Princeton University
Professor of Geosciences, Geomicrobiology Research Group
My research focuses on exploring subsurface microbiology initially focusing on large scale microbial transport and relating paleothermal history to the origins of subsurface microorganisms. My most impactful work comes from our field studies in the ultradeep mines of South Africa. Based upon theoretical analyses I hypothesized that radiolysis could support chemolithotrophic bacteria in the crust and we proved that hypothesis true with the discovery of Cand. Desulforudis audaxviator in South Africa. My research group has also carried out studies on a wide range of topics including combined metatranscriptome / metaproteome / geochemical analyses of subsurface samples, sequenced genomes of high affinity atmospheric CH4 oxidizing bacteria in the Arctic and Antarctica, genomic analyses of Dinosaur “soft tissue”, analyses of trace gas oxidizing bacteria in early Mars analog environments and recovery of microbial genomes from ancient DNA.