World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
38
Citations
7033
World Ranking
6379
National Ranking
2270

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2017 - Fellow of Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Overview

Erik A. Sperling is a researcher affiliated with Stanford University in the United States. Their academic work primarily spans the field of Earth and Planetary Sciences, with a total of 110 publications categorized under this main discipline. Within this broad area, Sperling's research delves into several subfields, including Paleontology, Geochemistry and Petrology, Atmospheric Science, Geophysics, and recently, Artificial Intelligence.

Their key research topics cover a range of geological and geochemical areas. These include Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils, Geology and Paleoclimatology Research, Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis, Geological and Geochemical Analysis, Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping, Hydrocarbon Exploration and Reservoir Analysis, and Marine Biology and Ecology Research.

Sperling has contributed to at least five notable publications in recent years, each appearing in respected scientific journals. These include:

  • Calibrating the coevolution of Ediacaran life and environment, 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Eukaryogenesis and oxygen in Earth history, 2022, Nature Ecology & Evolution
  • On the co-evolution of surface oxygen levels and animals, 2020, Geobiology
  • Ediacaran reorganization of the marine phosphorus cycle, 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Persistent global marine euxinia in the early Silurian, 2020, Nature Communications

Their work is frequently published in journals and venues such as Abstracts with programs - Geological Society of America, Geobiology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Science Advances, and Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology.

Among frequent coauthors, Erik A. Sperling has collaborated with Richard Stockey, Justin V. Strauss, Noah J. Planavsky, Thomas H. Boag, and Úna C. Farrell, reflecting a diverse range of partnerships in the scientific community.

Their contributions have been recognized through awards such as the Fellowship of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded in 2017.

Best Publications

  • The Cambrian conundrum: Early divergence and later ecological success in the early history of animals

    Douglas H. Erwin;Douglas H. Erwin;Marc Laflamme;Sarah M. Tweedt;Sarah M. Tweedt;Erik A. Sperling

  • Statistical analysis of iron geochemical data suggests limited late Proterozoic oxygenation

    Erik Sperling;Charles J. Wolock;Alex S. Morgan;Benjamin C. Gill

  • Oxygen, ecology, and the Cambrian radiation of animals

    Erik A. Sperling;Christina A. Frieder;Akkur V. Raman;Peter R. Girguis

  • Temperature-dependent hypoxia explains biogeography and severity of end-Permian marine mass extinction.

    Justin L. Penn;Curtis Deutsch;Jonathan L. Payne;Erik A. Sperling

  • Poriferan paraphyly and its implications for Precambrian palaeobiology

    E. A. Sperling;D. Pisani;K. J. Peterson

  • The stratigraphic relationship between the Shuram carbon isotope excursion, the oxygenation of Neoproterozoic oceans, and the first appearance of the Ediacara biota and bilaterian trace fossils in northwestern Canada

    Francis Alexander Macdonald;Justin Vincent Strauss;Erik A. Sperling;Galen P. Halverson

  • Where's the glass? Biomarkers, molecular clocks, and microRNAs suggest a 200‐Myr missing Precambrian fossil record of siliceous sponge spicules

    Erik A Sperling;J M Robinson;Davide Pisani;Kevin J Peterson

  • Calibrating the coevolution of Ediacaran life and environment

    Alan D Rooney;Marjorie D Cantine;Kristin D Bergmann;Irene Gómez-Pérez

  • Eukaryogenesis and oxygen in Earth history

    Unknown

  • Redox heterogeneity of subsurface waters in the Mesoproterozoic ocean

    E. A. Sperling;A. D. Rooney;A. D. Rooney;L. Hays;V. N. Sergeev

  • Biotic replacement and mass extinction of the Ediacara biota

    Simon A. F. Darroch;Erik A. Sperling;Thomas H. Boag;Rachel A. Racicot

  • The Ecological Physiology of Earth's Second Oxygen Revolution

    Erik Sperling;Andrew Herbert Knoll;Peter R. Girguis

  • A basin redox transect at the dawn of animal life

    Erik A. Sperling;Galen P. Halverson;Andrew Herbert Knoll;Francis Alexander Macdonald

  • Rangeomorphs, Thectardis (Porifera?) and dissolved organic carbon in the Ediacaran oceans

    E. A. Sperling;E. A. Sperling;K. J. Peterson;M. Laflamme

  • A molecular palaeobiological hypothesis for the origin of aplacophoran molluscs and their derivation from chiton-like ancestors.

    Jakob Vinther;Erik A. Sperling;Derek E. G. Briggs;Kevin J. Peterson;Kevin J. Peterson

  • The Temporal and Environmental Context of Early Animal Evolution: Considering All the Ingredients of an "Explosion".

    Erik A Sperling;Richard G Stockey

  • On the co-evolution of surface oxygen levels and animals.

    Devon B. Cole;Daniel B. Mills;Douglas H. Erwin;Douglas H. Erwin;Erik A. Sperling

  • Demosponge steroid biomarker 26-methylstigmastane provides evidence for Neoproterozoic animals.

    J. Alex Zumberge;Gordon D. Love;Paco Cárdenas;Erik A. Sperling

  • Oxygen and animals in Earth history.

    Andrew Herbert Knoll;Erik A. Sperling

  • Oxygen, facies, and secular controls on the appearance of Cryogenian and Ediacaran body and trace fossils in the Mackenzie Mountains of northwestern Canada

    Erik Sperling;Calla Carbone;Justin Strauss;David T Johnston

  • Ediacaran reorganization of the marine phosphorus cycle.

    Thomas A. Laakso;Erik A. Sperling;David T. Johnston;Andrew H. Knoll

  • Persistent global marine euxinia in the early Silurian.

    Richard G. Stockey;Devon B. Cole;Noah J. Planavsky;David K. Loydell

  • MicroRNAs resolve an apparent conflict between annelid systematics and their fossil record

    Erik A. Sperling;Jakob Vinther;Vanessa N. Moy;Benjamin M. Wheeler

  • Oxygen, temperature and the deep-marine stenothermal cradle of Ediacaran evolution

    Thomas H Boag;Richard G Stockey;Leanne E Elder;Pincelli M Hull

  • Early Neoproterozoic Basin Formation in Yukon, Canada: Implications for the make-up and break-up of Rodinia

    Francis Alexander Macdonald;Galen P. Halverson;Justin Vincent Strauss;Emily F. Smith

Frequent Co-Authors

Justin V. Strauss
Justin V. Strauss Dartmouth College
Kevin J. Peterson
Kevin J. Peterson Dartmouth College
Noah J. Planavsky
Noah J. Planavsky Yale University
Galen P. Halverson
Galen P. Halverson McGill University
Andrew H. Knoll
Andrew H. Knoll Harvard University
Francis A. Macdonald
Francis A. Macdonald University of California, Santa Barbara
Michael J. Melchin
Michael J. Melchin St. Francis Xavier University
Davide Pisani
Davide Pisani University of Bristol
David K. Loydell
David K. Loydell University of Portsmouth
Nicholas J. Tosca
Nicholas J. Tosca University of Oxford

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Earth Science in the USA opens doors to diverse career opportunities, but many students also consider complementary fields to broaden their expertise. For instance, creative professionals might explore photography colleges online to develop valuable visual communication skills that enhance environmental presentations or research documentation.

Military veterans seeking education pathways aligned with Earth Science careers can benefit from tailored programs. Options like an online photography degree for military veterans provide flexible learning while leveraging military benefits and discipline, supporting smooth transitions into civilian scientific roles.

Language skills also play a crucial role in global Earth Science careers. Combining this with a linguistic edge, some students pursue online degrees in Spanish to enhance communication with international teams and indigenous communities.

Veterans interested in language studies have access to specialized programs such as an online Spanish bachelor degree for veterans, which can open doors in environmental consultancy, policy development, and education sectors globally.

Best Scientists Citing Erik A. Sperling

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles