Abagail SwannAbigail Swann, assistant professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and Department of Biology and Alex Gagnon, assistant professor with the School of Oceanography, each recently received an Early Faculty Development (CAREER) Program Award from the National Science Foundation.

Swann works to understand when, where, and how plants influence the climate, and will receive support for her project titled “Ecosystem-driven Accelerations and Oscillations in the Coupled Earth System.” Her research will look at where and how ecosystems modify the climate system to better predict how climate will change under conditions that are different from today.

Alex GagnonGagnon, who studies how ocean acidification and other changes to seawater chemistry impact calcifying organisms and biogeochemical cycles, will receive support for a project called “Geochemical and Biochemical Factors Controlling Skeletal Nucleation and Their Impact on Coral in a Changing Ocean.” The work aims to measure nucleation, the process governing the growth of coral skeletons, under a variety of controlled conditions.

This prestigious award is given to support junior faculty who “exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research,” according to the NSF.