| Joseph Kirschvink | |
| Alma Mater: | Caltech (BS, MS 1975) Princeton University (MA 1978, PhD 1979) |
| Field: | Geobiology |
| Thesis Title: | I. A paleomagnetic approach to the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary problem. II. Biogenic magnetite: its role in the magnetization of sediments and as the basis of magnetic field detection in animals |
| Thesis Year: | 1979 |
| Thesis Url: | https://www.proquest.com/openview/c841314e0477dd7c2715779b9e257ec8/1 |
Joseph L. Kirschvink (born 1953) is an American geologist and geophysicist. He is the Nico and Marilyn Van Wingen Professor of Geobiology at Caltech,[1] known for contributions to paleomagnetism[2] and biomagnetism[3] (discovery of the first magnetofossils) and the Snowball Earth hypothesis.[4] He is also Principal Investigator (PI) of Earth–Life Science Institute.
In 1988, Kirschvink was recognized as a "Rising Star" in Southern California by the Los Angeles Times.[5] In 2021, Caltech settled with the Department of the Interior to pay $25,465 for damages to petroglyph sites in Volcanic Tablelands after they were damaged by Dr. Kirschvink on Earth Day 2017.[6] [7]