Dr. Lyle Nelson

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Lyle Nelson joined the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2024. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University in 2015 and completed his PhD at Johns Hopkins University in 2022. Before coming to MIT, he served as an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Carleton University in Ontario, Canada. Nelson’s research focuses on sedimentary geology, particularly the relationships between life and surface environments throughout Earth's history. His work investigates critical transitions such as major extinctions and the emergence of new species in response to changes in ocean chemistry and climate. He employs various research tools including geologic mapping, stable isotope geochemistry, and high-precision radioisotopic geochronology, conducting fieldwork across diverse regions including Arctic Alaska and Southern Africa.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

— Present

Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University • Ontario, Canada

Conducted research and taught courses in the field of sedimentary geology.

Awards

#2022

American Philosophical Society Lewis Clark Field Scholar

#2020

NSF AGeS2 - Advancing Geochronology Science, Spaces, Systems Award

#2020

American Philosophical Society Lewis Clark Field Scholar

#2019

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

#2017

National Geographic Explorer