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We are currently hiring PhD students!
The Notini Lab is up and running this summer with lots of exciting things. We welcome two new students, Bry Popejoy, a PhD student and Kiersten Schmitt, an undergraduate student this summer!
Our first field trip, facilitated by Dr. Limmer, took us to the University of Delaware Farm on South Campus, where we began testing different methods for collecting porewater in controlled rice paddy plots. These tests will help us refine our techniques for larger upcoming field experiments, ensuring we can capture accurate data on how pore water water and soils change under flooded conditions. We were also able to tour a large portion of the 350-acre College of Agriculture and Natural Resources complex. This included seeing the experimental crop fields, greenhouses, and livestock areas that support both teaching and research at UD. This visit gave us a better appreciation of the wide range of research UD can support and how our own research interests can fit into soil health. And the best part, we can bike to the field site!
Kiersten collecting porewater from one
Kiersten collecting porewater from one
of the flooded rice paddy plots.
of the flooded rice paddy plots.
Controlled rice paddy plots at the UD Farm.
Controlled rice paddy plots at the UD Farm.
We use custom-built sample holders, or "rockets" as they are nicknamed by Dr. Andrew Grigg (colleague at ETH who originally designed them), to deploy iron minerals into natural environments and monitor how they can transform over time. A major milestone for our group this summer was learning how to independently operate and troubleshoot a resin 3D printer to create these holders for our future field experiments. We worked together to scale, model, and print the rockets entirely within our own lab. After our refining process, we successfully retrofitted two different designs to meet our needs and mass produced about 50 rockets of each design! This major step allows us to have full control over the design process, while also ensuring we can quickly adapt our tools as our research needs evolve.
Bry Popejoy holds the first successfully printed rocket!
Another exciting achievement in the lab this summer was successfully synthesizing ferrihydrite, an iron mineral that will be central to research in our lab. Making ferrihydrite proved to be tricky as it requires careful control of solution chemistry and timing to ensure the mineral forms correctly. We were able to reliably produce it in the lab which is key for our upcoming experiments. Since ferrihydrite plays a big role in natural environments, have a consistent, lab-made source allows us to study its behavior in detail.
Dr. Notini and Kiersten working together to carefully adjust the pH of a ferrihydrite solution prior to centrifugation.
Dr. Notini and Kiersten working together to carefully adjust the pH of a ferrihydrite solution prior to centrifugation.
Before the ferrihydrite is put into the freeze dryer, liquid nitrogen is used to shock freeze the ferrihydrite solution.
Before the ferrihydrite is put into the freeze dryer, liquid nitrogen is used to shock freeze the ferrihydrite solution.
Dr. Notini changing the sample on the Mossbauer. The sample is cooled down to -268 degrees C for data collection!
Dr. Notini changing the sample on the Mossbauer. The sample is cooled down to -268 degrees C for data collection!
Our second field experience was facilitated by Prof. Suni Walters, and her student, Kaleigh Block. They took us to the Great Marsh, a coastal wetland near the UD Lewes Campus. During this trip, we collected preliminary data about the site to better understand its soil and water conditions, which will help guide our next steps in designing experiments. Beyond the research, we also had a chance to enjoy the Lewes UD campus itself and the surrounding area (including some ice cream, of course!).
Our second field experience was facilitated by Prof. Suni Walters, and her student, Kaleigh Block. They took us to the Great Marsh, a coastal wetland near the UD Lewes Campus. During this trip, we collected preliminary data about the site to better understand its soil and water conditions, which will help guide our next steps in designing experiments. Beyond the research, we also had a chance to enjoy the Lewes UD campus itself and the surrounding area (including some ice cream, of course!).
Our last summer milestone was deploying two of our rockets with ferrihydrite inside into the rice paddy plots at the Webb Farm facilities. This first deployment is helping us test prelimiary research questions and troubleshoot our methods in preparation for a larger project. This step marked the transition from preparation to active fieldwork, setting the stage for the next phase of our research in the fall!
Luiza Notini and Matt Limmer preparing the sample holders to be deployed into the rice paddy plots/
Sample holders containing the ferrihydrite.
Bry Popejoy and Matt Limmer deploying our very first sample!
Collecting porewater, pH, and conductivity after deploying the sample holders.
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