Francis's research focuses on the interactions of tectonics, climate, and biological evolution through Earth history. This work begins with geological mapping, and uses stratigraphic analysis, isotope geochemistry, geochronology, paleomagnetism, and paleontology to reconstruct paleoenvironments and tectonic histories. Recent projects have focused on the initiation and duration of Snowball Earth events, the chemical evolution of the ocean leading up to the Cambrian Explosion, and the tectonics of North America, Africa, and Asia. Francis holds a Ph.D. in Geology from Harvard University and a B.S. in Geology from Caltech. Francis runs, but not as fast or far as Becky and Nick.