I am a geochemist with an environmental justice focus. My low-temperature geochemistry research program investigates contaminant cycling in urban ecosystems. I focus on three areas of research: 1) developing sustainable and accessible soil remediation methods; 2) determining distributions of contaminants in urban soils; 3) investigating contaminant uptake in food crops. My work reveals hidden parts of geochemical cycles using community-based field studies, mesoscale work under controlled conditions, and advanced nano- and micro-scale analytical approaches.
In my postdoctoral work, I gain disciplinary breadth and learn new skill investigating iron nanoparticle transport in marine systems. Iron emitted from hydrothermal vents on the seafloor has been hypothesized to contribute to up to 30% of net primary production in parts of the ocean, but geochemical common sense says this iron should crash out to ocean floor. I investigate how this iron stays suspended to reach the open ocean and, eventually, surface phytoplankton communities.
In my postdoctoral work, I gain disciplinary breadth and learn new skill investigating iron nanoparticle transport in marine systems. Iron emitted from hydrothermal vents on the seafloor has been hypothesized to contribute to up to 30% of net primary production in parts of the ocean, but geochemical common sense says this iron should crash out to ocean floor. I investigate how this iron stays suspended to reach the open ocean and, eventually, surface phytoplankton communities.
