Carmen A. Nezat
Department of Geological Sciences Tel: (734) 763-9368
425 East University Avenue Fax: (734) 763-4690
University of Michigan Email: cnezat@umich.edu
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Education
Ph.D., 2001-2005, Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Research: The role of tree species, fungi and microbes on mineral weathering at Hubbard
Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire
Advisor: Joel D. Blum
M.S., 1995-1998, Geology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Research: Chemical weathering in polar desert streams, Taylor Valley, Antarctica
Advisor: W. Berry Lyons
B.S., 1990-1994, Geology, University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette
Relevant Experience
Graduate Student Research Assistant, Graduate Student Instructor
University of Michigan, Department of Geological Sciences, Ann Arbor, 2001 – 2005
Research Associate
Ohio State University, Byrd Polar Research Center, Columbus, 2000 – 2001 AND
University of Alabama, Department of Geology, Tuscaloosa, 1998 – 1999
Graduate Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant
University of Alabama, Department of Geology, Tuscaloosa, 1995 – 1998
Geotechnician
Conoco, Gulf of Mexico Division, Lafayette, LA, 1994 – 1995
Current Research Activities
• Digestion and analysis of soils for major and trace element composition in order to
determine cation depletion with depth and long-term mineral weathering rates
• Identification of trace minerals (especially apatite) in soils as a nutrient source for
vegetation
• Analysis of fungal and microbial biomarkers (ergosterol and phospholipid fatty acids) in
soils to determine distribution with depth and change in vegetation
• Use of ArcView GIS to investigate relationship between bedrock and soil nutrient status
in northeast USA
• Burial of Ca-bearing minerals in soils to determine fungal attraction, present-day
weathering rates, and role of microbes versus fungi
Carmen A. Nezat
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Teaching Activities
Graduate Student Instructor Mentor, University of Michigan, 2003–present
• Developed activities for Graduate Instructor Training Workshop
• Evaluated graduate student instructor performance and provided feedback
Graduate Student Instructor, University of Michigan
• Instructed and developed laboratory exercises for a course: Earth Surface Processes and
Soils; Winter 2003, Fall 2003, Fall 2004
• Taught a field course: Environmental Science in the Rockies; Summer 2003, 2004
• Attended Graduate Student Instructor Training, University of Michigan, 2001
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Alabama
• Taught introductory physical and historical geology laboratories
• Attended Workshop for New Graduate Teaching Assistants, University of Alabama, 1995
COSI Academy Mentor, Columbus, OH, 2000-2001
• Engaged high school students in activities and discussions related to environmental and
climate change including acid rain, global warming and environmental sustainability
Schoolyard Long Term Ecological Research Project Advisor
• Trained high school science teachers in the proper techniques of environmental sample
collection, data interpretation, and web page development as part of NSF Schoolyard
Long Term Ecological Research project in Tuscaloosa, AL and Columbus, OH
Research Funding
Influence of fungal activity on chemical weathering at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New
Hampshire, USA. Funding to C.A. Nezat; Scott Turner Award in Earth Science, University
of Michigan, 2004-2005, $2000.
Influence of landscape position and vegetation on mineral weathering in the White Mountains,
New Hampshire, USA. Funding to C.A. Nezat; Scott Turner Award in Earth Science,
University of Michigan, 2003-2004, $2000.
Apatite as a source of calcium in soil exchange pools and vegetation. Funding to C.A. Nezat;
Scott Turner Award in Earth Science, University of Michigan, 2002-2003, $2000.
Quantification of mineral weathering by ectomycorrhizal fungi using scanning electron
microscopy. Funding to C.A. Nezat; Geological Society of America Research Grant, 2003,
$1800.
Other funding activities: Assisted in the development of a successful, multi-million dollar,
multi-institutional, interdisciplinary National Science Foundation (NSF) grant proposal
for funding McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research; Prepared grant
proposals and grant progress reports to NSF
Carmen A. Nezat
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Publications in progress
Nezat, C.A., J.D. Blum, R.D. Yanai, and S. Hamburg (To be submitted) The importance of soil
mineralogy to plant nutrient availability in the northeastern USA.
Nezat, C.A., Klaue, A. and J.D. Blum (To be submitted) A new technique for sequentially
leaching soils.
Publications
Lyons, W.B., Carey, A.E., and C.A. Nezat (2005, in press) Chemical weathering in high-
sediment-yielding watersheds, New Zealand. Journal of Geophysical Research 110.
Yanai, R.D., J.D. Blum, S.P. Hamburg, M.A. Arthur, C.A. Nezat and T.G. Siccama (2005, in
press) New insights into calcium depletion in northeastern forests. Journal of Forestry.
Nezat, C.A., J.D. Blum, A. Klaue, C.E. Johnson, and T.G. Siccama (2004) Influence of
landscape position and vegetation on long-term weathering rates at Hubbard Brook
Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA. Geochimica et Acta Cosmochimica 68, 3065-
3078.
Carey, A.E., C.A. Nezat, J.R. Pennock, T. Jones, and W.B. Lyons (2003) Nitrogen budget of the
Mobile-Alabama River System watershed. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment,
Analysis 3, 239-244.
Blum, J.D., A. Klaue, C.A. Nezat, C.T. Driscoll, C.E. Johnson, T.G. Siccama, C. Eagar, T.J.
Fahey, and G.E. Likens (2002) Mycorrhizal weathering of apatite as an important calcium
source in base-poor forest ecosystems. Nature 417(6890), 729-731.
Carey, A.E., Lyons, W.B., C.A. Nezat, Shuh-Ji Kao, D.M. Hicks, and J.S. Owen (2002) Trace
metal fluxes to the ocean: The importance of high-standing oceanic islands. Geophysical
Research Letters 29 (23) 2099.
Lyons, W.B., C.A. Nezat, A.E. Carey, and D.M. Hicks (2002) Organic carbon fluxes to the
ocean from high-standing islands. Geology 30(5), 443-446.
Lyons, W.B., C.A. Nezat, L.V. Benson, T.D. Bullen, E.Y. Graham, J. Kidd, K.A. Welch, J.M.
Thomas (2002) Strontium isotopic signature of the streams and lakes of Taylor Valley,
Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica: Chemical weathering in a polar climate. Aquatic
Geochemistry 8, 79-95.
Nezat, C.A., W.B. Lyons, and K.A. Welch (2001) Chemical weathering in streams of a polar
desert (Taylor Valley, Antarctica). GSA Bulletin 113(11), 1401-1408.
Lyons, W.B., C.A. Nezat, K.A. Welch, S.T. Kottmeier, and P.T. Doran (2000) Fossil fuel
burning in Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Estimating the role of scientific activities on carbon
and nitrogen reservoirs and fluxes. Environmental Science and Technology 34, 1659-1662.
Lyons, W.B., K.A. Welch, C.A. Nezat, D.M. McKnight, K. Crick, J.K. Toxey and J.A. Mastrine
(1997) Chemical weathering rates and reactions in the Lake Fryxell Basin, Taylor Valley,
Antarctica: Comparison to temperate river basins, Ecosystem Processes in Antarctic Ice-free
Landscapes, Balkema Press, Rotterdam.
Carmen A. Nezat
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Selected Presentations
Nezat, C.A., J.D. Blum, R.D. Yanai, and S. Hamburg (2004) The importance of soil mineralogy
to plant nutrient availability in the northeastern U.S. Poster presentation at American
Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California.
Nezat, C.A., J.D. Blum, and C.E. Johnson (2003) The rate of weathering-derived calcium input
to a base-poor forest ecosystem in the northeastern USA. Poster presentation at
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California.
Nezat, C.A., J.D. Blum, A. Klaue, C.E. Johnson, and T.G. Siccama (2003) Influence of
landscape position and vegetation on long-term weathering rates at Hubbard Brook
Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA. Poster presentation at Long-Term
Ecological Research All Scientists Meeting, Seattle, Washington.
Nezat, C. A., A. E. Carey, S. J. Kao, W. B. Lyons, and J. S. Owen (2001) The geochemistry of
dissolved load and sediments in high sediment-yielding rivers of Taiwan. Oral
presentation at Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts.
Nezat, C.A., W. B. Lyons, E. Y. Graham, N. L. Green, A. E. Carey, D. M. Hicks, and K.
Neumann (2001) Inorganic and organic composition of suspended load in high sediment-
yielding rivers in New Zealand. Oral presentation at American Society of Limnology and
Oceanography Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Nezat, C.A., E.Y. Graham, N.L. Green, W.B. Lyons, K. Neumann, A.E. Carey, and M. Hicks
(1999) The physical and chemical controls on rare earth element Concentrations in
Dissolved Load, Suspended Load, and River Channel sediments of the Hokitika River,
New Zealand. Oral presentation at Geological Society of America National Meeting,
Denver, Colorado.
Nezat, C.A. (1999) Chemical weathering in streams from Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Invited
lecture at Dauphin Island Sea Lab Fall Seminar Series, Alabama.
Nezat, C.A., W.B. Lyons, E.Y. Graham, K.A. Welch, P.J. Lechler and D.M. McKnight (1997)
Chemical weathering in streams from Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Oral presentation at
Geological Society of America National Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Nezat, C.A., W.B. Lyons, E.Y. Graham, K.A. Welch and T. Jones (1997) Minor silicate-mineral
element geochemistry of the Alabama-Mobile River System, Alabama. Poster
presentation at American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Aquatic Sciences
Meeting, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Carmen A. Nezat
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Service/Honors
Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan, 2005–06; one of top three applicants
Geological Sciences Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award, University of Michigan,
2005
Geological Sciences Faculty Meeting Student Representative, University of Michigan, Sept
2004-present
Geological Society of America Outstanding Student Research Award, 2003
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Fellowship, 2001–02
Antarctica Service Medal of the United States of America, 2000
Outstanding Teaching by a Master’s Student, Department of Geology, 1997
Indiana University Geologic Field Camp Scholarship, 1994
USL Honors Program, 1990-94
Various Geologic and Academic (Undergraduate) Scholarships, 1989-94
Estwing (Geology) Award, 1994
Professional Affiliations
Sigma Xi, Full Member, full member since 2003
Geological Society of America, member since 1997
American Geophysical Union, member since 1997
Geochemical Society, member since 1999
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, member since 2000
Sigma Gamma Epsilon, member since 1993