The biogeochemistry of many nutrients and contaminants in the environment is mediated by microbes and mineral surfaces. Owen Duckworth (Soil Biogeochemistry) focuses primarily on the thermodynamics and kinetics of aqueous and interfacial reactions that control the biogeochemical cycling of natural and anthropogenic species. Specific interests include the effects of biogenic exudates, including small organic acids, biopolymers, and siderophores, on the speciation and solublization of trace metals in the environment, and the biomineraization and bioweathering of minerals. A wide array of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques are used to support macroscopic observations derived from traditional chemical and microbiological approaches.

Microorganisms play fundamental roles in many soil processes including but not limited to soil carbon sequestration, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling, and detoxification of inorganic and organic pollutants. Soil microbes regulate these processes through their survival strategies at the organismal level, competitive and synergistic interactions at the community level, and feedback control mechanisms at the ecosystem level. Wei Shi (Soil Microbiology and Ecology) uses molecular biology, biochemical and ecological approaches to address questions regarding soil microbial ecophysiology, community diversity and composition, and the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in managed and natural ecosystems. Soil Microbiology and Ecology Laboratory is equipped with tools for conducting organismal, community, and process-level studies.

Students trained in the MESS program will develop diverse technical skills and a multidisciplinary perspective on soils and the environment. Prospective students interested in any of these topics, or applying these techniques and approaches to other problems, should feel free to contact any of the faculty listed above for more information.