Karen Casciotti

Karen Casciotti is a Professor of Oceans and of Earth System Science at Stanford University, and a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Her research focuses on marine biogeochemistry, with particular emphasis on nitrogen cycling, isotope fractionation, and the chemical processes that regulate ocean productivity and environmental change. Casciotti’s group integrates field observations, laboratory experiments, and analytical chemistry to advance understanding of how marine ecosystems respond to natural variability and human-driven perturbations. Her work has broad relevance for climate science, ocean health, and global biogeochemical modeling. Prior to joining Stanford, she served as a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and completed postdoctoral work with the U.S. Geological Survey. Casciotti has received numerous honors, including the John Hayes Award for contributions to geochemistry. She has also held key leadership roles in major international programs such as GEOTRACES, and remains an influential mentor and educator in ocean sciences.