Blake, Ruth
Ruth Blake
Dr. Ruth Blake is a biogeochemist at Yale University, where she researches Experimental and Stable Isotope Geochemistry. Her research focuses on the characterization and interpretation of oxygen isotope fractionations in the PO4-water system during biogeochemical cycling of phosphorous in natural waters and sediments. Dr. Blake has won numerous awards, including the Geochemical Society’s Clarke Medal—given for an original contribution to the field early in one’s career.
“Try to attain good advisors; actively seek out advice to shorten the learning curve.” - Ruth Blake, 2006.
Zhao, M., Blake, R.E., Liang, Y., Dogru, D., Jaisi, D.P., Chang, S.J. and Planavsky, N.J. 2021. Oxygen Isotopic Fingerprints On The Phosphorus Cycle Within the Deep Biosphere. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, .310: 169-186.
Ji, H., Chang, C., Beckford, H.O., Song, C. and Blake, R.E. 2021. New perspectives on lateritic weathering process over karst area – Geochemistry and Si-Li isotopic evidence. Catena, 198: 105022.
Chang, S.J., Blake, R.E. and Colman, A.S. 2021. Biogeochemical cycling of phosphate: Insights from oxygen isotope exchange rate between phosphate and water catalyzed by inorganic pyrophosphatase. Earth and Planetary Sci. Lett., 570: 117071.
Zhang, Y., Wang, F., Hudson-Edwards, K.A., Blake, R.E., Zhao, F., Yuan, Z., and Gao, W., 2020. Characterization of Mining-related Aromatic Contaminants in Active and Abandoned Metal(loid) Tailings Ponds. Environmental Science and Technology, 54(23), 15097-15107, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03368
Lei, X-T., Zhang, H., Chen, M., Guo, L., Zhang, X-G., Jiang, Z-H., Blake, R.E. and Chen, Z-G., 2020. The efficiency of sequential extraction of phosphorus in soil and sediment: insights from the oxygen isotope ratio of phosphate. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 20:1332––1343 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02517-x
Ruth Blake, a biogeochemist at Yale University, became interested in a career in the environmental field when she was at Renaissance High School in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Stuart Birnbaum and Allen Morris, geology professors at Wayne State University, took an active interest in the students at Renaissance, bringing many of them on field trips with their college geology courses. That direct interaction with the professors exposed Dr. Blake to Wayne State’s geology program, and she ended up working there the summer after she graduated from high school.
Dr. Blake completed a Bachelor of Science in geology from Wayne State University in 1987 and a Master of Science in hydrogeology from the University of Texas in 1982. She earned a Ph.D. in geochemistry from the University of Michigan in 1998. Dr. Blake’s doctoral research focused on how microbial activity can affect oxygen isotopes in phosphates.
Dr. Blake’s first job was as a cooperative geology scholar at the Michigan-Wisconsin Pipeline Initiative, a gas storage company. While there, Dr. Blake worked with engineers, created maps, explored gas fields, tested wells, and had other duties related to reservoir engineering. Dr. Blake also interpreted rock formations. She conducted rock chemistry experiments to understand how rocks interacted with the company’s chemicals. “While I was an undergrad [at Wayne State], I got a scholarship from the company in my sophomore year,” Dr. Blake says. “They paid for my education, and I worked for them full-time from then on throughout undergrad” (Taylor, 2006). Dr. Blake received her Bachelor of Science in geology from Wayne State University in 1987.
Upon graduating from college, Dr. Blake was uncertain whether or not she was ready for graduate school. Dr. Birnbaum and Dr. Morris, the two Wayne State professors who had influenced her in high school, told her about a lab tech position at the University of Texas-San Antonio. She took the job. “I ended up going to grad school there—they only had an M.S. program there at the time—and it was free for employees, so I decided I may as well get my master’s there,” Dr. Blake explains.
In 1982, Dr. Blake received her Master of Science in geology from the University of Texas. From there, Dr. Blake returned to Michigan to study geology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor—a school she had always wanted to attend but had previously been unable to afford. Dr. Blake completed her Ph.D. there in 1997. When she finished her studies, Dr. Blake applied for a post-doc from the National Science Foundation and was offered a job by Exxon in Houston. Dr. Blake had to decide whether to continue in academia or to move into industry. Then, someone from Yale who was interested in her research area and had seen her give a presentation offered her a post-doc position. Dr. Blake accepted Yale’s offer, figuring she could put the job at Exxon on hold. After her post-doc was over, Yale made her an offer. Dr. Blake joined the Yale University faculty in July 2000 and has been there since.
Dr. Blake won the Geochemical Society’s Clarke Medal—given for an original contribution to the field early in one’s career. She considers the accolade a career highlight. She also notes her most significant achievement was bringing to fruition a line of research she had begun at the University of Michigan. Dr. Blake also considers her publications, guiding her first Ph.D. students, and her recent promotion at Yale significant achievements. “I was told not to come here,” Blake remembers. “I heard that Yale is notorious for not being supportive of young faculty, but my promotion was a unanimous decision” (Taylor, 2006).
There have been times when Dr. Blake has had doubts. “My timeline has been longer [than most], and that was the disconcerting part. You’re not sure how to navigate your career if you don’t have professional mentorship,” Dr. Blake explains (Taylor, 2006).
In addition to the guidance of her Wayne State geology professors, Dr. Blake names her 10th-grade biology teacher at Renaissance High School, Mr. Klein, as one of her most influential mentors. While studying at the University of Michigan, Dr. Blake received professional and personal career advice from Jim O’Neil and Lyn Walter, both of whom are also close her personal friends. At Yale, Dr. Blake’s mentors are Karl Turekian and Jay Ague.
Dr. Blake mentors other minorities in the field, mainly regarding their research. Dr. Blake serves on several graduate committees and mentors through the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program. In addition, she helps assist students at Amherst College with their senior thesis.
Dr. Blake’s experience influences the advice she gives to minorities who are considering a career in the environmental field: “Try to attain good advisors; actively seek out advice to shorten the learning curve. Recognize that there are some things you won’t know about navigating the system. Be savvy about tracking your career development—you must be strategic. Seek help because you will need it, and try not to isolate yourself.”
Dr. Blake also has advice concerning skills and training. “If you find you need logistical support, you may have to pay for training from people. While you may be going to a science or research institution, be aware of the business aspects—especially fundraising. You will need to network and meet people. Don’t be shy; get out there! All decisions will be based on what your peers think of you. Do your own P.R” (Taylor, 2006).
Blake, Ruth. n.d. Home [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-blake-32874910/]. LinkedIn. Retrieved June 23, 2023 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-blake-32874910/
Interview conducted by Multicultural Environmental Leadership Development Initiative staff. 2016. University of Michigan – School of Natural Resources and Environment. Ann Arbor, MI.
Ruth E. Blake. 2023, April 16. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Blake.
Taylor, Dorceta (Ed.). 2006. The Paths We Thread: Profiles of the Careers of Minority Environmental Professionals: II. Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative, University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment.