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Carolynn Harris (Carrie)

she/ her

carolynn.harris[at]asu.edu

Welcome!

I am a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. I joined Dr. Elizabeth Trembath-Reichert’s Microbiology of the Deep lab where I am combining dual stable isotope probing and metatranscriptomics to characterize and quantify microbial metabolisms in deep sea hydrothermal systems.

I previously earned my PhD in Earth Sciences at Dartmouth College in Dr. Wil Leavitt’s Geomicrobiology lab group. During my PhD I was awarded a Lewis & Clark Field Scholar in Astrobiology as well as an NSF JSEP Graduate Fellowship, where I receiving cross-cultural training in science communication & education in the Arctic. I am a proud recipient of the John A. Ebers Memorial Award for Outstanding Teaching.

My hobbies include hiking & trail running with my dog, Finnegan the astrodoodle, and reading about exploring.

Education

  • PhD Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College
  • MS Marine Science, UT Austin/ Marine Science Institute
  • BA Biology, Bates College
  • Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics, Montana State University

Research Interests

  • Geomicrobiology & astrobiology
  • Stable isotope geochemistry
  • Extreme environments & planetary analogs
  • Applied data science & statistics

Publications

In prep

[16] Harris, C., S. Kopf, W. Leavitt. In Prep. Tracing the production pathways of archaeal lipids using dual 2H-H2O and 13C-glucose stable isotope probing. (Target Journal: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta).

[15] Calhoun, A.N., J. Blewett, D.R. Colman, M.J. Amenabar, C. Harris, E. Boyd, A. Pearson, W. Leavitt. In prep.  Environmental controls on crenarchaeol distributions in hydrothermal springs. (Target Journal: Applied and Environmental Microbiology) bioRxiv 10.1101/2024.07.09.602736v2

[14] Liu, J, E.D. Young, A. Pellerin, J.L. Ash, G.T. Barrett, P.R. Girguis , C. Harris, S.J.E. Krause , W.D. Leavitt, K. Murphy , Q. Qin, O. Sivan, A. Teske, D.L., Valentine, K.W. Anthony, T. Treude. In Prep. Methane clumped isotopes reveal the formation mechanism of microbial methane. (Target Journal: Nature Geosciences).

Published

[13] Harris, C., Y. Zhang, A. Cobban, J. McFarland, A. Pearson, S. Kopf, W. Leavitt. 2025. Lipid hydrogen isotope compositions primarily reflect growth water in the model archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Special Issue on Planetary Microbiology.

[12] Rhim, J., S. Kopf, J. McFarlin, A. Maloney, H. Batther, C. Harris, A. Zhou, X. Feng, Y Weber, S. Hoeft-McCann, A. Pearson and W. Leavitt. 2024. Metabolic imprints in the hydrogen isotopes of Archaeoglobus fulgidus tetraether lipids. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, (386):196-212.

[11] Liu, J., T. Treude, O. Abbasov, E. Baloglanov, A. Aliyev, C. Harris, W. Leavitt, and E. Young. 2023. Clumped isotope evidence for microbial alteration of thermogenic methane in terrestrial mud volcanoes. Geology.

[10] Harris, C.*, M. Maclay*, K. Lutz, V. Nathan, N. Ortega Dominguez, W. Leavitt†, M. Palucis†. 2022. Remote and in-situ characterization of Mars Analogs: Coupling scales to improve the search for microbial signatures on Mars. Frontiers. *share first authorship †share senior authorship

[9] Krumpen, T., Birrien, F., Kauker, F., Rackow, T., von Albedyll, L., Angelopoulos, M., Belter, H. J., Bessonov, V., Damm, E., Dethloff, K., Haapala, J., Haas, C., Harris, C., Hendricks, S., and others. 2020. The MOSAiC ice floe: sediment-laden survivor from the Siberian shelf, The Cryosphere Discuss., doi.org:10.5194/tc-2020-64.

[8] Carroll, K. and C. Harris. 2020. Using a Repetitive Instructional Intervention to Improve Students’ Higher-Order Thinking Skills. College Teaching: 1-9. doi:10.1080/87567555.2020.1823310

[7] Harris, C., N. McTigue, J. McClelland, and K. Dunton. 2018. Do high Arctic coastal food webs rely on a terrestrial carbon subsidy? Food Webs: doi:10.1016/j.fooweb.2018.e00081

[6] Harris, C., W. Ambrose, G. Bigelow, W. Locke, S Silverberg. 2017. Analysis of the Size, Shape, and Age of Common Limpets (Patella vulgata) from Late Norse Middens at Sandwick, Unst, Shetland Islands, UK: Evidence for Anthropogenic and Climatic Impacts. Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology: 1-30. doi:10.1080/ 15564894.2017.1368743

[5] Harris, C., J. McClelland, T. Connelly, B. Crump, and K. Dunton. 2017. Salinity and temperature regimes in Eastern Alaskan Beaufort Sea lagoons in relation to source water contributions. Estuaries and Coasts: 1-13. doi:10.1007/s12237-016-0123-z

[4] Mohan, S., T. Connelly, C. Harris, K. Dunton, J. McClelland. 2016. Seasonal trophic linkages in Arctic marine invertebrates assessed via fatty acids and compound-specific stable isotopes. Ecosphere 7(8): doi.01429. 10.1002/ecs2.1429

[3] Valiela, I., M. Bartholomew, A. Giblin, J. Tucker, C. Harris, P. Martinetto, M. Otter, L. Camilli, and T. Stone. 2013. Watershed deforestation and down-estuary transformations alter sources, transport, and export of suspended particles in Panamanian mangrove estuaries. Ecosystems. doi: 10.1007/s10021-013-9709-5

[2] Valiela, I., A. Giblin, C. Barth-Jensen, C. Harris, T. Stone, S. Fox, and J. Crusius. 2013. Nutrient gradients in Panamanian estuaries: effects of watershed deforestation, rainfall, upwelling, and within-estuary transformations. Marine Ecological Progress Series 482: 1-15. doi: 10.3354/meps10358

[1] Valiela, I., L. Camilli, T. Stone, A. Giblin, J. Crusius, S. Fox, C. Barth-Jensen, R.O. Monteiro, J. Tucker, P. Martinetto, and C. Harris. 2012. Increased rainfall remarkably freshens estuarine and coastal waters on the Pacific coast of Panama: Magnitude and likely effects on upwelling and nutrient supply. Global Planetary Change 92-93: 130-137. doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2012.05.006