Teaching and Research
As a low-temperature geochemist and environmental mineralogist I apply high-precision aqueous geochemical techniques and state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques to understand molecular-scale geochemical processes in bio/geo media. Molecular-scale processes are best investigated using the interactions of X-Ray and electrons with matter which makes Synchrotron X-Ray spectroscopy (XRD, XRF, XAS) and electron microscopy the primary tools of my research.
My current research focuses on elucidating the fate and mobility of radionuclides (U, Sr, Cs and I) in nuclear waste impacted environments. Using analog sediments as a proxy for field conditions I simulate the reactions occurring when complex sediments are contacted by hyper-alkaline and hyper-acidic high level radioactive wastes. Elucidation of molecular scale processes occurring during reaction, coupled with continuum scale investigation of contaminant stability allows to constrain the development of mechanistic, reactive transport models used to predict long-term contaminant fate.
I am also a collaborator on various projects that aim to investigate geochemical responses to environmental disturbances.
