones that will advance our knowledge about past paleogeographic forcing on climate systems and will inform of future trends in the context of rising oceans. 

Studying the dynamic of sea-straits in Eurasia. I approached my PhD project with a strong desire to follow my independent research direction, and in the first months, I presented an alternative research plan. I convinced my supervisors to support me in investigating Paratethys from a basin connectivity standpoint, focused on the dynamic of the sea straits. As sea-straits don’t contain complete records, I proposed a mirror approach consisting of identifying the sea strait and investigating “symmetric sections” close to the sea-strait ends. This resulted in a successful project in which I dated for the first time seven major basin connectivity changes in the aquatic basins of Eurasia, corresponding to regional stratigraphic boundaries (now included in the Geological Time Scale, GTS2020), all associated with particular environmental turnovers and biological crises. By the end of my PhD (2018), I began drafting an outline for a coefficient/classification of marine connectivity.

Studying ocean connectivity in the Atlantic Ocean. Continuing my research direction and broadening my perspective, I moved to Brazil after winning a FAPESP fellowship and an extension grant. I was based at the Oceanic Institute of the University of Sao Paulo focusing on studying the paleomagnetic signatures of the opening of deep oceanic passages in the South Atlantic and of the closure of the Central American Seaway (CAS). 

Studying landlocked waterbodies. I am also a senior geoscientist, funded by an NSF Collaborative Research Grant, in the Koobi Fora Field School (Kenya), investigating the human origins and the evolution of Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world. This secondary direction grants me access to Lake Turkana records, and I can further my knowledge of marine connectivity as this rift lake was once connected with the ocean and the magnetic signatures of the sediments are particular due to intense volcanic activity. However, working in the Turkana region also allows me to test applications of my rock-magnetism research in the reconstructions of terrestrial paleoenvironments.

Scientific outlook. Gaining a detailed insight into the geochemistry and paleomagnetism of the anoxic oxic transition represents the next step in my scientific development. This step is necessary for bridging the rock-magnetic methodology (developed to identify redox changes) with observations and quantifications of the ocean and marine connectivity. 

Field experience and a strong international network. I have developed a research network in the Black Sea region by collaborating in writing publications and conducting fieldwork and expeditions (1-2 times/year between 2013 and 2019) in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, and Turkey. 

Teaching. Throughout my career, I have been involved in diverse aspects of teaching: mentoring in the Koobi Fora Field School (KFFS), teaching practicals of paleomagnetism and the 1st year of fieldwork in Utrecht, and developing local heritage educational packages for secondary schools in Romania. 

Outreach and Stakeholder involvement. During my education and early geoscientist career (2004-2016), I have been involved in the development of two natural protected areas in Romania: “Hateg Country Dinosaurs Geopark” and “Buzau Land Geopark”. I led student teams documenting local heritage and coordinated the drafting of development strategies for the parks. Later, I focused on developing educational packages, lobbying, and promoting the park in national (Romanian Natural Park) and international (European Geopark, UNESCO Geopark) networks. Presently I try to enhance the outreach of my research by collaborating with journalists and artists (illustrators).


Illustrations linked with my research: