Alex Isern

Dr. Alexandra Isern is currently the Assistant Director for Geosciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Previously she was Head of the Antarctic Sciences Section in NSF’s Office of Polar Programs.  Dr. Isern has been at NSF for over twenty years, eleven of which have been in Polar Programs. She has experience working as Executive Secretary for the National Science Board’s Subcommittee on Facilities and as a Program Director for numerous Programs. Dr. Isern was also Section Head for Surface Earth Processes within NSF’s Division of Earth Sciences. 

Dr. Isern received a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Florida, a Master of Science in Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island, and her PhD. In geochemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich. After her PhD, Dr. Isern was a Lecturer in Marine Science and Geology at the University of Sydney, Australia. Her research primarily focused on the evolution of carbonate platforms and reefs as a result of climate change and resulted in many months at sea and in the field.