About Me
I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University in the Department of Geosciences. My research focuses on paleocean chemistry, paleoclimatology, and the geochemistry of chemical sediments. I develop and apply novel analytical approaches—particularly Li isotopes, Sr isotopes, and fluid inclusion analyses—to reconstruct Earth’s past environmental conditions and the interplay between climate, ocean chemistry, and tectonics.
My current work is supported by an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (Award #2420291), where I am developing a novel chronometer for Antarctic ice cores using laser ablation ICP-MS of 87Sr/86Sr in trapped sea salts, alongside reconstructing a 3-billion-year record of seawater δ⁷Li using dolostones.
Publications
- Li, Y., Wang, Y.Y., Murphy, J.G., Weldeghebriel, M.F., Xiao, Y. (2024) Evaluating evaporites as potential archives of lake and seawater lithium isotopic ratio. Chemical Geology 122326. doi
- Ajrhough, S., Boutarouine, H., Lowenstein, T.K., Weldeghebriel, M.F., Xia, Z., El Arabi, E.H. (2024) Evaporites and red beds of a syn-rift Atlantic series. Journal of Sedimentary Research 94, 750–767. doi
- Xia, Z., Li, S., Hu, Z., Bialik, O., Chen, T., Weldeghebriel, M.F., … Li, W. (2024) The evolution of Earth’s surficial Mg cycle. Science Advances 10, eadj5474. doi
- Weldeghebriel, M.F., Lowenstein, T.K. (2023) Seafloor Hydrothermal Systems Control Seawater [Li+]. Science Advances 9, eadf1605. doi
- Weldeghebriel, M.F., Lowenstein, T.K., Xia, Z., Li, W. (2023) Plate tectonic control of strontium concentration. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 346, 165–179. doi
- Weldeghebriel, M.F., Lowenstein, T.K., García-Veigas, J., Cendón, D.I. (2022) [Ca2+] and [SO4 2-] in Phanerozoic seawater. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 594, 117712. doi
- Sendula, E., Gill, B.C., Rimstidt, J.D., Lowenstein, T.K., Weldeghebriel, M.F., García-Veigas, J., Bodnar, R.J. (2022) Redox conditions in Late Permian seawater. Chemical Geology 596, 120794. doi
- Lowenstein, T.K., Weldeghebriel, M.F., Sirota, I., Eyal, H., Mor, M., Lensky, N.L. (2021) Criteria for the recognition of clastic halite. Sedimentology 68, 2253–2269. doi
- Weldeghebriel, M.F. (2025) A 3-Billion-Year Lithium Isotope Record from Marine Dolostones. In preparation.
Teaching
Princeton University
- Mentored undergraduate and graduate researchers in isotope geochemistry and LA‑ICP‑MS.
- Developed labs on fluid inclusions, halite geochemistry, and MATLAB modeling.
Binghamton University
- Teaching Assistant (2016–2021): Geochemistry; Climatology & Paleoclimatology; Geology of the Solar System; Planet Earth; Earth’s Interior.
Eritrea Institute of Technology
- Instructor (2011–2015): General Geology; Rock‑Forming Minerals; Geophysics; Geological Map Interpretation; Assisted labs for Geochemistry, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy & Paleontology; Led field camps.
Talks & Service
- Gordon Research Conference (2025) — Invited talk: Secular Variations in Phanerozoic Seawater Lithium and Links to Earth’s Climate States and the Carbon‑Silicate Cycle.
- Goldschmidt (2025) — Session Convener: The Evolution of Seawater Chemistry Through Time.
- Goldschmidt (2024) — Oral presentation: Secular variation of seawater lithium concentration and isotopic composition.
- EGU (2024) — Variability in Sr and Li composition of ancient seawater from halite fluid inclusions.
- GSA (2023), AGU (2021) — Multiple talks and posters on seawater chemistry and halite fluid inclusions.
- Reviewer — Geochemistry and paleoclimate journals.
News
- Aug 2025 — Updated CV and publications; website refreshed for assistant professor applications.
- Jul 2025 — Session convener at Goldschmidt 2025, Prague.
- Apr 2025 — NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (OPP 2420291) — Antarctic blue‑ice geochronology with LA‑ICP‑MS.
Contact
Department of Geosciences
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
Email: mweldeg@princeton.edu