Molecular Environmental Science

Our research focuses on phenomena that occur at solid-water and biological interfaces that affect environmentally important processes such as trace element sorption and mineral alteration in aquatic and subsurface settings. Combining environmental chemistry, geochemistry, microbiology, and surface science, we develop and apply research tools to study simplified systems that underpin complexity in the natural environment. Many of these tools utilize synchrotron light sources, including X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), X-ray standing waves, grazing incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction. We conduct these experiments at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lab, the Advanced Light Source, and the Advanced Photon Source.

Current projects

• (Bio)geochemical cycling of heavy metals and radionculides. more

• Spectroscopic studies of bacteria-mineral interactions, including biofilm growth and mineral alteration.

• Dissolution of mercury sulfide minerals by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.

• Chemical and physical processes controlling the transport of mercury from inoperative mines in California, with an emphasis on colloidal phenomena. more

• Mercury release from contaminated anoxic sediments: a study of dissolution, desorption, and precipitation of Hg in sulfidogenic sediments. more

updated March 24 2007