Education
BS, SUNY College at Brockport
MS, SUNY University at Buffalo
PhD, University of Cincinnati
Courses Taught
Evolution of the Earth
Earth’s Climate: Past and Future
Sedimentology
Paleontology
Field Methods/Excursion
Tools for Environmental Scientists
Research Interests
Jay’s research focuses on identifying and characterizing climatically-induced extinction events recorded in the Paleozoic rock record using a combination of geochemistry, paleontology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, and fluid inclusion analysis. He has also studied the geochemistry and mineralogy of Cambrian-age frac sand deposits in Wisconsin in order to understand the potential environmental impacts of sand mining.
Publications
SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS:
Brett, C., Zambito, J., McLaughlin, P., and Emsbo, P. (2020) Revised perspectives on Devonian biozonation and environmental volatility in the wake of recent time-scale revisions, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 549:108843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2018.06.037
Brett, C., Zambito, J., Baird, G., Aboussalam, S., Becker, T., and Bartholomew, A., 2018, Litho-, Bio-, and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Boyle-Portwood Succession (Middle Devonian, Central Kentucky, U.S.A.), Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments 98(2): 331-368, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-018-0323-6
Zambito, J., M. Joachimski, C. Brett, G. Baird, and Aboussalam, S., 2016, A carbonate carbon isotopic record for the late Givetian (Middle Devonian) Global Taghanic Biocrisis in the type region (northern Appalachian Basin), In Becker, R. T., Königshof, P. & Brett, C. E. (eds.) Devonian Climate, Sea Level and Evolutionary Events. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 423: 223-233, http://doi.org/10.1144/SP423.7
Benison, K., Zambito, J., and Knapp, J., 2015, Contrasting siliciclastic-evaporite strata in subsurface and outcrop: an example from the Permian Nippewalla Group of Kansas, U.S.A, Journal of Sedimentary Research 85: 626-645. https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2015.43
Zambito, J. and Benison, K., 2013, Extreme High Temperatures and Paleoclimate Trends Recorded in Permian Ephemeral Lake Halite, Geology 41(5): 587-590. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34078.1
Zambito, J. and Schemm-Gregory, M., 2013, Revised Taxonomy and Autoecology for the Brachiopod Genus Ambocoelia in the Middle and Late Devonian Northern Appalachian Basin (USA), Journal of Paleontology 87(2): 277-288. https://doi.org/10.1666/12-051R.1
James Zambito
Associate Professor of Geology
Email: zambitoj@beloit.edu Phone: 608-363-2223 Room 436, Sanger Center for the SciencesJay works with students interested in past climates, current climate change, and future climate scenarios. He involves students in his paleoclimate research, as well as his work on the potential environmental impacts of mining.
In the Geology Department, Jay teaches Earth’s Climate: Past and Future and Evolution of the Earth.
Jay is also the faculty advisor to the student-run Beloit Urban Garden (BUG).
Edit my profile- Jay Zambito