Theme 1: Microbial mineral carbonation in natural systems and mine sites
Our team studies microbially mediated carbonate mineral precipitation reactions in a wide variety of environments. We examine these biomineralization processes in natural systems, including wetlands, stromatolites, and reef islands. We use this information to understand the role of microbes in natural geomaterials cementation and microfossil preservation in the rock record. We apply this knowledge to accelerating microbial carbonate mineral cement formation in mine tailings for the purposes of carbon sequestration and mine tailing stabilization.
Theme 2: Microbial impacts on metal mobility and recovery
We examine the role of microbes in the mobilization and sequestration of metals in contaminated sites and natural environments. Our team conducts biosorption and metal precipitation studies to assess microbial concentration of metals from solution. We target many of the transition metals in demand for green technologies with the aim of recovering these metals from mine tailings and other waste materials.
Theme 3: Microbial nutrient cycling in polar habitats
We target microbe-cryosphere-geosphere-atmosphere interactions in polar habitats. We use various geochemical and microbiological techniques to study minerals that act as nutrient sources for microbial communities in ice sheet and polar desert environments. We aim to understand how this microbial life impacts the broader environment, with respect to mineral weathering, ice sheet albedo, and nutrient cycling.
