Aqueous Geochemistry and Mineralogy Group  

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Overview

The Aqueous Geochemistry and Mineralogy Group, led by Prof. Jeff Catalano, studies the geochemistry and mineralogy of terrestrial and planetary aquatic systems. Our interests span the fields of Environmental Biogeochemistry, Planetary Geochemistry, and Geobiology. The group investigates processes that control the distribution and cycling of major and trace elements in modern and ancient systems. These processes are controlled by chemical interactions between water and rocks, organic matter, and organisms. The goal of the group is to understand geochemical phenomena such as biogeochemical element cycling, contaminant fate, and mineral weathering and transformations on Earth, Mars, and other planetary bodies. To accomplish these goals we apply laboratory-based analytical and microscopy tools, synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopic and scattering methods, and geochemical modeling techniques.




News

August 8, 2023: We are looking for a new postdoc in the biochemistry of critical elements!

July 31, 2023: Congratulations to postdoctoral researcher Olwen Stagg on her accepting a permanent position with the UK Nuclear Waste Services (NWS).

July 1, 2023: Prof. Catalano was named the next Director of the Environmental Studies program.

March 29, 2023: Graduate student Emily Wright was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship! Congratulations Emily!

October 1, 2022: Welcome to new postdoctoral researcher Olwen Stagg!

August 22, 2022: Welcome to new graduate student Emily Wright!

August 11, 2022: Installation of the easyXAFS 300+ X-ray absorption and emission spectrometer is complete!

June 2, 2022: Congratulations to graduate student Robert Kupper on the successful defense of his Ph.D. dissertation!

May 2, 2022: Welcome to new postdoctoral researcher Yihang Fang!

February 22, 2022: Congratulations to graduate student Jinshu Yan on the successful defense of her Ph.D. dissertation!

October 1, 2021: Congratulations to graduate student Kaushik Mitra on the successful defense of his Ph.D. dissertation!

September 1, 2021: The group was selected for funding by the DOE Critical Minerals & Materials program. We were also awarded a grant from the NSF Major Research Instrumentation program to purchase an easyXAFS 300+ XAS-XES spectrometer.

January 20, 2021: The website for our Analytical Biogeochemistry Laboratory is now live. New users are welcome!




 

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Keywords: Environmental Geochemistry, Aqueous Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Environmental Mineralogy, Planetary Geochemistry, Planetary Mineralogy, Mars Geochemistry, Mars Mineralogy, Clay Mineralogy, Iron Geochemistry, Manganese Geochemistry, Trace Metals, Redox Cycling, EXAFS Spectroscopy, Methane Biogeochemistry