Tamara McConnell Student [GEOL]Tamara is a Geology major who is currently working with anoxic sediments - their handling, extraction, and analysis for mineralogy and speciation analysis.
Zackry Stevenson Graduate Assistant [GE AT]Zak is working with iron cycling bacterial isolates to better understand their role in nitrogen cycling and contaminant and organic carbon degradation in the environment. Funding: Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination.
Kaleigh Block Graduate Assistant [GE AT]Kaleigh is interested in phototrophic microbes living in meromictic lakes. Her project will explore carbon cycling under ferruginous conditions, driven by phototrophs and methane-cycling organisms. Funding: NSF CAREER grant
Jazlyn Beeck Student [GEOL]Jazlyn is double majoring in Environmental Sciences and Geology. Her research project looks at soil carbonate formation in Iowa's loess deposits. She is trying to discern the origin of these carbonates, and what they can tell us about microbial activity...
Raisa Islam Graduate Assistant [GE AT]Raisa is a masters student conducting a geochemical investigation of pyrite formation. She is using anoxic lakes to investigate the intermediates and pathways of sedimentary pyrite formation. She uses microscale imaging and chemical analysis on sediments and particulates, and also...
Dr. Hui Tong Affiliate [GE AT]Dr. Hui Tong is a visiting scholar from the Institute of Geochemistry in Guiyang, China. He is working with Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria, exploring heavy metal immobilization and pesticide degradation. Funding: China Scholarship Council (CSC)
Gabbie Ledesma P&S Temporary [GE AT]Gabbie majored in Geology with a chemistry minor. She is investigating trace element signatures of lacustrine manganese deposits on Earth in order to interpret the origin and mineralogy of similar deposits in Gale crater, Mars, which is currently being investigated...
Tania Leung Graduate Assistant [GE AT]Tania is investigating the possibility that sedimentary Fe release can stimulate harmful algal blooms (HABs) of cyanobacteria in midwestern lakes. Her current field site is at Lakeside Laboratory, in northwestern Iowa. She is using pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence to...
Micah Fatka Graduate Assistant [GE AT]Micah is working to isolate novel bloom-forming cyanobacteria from Iowa's lakes. She is sampling from state park swimming beaches as part of a collaboration with Iowa Department of Natural Resources. She will also be screening these isolates for novel toxins...