Alexandra is a PhD candidate at Iowa State University interested in studying the evolution of atmospheric conditions through time using biogeochemistry and paleobotany. Her research involves stable isotope geochemistry of fossil and modern leaves to investigate local ecosystem changes and plant type variability through the geologic record, in particular during periods of high carbon dioxide levels and extreme ecosystem variability. She is currently completing a yearlong fellowship in the Paleobiology department investigating early leaf decay processes as a mechanism towards understanding changes in stable isotope geochemistry before and during the fossilization process of leaves.
PhD Candidate, Geology, Iowa State University, 2022-Present
BS, Geology (Science Education Minor), University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 2022
Research Interests
Geochemistry, paleobotany, paleoclimatology
Publications
Marivaux, L., Vélez-Juarbe, J., Viñola López, L.W., Fabre, P.-H., Pujos, F., Santos-Mercado, H., Cruz, E.J., Grajales Pérez, A.M., Padilla, J., Vélez-Rosado, K.I., Cornée, J.-J., Philippon, M., Münch, P. and Antoine, P.-O. (2021), An unpredicted ancient colonization of the West Indies by North American rodents: dental evidence of a geomorph from the early Oligocene of Puerto Rico. Pap Palaeontol, 7: 2021-2039. https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1388
Laurent Marivaux, Jorge Vélez-Juarbe, Gilles Merzeraud, François Pujos, Lázaro W. Viñola López, Myriam Boivin, Hernán Santos-Mercado, Eduardo J. Cruz, Alexandra Grajales, James Padilla, Kevin I. Vélez-Rosado, Mélody Philippon, Jean-Len Léticée, Philippe Münch, Pierre-Olivier Antoine; Early Oligocene chinchilloid caviomorphs from Puerto Rico and the initial rodent colonization of the West Indies. Proc Biol Sci 1 February 2020; 287 (1920): 20192806. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.2806
