Dr. Amy Wagner
​Associate Professor & Chair
​Principal Investigator

My research interests include paleoceanography/paleoclimate and isotope geochemistry. I have students working on projects using isotope and trace metal geochemical data from corals and marine sediments to understand oceanographic changes throughout the Holocene associated with natural and anthropogenic climate change. In addition, I am working with students to study the source of water delivered to mountain meadows using water isotopes. I am a member of the new Sacramento State Institute for Water, Energy, Sustainability, and Technology (iWEST), a center for interdisciplinary research to address both human and scientific challenges facing California due to climate change. My field areas include Monterey Bay, St. Croix (USVI), Ross Sea, Antarctica and the Sierra high mountain meadows.

Meet Our Graduate Students

Meet the talented graduate students conducting research in the WAGS Lab

Jo Peltier

Second year graduate student

Amanda Croteau

First year graduate student

Alex Ryan

First year graduate student

California Community College Interns

Courtney Clexton
Geology,
​Sierra College

Courtney is a geology major at Sierra College who is planning on transferring into Sacramento State in Fall 2024. She became interested in the geosciences in elementary school when her family took a road trip from California to Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Along the way, there were several geologic experiences and places that became core memories. 

This summer, Courtney will be working in the WAGS Lab investigating deuterium and oxygen isotopes in sea water collected by the U.S. GeoTraces GP17-OCE Cruise of the Southern Pacific Ocean. She will be analyzing samples that were collected southeast of the coast of Chile. 

Hung Vo
Chemical Engineering,
​Cosumnes River College

Hung is a Chemical Engineering major at Cosumnes River College who is planning on transferring into UC Berkeley in Fall 2023. He is interested in energy, pharmaceutical, and environmental industry. As a resident of this planet, he feels a strong connection to it and doesn't want to see it ruined for future generations. As an engineer, he hopes to make a positive impact on the world and help to create solutions to our energy problems.

This summer, Hung will be working in the WAGS Lab investigating deuterium and oxygen isotopes in sea water collected by the U.S. GeoTraces GP17-OCE Cruise of the Southern Pacific Ocean. He will be analyzing samples that were collected in the Sub-Antarctic region.

Julia Kaiser
Environmental Conservation, American River College

Julia is an Environmental Conservation major at American River College who is planning on transferring into Sacramento State in Fall 2023. She became interested in the geosciences after taking a physical geography class where the environmental focus grabbed her attention.

This summer, Julia will be working in the WAGS Lab investigating deuterium and oxygen isotopes in sea water collected by the U.S. GeoTraces GP17-OCE Cruise of the Southern Pacific Ocean.