G. Michael Purdy

G. Michael "Mike" Purdy is a Cambridge-educated scientist currently serving as Columbia's EVP for research. Prior to being named to this position in February 2011, Purdy served as the director of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, essentially exiled to the Palisades. Prior to joining Columbia, Purdy was at the National Science Foundation running the Division of Ocean Sciences.

Like fellow Colum-brit Austin Quigley, he speaks in a rather charming British accent.