My Story
Environmental microorganisms are recognized to enzymatically mediate biogeochemical cycles in marine and terrestrial aquatic and soil/sedimentary enviroments, thereby shaping our environment. The fate and transport of inorganic and organic natural and contaminant compounds can be directly or indirectly regulated by microbial metabolism(s). My research interests focus on the intricate interactions between microorganisms (including viruses) and the environment at the molecular scale, the ecosystem scale, and ultimately, the global scale. I have applied and will continue using an interdisciplinary approach in order to link the microbial community to biogeochemical function combining environmental microbiology, microbial physiology, molecular biology, microbial ecology, geomicrobiology, virology, and biogeochemistry.
Current Projects:
- Microbially-Catalyzed Mineral Dissolution and Precipitation: Implications to Heavy Metal and Radionuclide Mobility
- Geo-virology: Microbially-Mediated Nitrate and Metal Reduction Influenced by Bacteriophage Infection
- Microbially-Mediated Coupled Biogeochemical Reactions: Nitrification and Nirate-dependent Metal Oxidation
- Role of Metals in the Nitrogen Cycle