Current Research and Scholarly Interests
Research
My research interests center on the molecular, biogeochemical, and ecological aspects of the microbially-mediated cycling of nitrogen and metals in the environment. In particular, the major research avenues actively pursued in my laboratory are focused on examining the diversity and activity of microorganisms involved in manganese cycling, denitrification, and especially nitrification within coastal, estuarine, and select terrestrial systems. We use a combination of molecular, genomic, cultivation, and biogeochemical approaches to study functionally-important groups of bacteria and archaea in both the laboratory and the field.
Teaching
My courses emphasize the critical role of microbes in shaping the geochemistry of our planet, over modern or geological time scales. Topically, these courses span the 'geo-microbiology' continuum from redox chemistry to molecular phylogeny, and from metagenomics to the hands-on cultivation of environmental microbes that catalyze key redox transformations. The unifying theme of all my courses is the emphasis on the immense metabolic and phylogenetic diversity of prokaryotes that drive the biogeochemical cycling of elements in nature. Collectively, these courses provide a strong 'microbial foundation' for students with backgrounds in biogeochemistry, geosciences, environmental engineering, as well as microbiology.
