Melisa Diaz

  • INSTAAR Affiliate
  • Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University

Geochemistry & biogeochemistry of the cryosphere & urban environment

My research interests are centered around the applications of geochemical techniques towards understanding physical systems and how biology and society interact with them.

My primary research focus is the cryosphere, mainly the Antarctic (Transantarctic Mountains and McMurdo Dry Valleys) and the Arctic (Greenland), where I study the transport, cycling, and alteration of salts, nutrients, and atmospherically derived constituents. The goal is to understand the current and legacy effects of local and global change on resource-limited systems. I also study the intersection of urban geochemistry with environmental justice, social equity, and knowledge co-production. Much of my research involves both fieldwork and analytical lab work, though it also includes some statistical and geochemical modeling.

My interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary team uses geochemical tools to understand landscape development, salt and nutrient cycling, and habitability in both polar and urban systems.  See more about us at:

Education

  • PhD (Earth Science): The Ohio State University, 2020

Teaching

Courses taught:

  • GEOG 4271/5271: The Arctic Climate System
  • GEOG 2001: Topics in Physical Geography: Deserts Hot and Cold, Near and Far
  • GEOG 1011: Environmental Systems: Landscapes and Water

Publications

For more publications, see