Paola Gerardo

Biography

Paola Gerardo, B.S., is an Assistant Specialist in the Keck Carbon Cycle Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (CCAMS) Prep Laboratory at the University of California, Irvine. She specializes in radiocarbon sample preparation and analysis using accelerator mass spectrometry techniques. Gerardo has been with the laboratory since 2019, progressing from Student Researcher to Junior Specialist and currently serving as Assistant Specialist since July 2023.

Gerardo received her Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Systems Science from the University of California, Irvine in June 2020, where she achieved Dean's Honor List recognition for five quarters. Her academic coursework included Introduction to GIS, Organic Chemistry, Marine Geochemistry, Data Analysis for Earth Sciences, and Marine Ecosystems. She possesses technical expertise in multiple laboratory protocols including acid/base/acid sample pre-treatment, bone pretreatment and ultrafiltration, combustion, and organic and carbonate graphitization.

In her current role, Gerardo manages sample database organization, coordinates laboratory operations, and oversees equipment maintenance while training new employees and visitors in specialized protocols. She has experience in troubleshooting graphitization preparation lines, identifying potential instrumental errors, and performing specialized sample treatments. Gerardo served as a mentor in the Earth System Science Club Peer Mentorship Program from 2019 to 2020, providing academic and personal guidance to undergraduate students in the Earth Science department.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Earth Systems Science, University of California, Irvine, 2020

Distinctions

• Dean's Honor List, University of California, Irvine, 2020