Dr. Woods in China

At the Permian-Triassic boundary, Great Bank of Guizhou, south China

Dr. Woods in Oman

With a Camel near Wadi Maqam, Oman

 

Adam Woods

Research Interests

My research interests lie in reconstructing past environmental conditions on the planet and determining how those conditions affected the history of life on Earth. 

My main focus has been in the examination of sedimentary rocks deposited following the Permian-Triassic mass extinction in order to determine what role unusual environmental conditions during the period may have played in determining the timing and shape of the recovery from the extinction.  This research has involved examining sedimentary rocks in the field, from localities throughout the western United States and Canada , as well as geochemical analysis of samples returned to C.S.U.F. 

Student collaborations are a key component of all of my research, and I currently have students working on multiple aspects of Early Triassic climate, oceanography, and paleontology.  I have also supervised student research projects on topics that range paleokarst evolution of Ordovician limestones from southwestern Nevada to the taphonomy of fossil fish.