Biogeochemistry & Environmental Microbiology
Our interdisciplinary research group in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Microbiology studies the interactions between microbial processes and geochemistry in aquatic and terrestrial systems. Topics include microbial metabolism and element cycles; biodegradation of pollutants; environmental genomics of microbial consortia; greenhouse gas cycling; and the environmental fate of agricultural fertilizers.
Faculty Members
Faculty Research
IU-led $2.4 million NASA project eyes climate change in Greenland -- with a third eye on Mars
5/11/11
"Our work on methane cycling in warming tundra ecosystems fits well with the objectives for exploration of methane cycling on Mars -- a target of the upcoming missions," White said.
Study finds insecticidal protein from genetically engineered corn is present in Indiana streams
9/30/10
The study suggests a need for better understanding of whether agricultural practices may produce unexpected effects on the environment.
Tidal Marshes Compared for Effectiveness in Improving Quality of Estuaries
5/27/10
Professor Christopher Craft is co-author of an article published in the May/June issue of the Soil Science Society of America Journal.
Effects of sea-level rise on tidal marsh ecosystems
8/28/09
The coastal wetlands in the U.S. are essential to the ecological and economic health of many communities. They serve as habitats for many birds and animals, they filter out many pesticides and pollutants sent "downriver," and they protect shorelines from the worst impacts of storms and flooding. However, predicted rising sea levels due to climate change have raised many questions about what will happen to the nation's shorelines. Through the support of the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, Professor Chris Craft and a team of researchers examine the coastline marshes of the southeast to determine their susceptibility to climate change. They came away with a model that may predict the future picture of our nation's coastal wetlands.