Education
University of Miami, Miami, FL, 2013-2018
Department: Marine Geology and Geophysics, Ph.D.
Advisor: Dr. Peter K. Swart
Exploiting Stalagmites to Understand Pleistocene-Holocene Climate Variability in the Bahamas and Iran
University of California-Berkeley, 2009-2013
B.A. Marine Science
B.A. Geography
Research Experience
Doctoral Research: Stable Isotope Laboratory, University of Miami, 2013-2018
Dissertation: Exploiting Stalagmites to Understand Pleistocene-Holocene Climate Variability in the Bahamas and Iran
Bahamas Cave Monitoring Project, University of Miami, 2013-2016
Collected stalagmite cores and analyzed samples for the paleoclimate record Executed calcite precipitation experiments in an active cave to understand forces driving oxygen and carbon isotopic fraction
Dr. Lynn Ingram’s Stable Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory, UC Berkeley, 2011-2013
Organized and logged estuarine and deep-sea sediment cores
Isolated and analyzed foraminifera using mass spectrometer to analyze 18O/16O isotope ratios as proxies for paleoclimatic analysis
SSV Robert C. Seamans, Sea Education Association, 2012
On shore research and oceanographic education in Woods Hole, Ma
Four-week research cruise from Honolulu, Hi to San Francisco, Ca to study impacts of Pacific Decadal Oscillation on physical oceanography of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre
USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, 2012 AAUS Scientific Diver with Ph.D. student Jenny Hofmeister (UC Berkeley) characterizing octopus food webs and ecology Collected octopuses and their prey inside and outside Catalina Island MPAs
Ran stable isotope analysis on flesh samples for oxygen, carbon, and sulfur to describe food web dynamics
School for Field Studies in Turks & Caicos Islands, 2011
Collected biological data to assess effects of marine protected areas
Studied artificial reef technology and helped design and implement new reef structures
Organized community outreach efforts to educate the local public on field research
Teaching Experience
Head Teaching Assistant, Introductory Marine Science Lab, University of Miami, 2014-2015
Prepared and organized lab activities for the hands-on marine science lab required for all UM marine science undergraduate majors
Prepared daily lesson plans with class professor and managed 4 TAs of the additional lab sections
Publications/Presentations
Speleothem records of glacial/interglacial climate from Iran forewarn of future water availability in the interior of the Middle East
Journal of Quaternary Science Reviews, April 2017
Sevag Mehterian, Ali Pourmand, Arash Sharifi, Hamid A.K. Lahijani, Majid Naderi, Peter K. Swart
Determining the drivers of calcite geochemistry in a monitored Bahamas cave
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (in Preparation)
Monica Arienzo, Sevag Mehterian, Peter K. Swart, Kenneth Broad, Brian Kakuk
Paleo-Hydrology of a Phreatic Carbonate System as Observed in Fluid Inclusions of a Mid-Pleistocene Stalagmite
CSL Sponsor’s Meeting, 2017, Best Student Presentation Award
Sevag Mehterian, Monica Arienzo, Peter K. Swart
A new genus for Cirolana troglexuma Botosaneanu & Iliffe, 1997, an anchialine cave dwelling cirolanid isopod (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) from the Bahamas
Journal of Subterranean Biology, February 2017
Niel L. Bruce, Saskia Brix, Nicholas Balfour, Terue C. Kihara, Alexander M. Weigand, Sevag Mehterian, Thomas M. Iliffe
Millennial Scale Rapid Climate Change Events of the Last 60kya as Observed in Multiple Stalagmites from the Bahamas AGU Poster, 2016
Sevag Mehterian, Monica Arienzo, Kenneth Broad, Brian Kakuk, Peter K. Swart
Creating Voids Through Diagenetic Alteration in Newly Precipitated Calcites
(In Preparation)
Sevag Mehterian, Peter K. Swart
Clumping Modern Speleothems-Correcting for Variations Seen in Calcite Δ47 Precipitated Under Known Conditions Clumped Isotope Workshop Poster, 2016
Sevag Mehterian, Monica Arienzo, Peter K. Swart
Reconstruction of Pleistocene Paleo-Hydrology and Climate Variations in Western Asia as Recorded in Speleothems from West-Central Iran
AGU Poster, 2014
Sevag Mehterian, Ali Pourmand, Arash Sharifi, Hamid A.K. Lahijani, Majid Naderi, Peter K. Swart
Leadership Experience
Field Trip Leader: CSL Sponsor’s Trip to Eleuthera & Master of Professional Science Field Studies course, 2015
Planned and organized week-long trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas for CSL Sponsor’s trip as head interpreter for geologic features, including outcrop analogs of carbonate systems
Guided masters’ students for week-course examining Eleuthera’s geological and ecological systems
Vice President: Geological Association at Berkeley, 2012-2013
Organized weekly club meetings with undergraduate and graduate geology majors, planned field trips to geologically exciting locations, prepared monthly presentations about current events in the world of geology
Vice President: Society of Petroleum Engineers, Berkeley Chapter, 2012-2013
Planned visits with local oil company professionals
Coordinated field trips to Chevron refineries and headquarters for workshops and meetings
Community Outreach
Scientific photographer, 2010-present
Volunteer camera and drone photography skills for University of Miami and Miami Science Barge science outreach publications and informational materials
Visiting Geologist for Miami elementary Schools, 2013-present
Visit classes of 5th and 6th graders at a local Miami elementary schools to teach about geology and the history of the Universe with hands-on lessons
California Academy of Sciences, Volunteer Aquarium Show Diver, 2011-2013
Primary presenting diver for two daily aquarium shows
Spoke to the audience from inside the aquarium about ocean science and led exhibit interpretative discussions
Special Skills
Geochemical analytical tools:
New Wave Research Computerized Micromill, Thermo-
Finnigan Delta Plus IRMS with Kiel IV, Thermo Scientific MAT 253 IRMS with
Keil V, Varian ICP-OES, Thermo Scientific Neptune MC-ICP-MS, Picarro
L2130-I, Delta Plus XP with GC, Finnigan MAT 251 IRMS
Analytical Methods:
Stable Isotope Geochemistry, Clumped Isotope Methods, Extraction Chromatography for U-Th Geographical Information System (GIS), MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite, basic MATLAB operations
Drone Operations:
Operations, maintenance, data processing via DJI’s suite of drone/UAV products
American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Research Diver and NAUI Master Diver