Ana Gonzalez-Nayeck
Asst Professor
Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
Department: Natural Sciences
Areas of expertise: Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry
Email Address: ana.gonzaleznayeck@baruch.cuny.edu
> View CV- Biography
- Teaching
- Research and Creative Activity
- Grants
- Honors and Awards
- Service
Ana Gonzalez-Nayeck is an assistant professor of environmental science in the Natural Sciences department at Baruch College. Her research is laboratory-based and uses the tools of stable-isotope biogeochemistry to ask questions relevant to microbial ecosystems. Currently, she is working on using stable isotopes to measure how photosynthetic microbes distribute carbon within their cells and microbial ecosystems. Prior to Baruch, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Geosciences department at Williams College. She completed her Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. Ann Pearson in the Earth and Planetary Sciences department at Harvard University, and completed her undergraduate work at Columbia University, where she conducted research at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
As a former first-generation college student and proud Latina scientist, professor Gonzalez-Nayeck is keenly aware of the need for a more inclusive environmental science community, and this context is always at the forefront of her teaching and research.
Education
Ph.D., Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University Cambridge United States
M.A., Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University Cambridge United States
B.A., Earth Science, Columbia University New York United States
| Semester | Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2024 | ENV | 1004 | Fund Of Ecol Research |
| Summer 2024 | ENV | 1003 | Fundamentals of Ecology |
| Spring 2024 | ENV | 1004 | Fund Of Ecol Research |
| Spring 2024 | ENV | 1004 | Fund Of Ecol Research |
| Spring 2024 | ENV | 5000 | Independent Study ENV I |
| Fall 2023 | ENV | 4900 | Capstone: Env Scienc |
| Fall 2023 | ENV | 4900 | Capstone: Env Scienc |
| Fall 2023 | ENV | 1003L | Fundamentals of Ecology |
| Fall 2023 | ENV | 1003L | Fundamentals of Ecology |
| Fall 2023 | ENV | 1003L | Fundamentals of Ecology |
Journal Articles
(2023). Isotopic Signatures of Carbon Transfer in a Proterozoic Analogue Microbial Mat. APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, 89(5). e01870-22.
(2022). Absence of canonical trophic levels in a microbial mat. GEOBIOLOGY, 20(5). 726-740.
Presentations
Gonzalez-Nayeck, A. (2025, September 15). Where does all the photosynthetic sugar go? Carbon isotopes as indicators of carbon allocation in natural environments. Biology and Paleoenvironment Divisional Seminar. Palisades, NY: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University.
Gonzalez-Nayeck, A. (2025, October 15). Tracers in the cell: stable carbon isotopes as indicators of photosynthetic carbon allocation. Geoscience Lunchtime Seminar Series. Northhampton, MA: Smith College.
Gonzalez-Nayeck, A., Grim, S., Waldbauer, J., Dick, G., & Pearson, A. (2025, April 15). Natural abundance carbon isotopic signatures of microbial carbon transfer in a Proterozoic analogue mat. Northeast Geobiology Conference. Cambridge, MA: Auguron Institute.
Gonzalez-Nayeck, A., Mohr, W., Tang, T., Sattin, S., Parenteau, M. N., Jahnke, L., & Pearson, A. (2025, July 15). Trophic Relationships in Modern Microbial Mats Determined Using Protein Stable Isotope Fingerprinting. Astrobiology Science Conference. Seattle, Washington: American Geophysical Union.
| Honor / Award | Organization Sponsor | Date Received | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| INSPIRE Visiting Fellowship | Columbia University Climate School/Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory | 2024-07-01 | A collaboration with researchers from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), instrument access on the LDEO campus, and $15,000 towards research per year (2 years total) |
| Certificate of Distinction in Teaching | Harvard Office of Undergraduate Education | 2021-08-31 | Received a score of 4.5/5 or higher on teaching evaluations for Spring 2021 |
| Harvard Origins of Life Initiative Graduate Certificate | Harvard Origins of Life Initiative | 2021-05-10 | Participated in the Harvard Origins of Life Initiative Graduate Consortium for 3 years, including research collaborations, field excursions and graduate seminars. Received certificate upon completion of program. |
University
| Committee Name | Position Role | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSAS Symplifying Stem Symposium | Panelist | 4/10/2024 | 4/10/2024 |
Professional
| Organization | Position Role | Organization State | Organization Country | Start Date | End Date | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Society of Microbiology | Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer | District of Columbia | United States | 9/4/2023 | 4/8/2024 | International |
| Harvard EPS Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee | Committee Member | Massachusetts | United States | 9/3/2018 | 1/29/2021 | Local |
Public
| Organization | Position Role | Organization State | Organization Country | Start Date | End Date | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard Museum of Natural History Public School Outreach | Program Organizer | Massachusetts | United States | 9/3/2018 | 5/13/2019 | State |