We study geomicrobiology--how microorganisms affect environmental chemistry and how chemistry selects for and influences the evolution of life. Our research focuses on microbe-mineral interactions in streams, soils, aquifers, caves, and deep sea hydrothermal vents. Our approach is multidisciplinary, combining geochemical field characterization and sampling, molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology and a wide variety of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The core of our work involves Fe(II) oxidation and biomineralization, though we are branching out into the world of microbe-S(0) interactions.

The lab has graduate and postdoctoral research positions available. See details in this pdf. We also welcome highly motivated undergraduate researchers from UD and other institutions. Please contact me for details!

Latest news:

Sean McAllister presented his research on hydrothermal vent Fe-oxidizers at the Delaware Space Grant Research Symposium. He was also recognized as a DESG graduate fellow.

Clara and Sean McA. head to the Loihi Seamount to explore the ecology, biomineralogy, and functions of marine Fe-oxidizing microbes. March 15 - April 1 on the R/V Thompson. Blog and article

We were just awarded a new grant with Tom Hanson to study the interactions between a phototrophic S-oxidizer and elemental S(0). We’re looking for students and a postdoc for this project.

Shingo Kato (JCM/RIKEN) visited the lab in Jan/Feb 2013 to perform SEM and TEM of FeOB isolates OYT1 and R-1 and generally geek out on FeOB. Stay tuned for some awesome pictures.

Two new papers!

Emily Fleming et al. in FEMS Microbial Ecology, on our discovery of marine sheath-forming Zetaproteobacteria at Loihi.

Gaurav and Clara’s paper in Geobiology, on how Fe-oxidizing microbes avoid mineralization by maintaining cell surfaces at near-neutral charge.

Photo descriptions and credits:

Top left: Iron microbial formation at Tennyson Mine, WI (Tami Thomsen)

Top right: Phase contrast light micrograph of Mariprofundus ferroxydans (C. Chan)

Bottom middle: Gradient tube culture of iron-oxidizing microbes (Lisa Tossey)

Bottom right: Characteristic iridescence associated with iron oxidizers (Jill Banfield)

My mug shot (Evan Krape). If you use these images, please credit appropriately.