Featured Research Projects

This research project focuses on the role of metallophores, molecules secreted by microbes and plants to combat metal scarcity (traditionally for Fe, named siderophores), in affecting the dissolution of molybdenum (Mo) and iron (Fe) containing minerals. This work investigates how diverse siderophores interact with Mo and Fe-bearing minerals, analyzes their effectiveness in dissolving these minerals under various environmental conditions, and unravels their dissolution mechanisms. This work sheds light on the mechanisms through which microbial siderophores influence the availability of trace metals and their broader implications for biogeochemical cycling, early Earth metal availability, and agriculture.

This research project focuses on investigating how anoxic bacteria and methanogens utilize solid-phase trace metals for their cellular processes including methanogenesis and nitrogen fixation. Specifically, I've found that anoxic bacteria and methanogens were capable of using trace metals which were trapped with solid minerals, including molybdenum (Mo), iron (Fe), vanadium (V), Zinc (Zn), and Nickle (Ni), for their key cellular processes. Studies have examined how methanogens interact with natural minerals and rocks and assessed how these interactions impact the bioavailability of solid-bound trace metals. This research is crucial for addressing the Early Earth "Mo paradox," understanding the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and carbon in relation to mineral interactions, and shedding light on early Earth metal availability for microbes alongside the co-evolution of microbes and minerals.

This research project explored the antibacterial behaviors of reduced iron (Fe)-containing clay minerals on common pathogens Escherichia coli and their bactericidal mechanisms. In this project, I focused on understanding how the redox state of iron within the clay minerals influences microbial survival and activity. I investigated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, iron toxicity, and mineral surface interactions that contribute to these effects. The goal was to unravel the complex interactions between reduced Fe-clays and microbial cells, design new antibacterial clay-based materials, and offer new insights into potential applications of clay-based materials in environmental and medical fields.