Christopher Sean Kelly
Geological Sciences
School of Agriculture, Earth, and Environmental Sciences
Westville Campus
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, South Africa
ckelly19519@gmail.com
Phone: +27 72 336 6420
EDUCATION
Brown University; Providence, RI

PhD, Earth Systems History, Geological Sciences (Expected May 2020)
Lafayette College; Easton, PA

Double A.B., Geology & Environmental Geosciences and International Affairs, Summa
Cum Laude (May 2013)
Honors Thesis: Exploring Hemispheric and Ocean Basin Symmetry from the late
Miocene to the Present Using a Novel Atlantic Ocean Sea Surface Temperature Record
Advisor: Dr. Kira T. Lawrence
EXPERIENCE
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Geological Sciences

U.S. Fulbright Student Program Visiting Researcher (2013-2014)
Topic of Study: Beach rocks as Paleo Sea Level Indicators: An Assessment from
Holocene Southeast African Relict Shorelines
Adviser: Dr. Andrew Green
Umkhumbane Schools Project, Umkhumbane Secondary

10th Grade Visiting Teacher
Topic of instruction: Physical sciences, general curriculum
Superviser: Mrs. Sue Kippen; Dr. Martha Bishai
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Geology & Geophysics Department

Summer Student Fellow (Summer 2012)
Topic of Study: Climate Controls on western Tropical Pacific Coral Growth: Implications
for Coral Reef Management and Conservation
Adviser: Dr. Anne Cohen
Round River Conservation Studies, Student Study Abroad Program

Semester Abroad in Desert Ecology and Conservation Biology, Namibia (Spring 2012)
Topic of Study: Conservancy Game Guard Training in the Kunene, Namibia:
Implementing Field Methodology of Wildlife Monitoring and Spurring Local Autonomy
Adviser: Mrs. Rebekah Karimi
Lafayette College, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences

EXCEL Scholar (Student Research Fellowship) (Summer 2011)
Topic of Study: High-Resolution SW Pacific Plio-Pleistocene Sea Surface Temperature
Evolution
Adviser: Dr. Kira Lawrence

Teaching Assistant (Fall 2010; Fall 2011)
Topic of Instruction: Geological Natural Disasters/Hazards; Earth's Climate
Supervisors: Dr. Larry Malinconico; Dr. Kira Lawrence
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Paleoclimatology and oceanography, anthropogenic climate change, multidecadal climate
variability, Pleisto-Holocene Sub-Saharan African climate
HONORS

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, April 2014

U.S. Fulbright Student Research Award- South Africa, April 2013

Goldwater Scholarship for Undergraduate STEM Excellence, March 2012

Phi Beta Kappa Member- March 2012

Sigma Xi, Associate Member, Scientific Research Honor Society, April 2013

Sigma Iota Rho, National Honor Society for International Studies, March 2013

George Wharton Senior Pepper Prize Finalist, April 2013

James L. Dyson Geology Award for Academic Achievement and Character, May 2012

Leroy Nunery, '77 Intellectual Citizenship Award, May 2013

Marquis Scholar (Lafayette College’s highest academic scholarship), Fall 2009

Rexroth Prize for Meritorious Achievement in German, Spring 2010

Dean’s List, Lafayette College, Fall 2009-present
PUBLICATIONS
Kelly, C.S., Green, A.N., Cooper, J.A.G.. and Wiles, E. 2014. Beachrock variability and sea
level implications from a subtropical coastal setting: a preliminary study. In: Green, A.N. and
Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South
Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 66, pp. 736-742, ISSN 0749-0208.
ABSTRACTS
Herbert, T.; A. Tzanova; K.T. Lawrence; C. Kelly; L. Peterson. 2013. PP34A-05. Global
cooling in the late Miocene- a precursor to northern hemisphere glaciation. AGU Fall 2013.
Lawrence, K.T.; L. Peterson; C. Kelly; H. Miller; J. Seidenstein. 2013. PP53C-2028.
Hemispheric Symmetries of Plio-Pleistocene Surface Ocean Conditions: Insights from Southern
Hemisphere ODP Sites 1125 and 1088. AGU Fall 2013.
Lawrence, K.T.; A. Fedorov; C. Brierley; P. Dekens; L. Peterson; C. Kelly; Z. Liu; C. Ravelo.
2013. Patterns of Early Pliocene Warmth: Synthesizing Ocean Surface Temperature Records.
Abstracts from the 2nd workshop on Pliocene climate. Bristol University 9-10th September.
Kelly, C.S.; K.T. Lawrence.; L. Peterson. 2013. Exploring Hemispheric and Ocean Basin
Symmetry from the late Miocene to the Present Using a Novel South Atlantic Ocean Surface
Temperature Record. Northeast Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 45, No.
1, p 42.
Lawrence, K.T.; L., Peterson; C. Kelly; A. Brannick. 2012. An Assessment of Hemispheric
Symmetry during the Glaciation of the Northern Hemisphere: Insights from the South Pacific
During the Plio-Pleistocene. Northeast Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs
44, No. 2, p 49.
Peterson, L., K.T. Lawrence, C. Kelly, C.M. Schaupp, J. Seidenstein*. 2012. Hemispheric
Symmetry of Mid-Latitude Sea Surface Conditions during Plio- Pleistocene Glaciation: Insights
from the Southwest Pacific Eos Transactions AGU 93 (57) Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract
PP23A-2039.
Lawrence, K.T., L.C. Peterson, C. Kelly, A. Brannick, J. Seidenstein. 2012. An Assessment of
Hemispheric Symmetry During the Glaciation of the Northern Hemisphere: Insights from the
South Pacific During the Plio-Pleistocene. Northeast Geological Society of America Abstracts
with Programs 44. Abstract 200284.
SERVICE & OTHER ACTIVITY

Residence Advisor, Sustainable Living Floor, 2010-2011

President, LEAP (Lafayette Environmental Awareness and Protection), 2010-2011

Earth Week '11 Head Coordinator, Lafayette College, 2011

Kaleidoscope: Lafayette College Social Justice Peer Education Group, 2010-2013

Lafayette College Outdoors Society, 2009-2013