DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES

Research

Biological molecules record information about both their formation environment and the organisms that produce them.  I use a class of molecules called lipids to study the habits of modern and ancient microbes.  Lipids are found in the membranes of all organisms and their structures can be highly diagnostic of particular biological groups. Lipids are made primarily of C and H (also N, P, O, and S).  As these atoms are incorporated into the lipid structure they preserve isotopic signals of both biological and environmental processes. The major advantage of lipids for geoscientists is that they can be preserved on very long timescales, and thus can archive information about past environments in sediments and rocks.  My research applies tools from organic geochemistry, microbiology, and stratigraphy to investigate microbial and biogeochemical cycling in both modern and ancient environments.

A major ongoing portion of my research focuses on understanding what type of information is record by the hydrogen isotopic composition of lipids.  We know that D/H reflects environmental water, but it can also vary with humidity, salinity, and, most importantly for my research, microbial metabolism.  This work includes both in lab culturing experiments to expand the data base of isolate D/H, and field studies aimed at understanding the nuances of this technique in particular environments.

Other current and past research topics include:

• Geochemical modeling of aqueous environments to understand the energetic potential and limits of microbial life (Currently focused on the deep subsurface environment)
• Neoproterozoic chemical evolution of the ocean-atmosphere system during extreme isotope excursions (mostly in Oman thus far, Chemostratigraphy, modeling, field work)
• Carbonate sedimentology, stratigraphy, and geochemistry with an emphasis on microbialite preservation and morphology.

Teaching

EARTH 331 - Field Problems in Sedimentary Geology
EARTH 370 - Geobiology

Selected Publications