Shuang Zhang
  • Assistant Professor

Biography

I am an interdisciplinary geochemist, modeler, and data scientist. My research broadly uses data-driven and model-driven approaches to quantify the patterns of element flux and isotope behavior involved in the global carbon and biogeochemical cycles, especially under periods of climatic perturbations.

 

Extensive data mining, data assimilation, large-scale spatial-temporal statistical analysis, and machine learning are frequently used by my research group. As powerful tools, geo-statistics and machine learning could reveal the intrinsic patterns of nature’s processes that are sometimes extremely difficult to be captured by classical physical process models. With that being said, in areas where data is extremely limited or data-driven approaches are not suitable, numerical modeling (e.g., modeling the global carbon cycle) also serves as a critical tool in our research.

 

Some of my current research topics include building inverse modeling frameworks to understand the Earth-surface processes during carbon cycle perturbations and applying data science techniques to constrain the biogeochemical cycles (such as the surface and subsurface weathering fluxes).

 

Interested in our research? See our group website: https://www.caceelab.space/

Research Interests

Global carbon/biogeochemical cycles, Earth-surface processes, Climate change, Data Science, Geological application development

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Yale University, 2017
  • B.S., School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, 2011

Awards & Honors

  • TAMIDS Career Initiation Fellow, 2022
  • GeoDean's Interdisciplinary Research Initiative Grant, 2021                               
  • TAMIDS Course Development Grant, 2021
  • Hutchison Fund Travel Award, 2019
  • Karl Turekian Prize (Outstanding Ph.D. student in geochemistry), 2017

Selected Publications

    • Rattanasriampaipong, R., Zhang, Y., Pearson, A., Hedlund, B., Zhang, S. 2022. Archaeal lipids trace ecology and evolution of marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea. PNAS. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123193119.

    • Kanzaki, Y., Zhang, S., Planavsky, N., Reinhard, C. 2022. Soil Cycles of Elements simulator for Predicting TERrestrial regulation of greenhouse gases: SCEPTER v0.9. Geoscientific Model Development (GMD). DOI: 10.5194/gmd-15-4959-2022. 

    • Isson, T., Zhang, S., Lau, K., Rauzi, S., Tosca, N., Penman, D., Planavsky, N. 2022. Marine siliceous ecosystem decline led to sustained anomalous Early Triassic warmth. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31128-3.

    • Chen, J., Montañez, I.P., Zhang, S., Isson, T.T., Macarewich, S.I., Planavsky, N.J., Zhang, F., Rauzi, S., Daviau, K., Yao, L., Qi, Y., Wang, Y., Fan, J., Poulsen, C.J., Anbar, A.D., Shen, S., Wang, X., 2022. Marine anoxia linked to abrupt global warming during Earth’s penultimate icehouse. PNAS. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115231119.

    • He, Y., Zhou, Y., Wen, T., Zhang, S., Huang, F., Zou, X., Ma, X., Zhu, Y.. 2022. A review of machine learning in geochemistry and cosmochemistry: Method improvements and applications. Applied Geochemistry. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105273.

    • Shen, J., Yin, R., Zhang, S., Algeo, T., Bottjer, D., Yu, J., Planavsky, N., Xu, G., Penman, D., Wang, Y., Li, L., Deng, S., Feng, Q., Huang, J. 2022. Intensified continental chemical weathering and global carbon cycle perturbation linked to volcanism during the Triassic-Jurassic transition. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-27965-x. 

    • Boujibar, A., Howell, S., Zhang, S., Hystad, G., Prabhu, A., Liu, N., Stephan, T., Narkar, S., Eleish, A., Morrison, S.M., Hazen, R.M., Nittler, L.R. 2021. Cluster Analysis of Presolar Silicon Carbide Grains: Evaluation of Their Classification and Astrophysical Implications. The Astrophysical Journal Letters. DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/abd102.

    • Zhao, M., Zhang, S., Tarhan, L., Reinhard, C., Planavsky, N. 2020. The role of calcium in regulating marine phosphorus burial and atmospheric oxygenation. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15673-3.

    • Zhang, S. and Planavsky, N. 2020. Revisiting groundwater fluxes to the ocean with implications for the carbon cycle. Geology. DOI: 10.1130/G46408.1.

    • Zhang, S. and Planavsky, N. 2019. The silicate weathering feedback in the context of ophiolite emplacement: Insights from an inverse model of global weathering proxies. American Journal of Science. DOI: 10.2475/02.2019.01. 

    • Krause, J., Mills, B., Zhang, S., Planavsky, N., Lenton, T., Poulton, S. 2018. Stepwise oxygenation of the Paleozoic atmosphere. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06383-y. 

    • Zhang, S., Planavsky, N., Krause, J., Mills, B., Bolton, E. 2018. Model based Paleozoic atmospheric oxygen estimates: a revisit to GEOCARBSULF. American Journal of Science. DOI: 10.2475/05.2018.05. 

    • Zhang, S., Ague, J., Vitale Brovarone, A. 2018. Degassing of organic carbon during regional metamorphism of pelites, Wepawaug Schist, Connecticut, USA. Chemical Geology. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2018.05.003.

    • Cole, D., Zhang, S., Planavsky, N. 2017. A new estimate of detrital redox-sensitive metal concentrations and variability in marine sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2017.08.004.

    • Zhang, S., Henehan, M., Hull, P., Reid, R., Hardisty, D., Hood, A., Planavsky, N. 2017. Investigating controls on boron isotope ratios in shallow marine carbonates. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.10.059.