Yu-Ping Chin, Andrea G. Grottoli, Steven K. Lower, John W. Olesik
The Ohio State University has created a new biogeochemistry division that integrates biochemistry, geochemistry, microbiology, and mineralogy.
Members of this group conduct research that spans spatial scales from the nanometer to the size of continents and oceans. Field sites include the Arctic, Antarctica, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Panama and all major world oceans. Laboratory instruments include atomic force microscopes, confocal laser scanning microscopes, electron microscopes, isotope ratio and gas chromatographic mass spectrometers.
In the last five years, over 8 million dollars has been awarded to this research group through grants from NSF, DOE, EPA, and ACS.
Biogeochemistry members publish in journals such as Science, Nature, Environmental Science & Technology, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, American Mineralogist, Geomicrobiology Journal, Journal of Bacteriology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Deep Sea Research, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Geophysical Research Letters, Coral Reefs, Organic Geochemistry, American Journal of Science, Limnology and Oceanography.
Graduates from this research group have become employed as professors at major research institutions and staff scientists at national labs.
Currently there are 15 graduate students in the biogeochemistry group. Some of the problems being investigated are:
- Atomic force microscopy studies of bacterial biofilms on minerals surfaces.
- Scanning laser microscopy studies of the interactions of proteins and crystal faces.
- Field studies in the Arctic exploring the role that dissolved organic matter play in the transport of polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
- Studying the effect of global change on tropical coral reef ecosystems and oceanographic conditions.