DR. GREGORY K. DRUSCHEL


Department of Geology

University of Vermont

Delehanty Hall 321

Burlington, VT 05405-0122

Gregory.Druschel@uvm.edu

Tel. 802-656-3841 (office)

Tel. 802-656-0045 (fax)

 

POSITIONS:

Assistant Professor, University of Vermont Department of Geology –  January 2004 – current

Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Vermont Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources – September 2007 - current

Director, University of Vermont iRWE Environmental Microbiology Laboratory – January 2006 - current

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Delaware College of Marine Studies – August 2002 - January 2004

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

I study the interdependence of microbial activity and geochemical cycling in a range of environments.  The goal is to gain insight on defining the role of microbes in different environments and how much they affect the stability and transport of a variety of compounds in those environments.  Germaine topics addressing these questions include the kinetics of redox reactions, molecular clusters and reactions driving nanoparticle formation and dissolution, relating microbial ecology to geochemical niches, and the application of statistical, thermodynamic, kinetic, and molecular models to predictive analysis of environmental perturbation.

 

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Geochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison.  September, 2002.  Dissertation: Sulfur Biogeochemistry: Kinetics of Intermediate Sulfur Species Reactions in the Environment.  Advisor: Dr. Jillian F. Banfield.

M.S., Geology, Washington State University. May 1998.  Thesis: Geothermal Systems in the Idaho Batholith: Geology and Geochemistry.  Advisor: Dr. Philip Rosenberg.

B.S., Geology, Earth Science, and Chemistry (minor). Muskingum College, New Concord, OH.  May 1995. Honors Thesis: The variation of iron and arsenic concentrations in the surface water of an acid mine drainage area at the Wills Creek Reservoir.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Bond P.L., Druschel G.K., and Banfield J.F., 2000: Comparison of acid mine drainage microbial communities in physically and geochemically distinct ecosystems. Applied And Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 66, Iss. 11, pp 4962-4971.

Clingenpeel, S.R., D’Imperio, S., Oduro, H., Druschel, G.K., and McDermott, T.R., in review: Cloning and In situ Expression Studies of the Hydrogenobaculum Arsenite Oxidase Genes.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Drizo, A., Cummings, J., Weber, D., Twohig, E., and Druschel, G., 2008: New Evidence of phosphorus rejuvenation in EAF Steel Slag.  Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 42(16), p. 6191-6197.

D’Imperio, S., Lehr, C.R., Oduro, H., Druschel, G., Kuhl, M., and McDermott, T.R. (2008): On the relative importance of H2 and H2S as energy sources for primary production in geothermal springs.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Vol. 74, p. 5802-5808.

Druschel, G.K., Emerson, D., Sutka, R., and Luther, G.W., 2008: Low oxygen and chemical kinetic constraints on the geochemical niche of neutrophilic iron(II) oxidizing microorganisms.  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.  Vol. 72, p. 3358-3370.

Druschel , G.K. and Borda, M., 2006: Comment on “Pyrite dissolution in acidic media” by M. Descostes, P. Vitorge, and C. Beaucaire.  Geochemica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 70, p. 5246-5250.

Druschel., G.K., Hartmann, A., Lomonaco, R. and Oldrid, K., 2005: Determination of sediment phosphorus concentrations in St. Albans Bay, Lake Champlain: Assessment of internal loading and seasonal variations of phosphorus sediment-water column cycling.  Report to the Vermont Agency of natural resources, 71 p., http://www.vermont.gov/cleanandclear/stalbansbay.htm

Druschel G.K., Rosenberg P.E., 2001: Non-magmatic fracture-controlled hydrothermal systems in the Idaho Batholith: South Fork Payette geothermal system. Chemical Geology, Vol. 173, Iss. 4, pp 271-291.

Druschel, G.K., Schoonen, M.A.A., Nordstrom, D.K., Ball, J.W., Xu, Y., And Cohn, C., 2003: Sulfur geochemistry of hydrothermal waters in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. III: An anion-exchange resin technique for sampling and preservation of sulfoxyanions in natural waters.  Geochemical Transactions Vol. 4, No. 3, p. 12-19.

Druschel, G.K., Labrenz, M., Thomsen-Ebert, T., Fowle, D.A. and Banfield, J.F., 2002: Biogenic Precipitation of Monomineralic Nanocrystalline Sulfides: Implications of Observed and Modeled Processes to Ore Deposition.  Economic Geology Vol. 97, No. 6, p.1319-1329.

Druschel, G.K., Hamers, R.J., and Banfield, J.F., 2003: Kinetics and mechanism of homogeneous polythionate oxidation at low pH with oxygen and ferric iron.  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta Vol. 67, No. 23, p. 4457-4469.

Druschel, G.K., Hamers, R.J., Luther, G.W., and Banfield, J.F., 2003: Kinetics and mechanism of trithionate and tetrathionate oxidation at low pH by hydroxyl radicals.  Aquatic Geochemistry. V. 9 No. 2, p. 145-164.      

Druschel, G.K., Baker, B.J., Gihring, T.H., and Banfield, J.F., 2004: Acid mine drainage biogeochemistry at Iron Mountain, California. Geochemical Transactions Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 13-32.

Druschel, G.K., Sutka, R, Emerson, D., Luther, G.W., Kraiya, C., and Glazer, B., 2004: Voltammetric investigation of Fe-Mn-S species in a microbially active wetland.  In: Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction WRI-11.  Wanty, R.B. and Seal, R.R (eds.). p. 1191-1194.               

Edwards K.J., Bond P.L., Druschel G.K., McGuire M.M., Hamers R.J., Banfield J.F., 2000: Geochemical and biological aspects of sulfide mineral dissolution: lessons from Iron Mountain, California. Chemical Geology, Vol. 169, Iss. 3-4, pp 383-397.

Gihring, T.M., Druschel, G.K., McCleskey, R.B., Hamers, R.J., and Banfield, J.F., 2001: Rapid arsenite oxidation by Thermus aquaticus and Thermus thermophilus: Field and laboratory investigations.  Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 35, No. 19, pp. 3857-3862.

Labrenz M., Druschel G.K., Thomsen-Ebert T., Gilbert B., Welch S.A., Kemner K.M., Logan G.A., Summons R.E., De Stasio G., Bond P.L., Lai B., Kelly S.D., Banfield J.F., 2001:  Formation of sphalerite (ZnS) deposits in natural biofilms of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Science, Vol. 290, Iss. 5497, pp 1744-1747.

Labrenz, M. and Druschel, G.K., 2008: Zn.  Contribution to the Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Springer Encyclopedia of Earth Science Series (EESS).

Luther,  G.W., III, Glazer, B., Ma, S., Trouwborst, R., Schultz, B.R., Druschel G.K., Kraiya, C., 2003: Iron and sulfur chemistry in a stratified lake: Evidence for iron-rich sulfide complexes.  Aquatic Geochemistry V. 9, No. 2, p. 87-110.  

Luther, G.W., III, Glazer, B., Ma, S., Trouwborst, Moore, T.S., Metzger, E., Kraiya, C.,Waite, T.J., Druschel G.K., Sundby, B., Taillefert, M., Nuzzio, D., Shank, T.M., and Brendel, P.J., 2008: Use of voltammetric solid state (micro)electrodes for studying biogeochemical processes: Laboratory measurements to real time measurements with an in situ electrochemical analyzer (ISEA).  Marine Chemistry V. 108, No. 9, p. 221-235.

Macalady, J.L., Dattagupta, S., Schaperdoth, I., Albertson, L.K., Eastman, D., and Druschel, G.K., 2008: Sulfide/oxygen supply ratio predicts outcome of competition among sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in cave waters.  ISME journal.  Vol. 2(6), p. 590-601.

Mouser, P.J., Rizzo, D.M., O’Grady, P.O., Morales, S.E., Hayden, N., Druschel, G.K., and Stevens, L, in prep: Assessing temporal changes in groundwater quality for a landfill-leachate contaminated aquifer using microbial community profiling.  Environmental Science and Technology

Oduro, H., and Druschel, G.K. (in review): The formation and oxidation of FeS(aq) molecular clusters: Decoupling iron sulfide mineral surface dissolution and oxidation reactions.  Geochemical Transactions.

Porada, H., and Druschel, G.K., in review: Microbial mats participating in the deposition of the siliciclastic ‘ore formation’ in the Copperbelt of Zambia.  Geobiology.

Roesler, A.J., Gammons, C.H., Druschel, G.K., Oduro, H., and Poulson, S.R., 2007: Geochemistry of flooded underground mine workings influenced by bacterial sulfate reduction.  Aquatic Geochemistry. Vol. 13, No. 5, p. 211-235.

 

 

ABSTRACTS AND PRESENTATIONS

Druschel, G.K., 2008.  New insights on biogeochemical processes affecting geologic and environmental systems from high resolution redox chemistry.  Presented to the Environmental Science and Engineering Program, California Institute of Technology, November 19, 2008.

Druschel, G.K., 2008.  New insights on biogeochemical processes affecting geologic and environmental systems from high resolution redox chemistry.  Presented to the Geology and Environmental Science Departments, University of CaliforniaRiverside, November 18, 2008.

Druschel, G.K., 2008.  Microbial Geochemistry: Putting together redox geochemistry, mineralogy, and microorganisms to better understand environmental and geological processes.  Presented to the Biochemistry Department, University of Vermont, November 14, 2008.

Druschel, G.K., and Watzin, M.C., 2008. The Missisquoi bay system: what triggers cyanobacterial blooms – linking external and internal loading effects on the ecosystem.  Presented at the 2008 Joint International workshop on the Missisquoi Bay watershed, October 24, 2008

Druschel, G.K., 2008.  Voltammetric electrodes and the delineation of detailed microbial redox chemistry over fine spatial and temporal scales.  Presented at the 2008 Chapman conference on Biogeophysics, Portland, Maine, October 14, 2008.

Druschel, G.K., Emerson, D., and Macalady, J., 2008.  Environmental voltammetry to characterize microbial habitats.  Presented at the 2008 Goldschmidt Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, July 15, 2008.

Oduro, H. and Druschel, G.K., 2008.  Formation and oxidation of FeS(aq) molecular clusters: Decoupling iron sulfide mineral dissolution and oxidation reactions.  Presented at the 2008 Goldschmidt Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, July 15, 2008.

Druschel, G.K., Smith, L.G., Melchiors, M., and Watzin, M., 2008.  Redox chemistry and internal nutrient loading mechanisms across the sediment-water interface in Lake Champlain bays.  Presented at the Northeast Regional Americal Chemical Society Meeting, Burlington, VT, July 2, 2008.

Druschel, G.K., Oduro, H., Eastman, D., Smith, L., Boyd, E., Macalady, J.L., and Gammons, C.H., 2007.  Electrochemical determinations of key redox species associated with microbial activity.  Presented at the 2007 Geological Society of America conference, Denver, CO, October 29, 2007.

Pearce, A., Bierman, P., Druschel., G.K., Massey, C., Rizzo, D., Watzin, M., and Wemple, B., 2007: Developing a watershed field course to inspire interdisciplinary learning.  Presented at the 2007 Geological Society of America conference, Denver, CO, October 31, 2007.

Druschel, G.K., 2007: In situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab: New insights on iron-sulfur speciation and microbial function.  Presented to the Marine Sciences Program, University of South Carolina, March 23, 2007.

Druschel, G.K., Lorenson, G., Oduro, H., and McDermott, T., 2006.  Arsenic and sulfur transformations in hydrothermal spring waters and microbial mats of Yellowstone National Park.  Presented at the 2006 American Geophysical Union National Meeting, December 11, 2006.

Druschel, G.K., 2006: Linking chemistry and microbes: using in situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab.  Presented to the Department of Geology, Virginia Tech University, November 2, 2006

Druschel, G.K., 2006: Linking chemistry and microbes: using in situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab.  Presented to the School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, October 25, 2006

Angel, R., Nagouker, N., and Druschel., G.K., 2006.  Community Analysis of Bacteria using T-RFLP technique across the Sediment at St. Albans Bay, Lake Champlain VT, U.S.A with Respect to Redox Gradient.  Presented at the 2006 International Society for Microbial Ecology International Meeting, Vienna, Austria, August 20-26, 2006.

Druschel., G.K., Lorenson, G.W., Eastman, D.E., Oduro, H., and Macalady, J. Voltammetric determination of iron, sulfur, and arsenic redox speciation in natural waters as a guide to microbial sampling strategies.  Presented at the 2006 National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Francisco, CA, September 11, 2006.

Druschel, G.K., 2006: Linking chemistry and microbes: using in situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab.  Presented to Montana State Thermal Biology Program as part of a visiting scholar program, May 29, 2006.

Druschel, G.K., 2006: Linking chemistry and microbes: using in situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab.  Presented to the Plant and Soil Sciences Department, University of Vermont, January 27, 2006

Druschel, G.K., 2006: Minerals and Microbes: Field studies in California, Vermont, Montana, and Italy.  Presented to the Burlington Gem and Mineral Society, January 26, 2006.

Druschel, G.K., 2006: In situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab: Linking geochemical cycling with microbial activity.  Presented to the Department of Geology, University of South Florida, January 20, 2006.

Druschel, G.K., Lorenson, G., Eastmann, D.A., Macalady, J., 2005: Redox speciation and biogeochemical gradients: Assessing spatial niches and monitoring dynamics in natural systems with voltammetric microelectrodes.  Presented at the 2005 National Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December 8, 2005

Mouser, P.J., Rizzo, D.M., Druschel, G.K., O’Grady, P., and Stevens, L., 2005: Innovative Methods for Integrating Knowledge for Long-Term Monitoring of Contaminated Groundwater Sites: Understanding Microorganism Communities and their Associated Hydrochemical Environment.  Presented at the 2005 National Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December 8, 2005

Druschel, G.K., 2005: Geochemical niches for microbes and details of sulfur cycling seen through the use of voltammetric microelectrodes.  Presented to the Geology Department, Massachussets Institute of Technology, October 28, 2005.

Druschel, G.K., 2005: Tools and Methods for thinking about the role microbes play in environmental processes.  Presented to the Peace Partners: Arab-Israel-Vermont Global Water Resources Symposium, October 6, 2005.

Druschel, G.K., 2005: Microbial Geochemistry: Field excursions and lab experiments to look at the links between microbes and geochemical cycling.  Presented to the Geology Department at Middlebury College, September 27, 2005.

Druschel, G.K., 2005: In situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab: Linking geochemical cycling with microbial activity.  Presented to the Geology Department of McGill University, September 23, 2005.

Druschel, G.K., 2005: Methods to investigate sediment and water column redox chemistry changes associated with nutrient availability.  Presented at the PRIME Meeting, Tyler Place, VT, September 12

Druschel, G.K., 2005: In situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab: Linking geochemical cycling with microbial activity.  Presented to the School of Natural Resources, September 6, 2005.

Druschel, G.K., Lorenson, G.L., Mouser, P., Rogers, D., Oduro, H., Hartmann, A., and Rizzo, D.M., 2005:  Using voltammetry in the environment to constrain microbial activity.  Presented at the annual EPSCoR meeting, Burlington, VT, August 15, 2005.

Druschel, G.K., 2005: Determination of sediment phosphorus concentrations in St. Albans Bay, Lake Champlain: Assessment of internal loading and seasonal variations of phosphorus sediment-water column cycling.  Presented to the St. Albans Town Selectboard meeting, July 11, 2005.

Lorenson, G., Rogers, D., Price, R., Edwards, K., and Druschel, G.K., 2005: Application of in situ Au-amalgam microelectrodes in Yellowstone National Park to guide microbial sampling.  Presented at the 2005 Goldschmidt Conference, Moscow, ID, May  2005.

Druschel, G.K., Lorenson, G., Rizzo, D., Rogers, D, and Edwards, K., 2005: Field, lab, and computational tools and techniques for linking geochemical and microbial processes in a range of environments. Presented at the 2005 Goldschmidt Conference, Moscow, ID, May  2005.

Druschel, G.K., 2005: In situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab: Linking geochemical cycling with microbial activity.  Presented to the Geology Department at Washington University in St. Loius, MO March 23, 2005.             

Druschel, G.K., 2005: In situ microelectrodes in the field and in the lab: Linking geochemical cycling with microbial activity.  Presented to the Geology Department at Penn State University April 4, 2005.   

Druschel, G.K., 2004: Current state of research on P loading in St. Albans Bay, VT.  Presented to the St. Albans Bay Watershed Association, September 2004.     I

Druschel, G.K, Emerson, D., Luther, G.W. ., Sutka, R, Kraiya, C., and Glazer, B., 2004: Environmental limits of the circumneutral iron-oxidizing bacterial isolate ES-1: Field, culture, and kinetic results from voltammetric analyses.  Presented at the V.M. Goldscmidt Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark June 2004.

Druschel, G.K. and Borda, M., 2003.  Co-chairs, Symposium on: Metal Sulfide Formation And Reactivity: A Multi-Discplinary Approach To The Role Of Metal Sulfide Minerals In Past And Present Environments.  Symposia at the March, 2003 American Chemical Society Annual Meeting.

Druschel, G.K., Borda, M., Hamers, R.J., Luther III, G.W., and Banfield, J.F., 2002: Elemental Sulfur Reactions at Low Ph and Their Implication for Microbial Activity in Acid Mine Drainage Environments.  Presented at the Fall 2002 Meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

Druschel, G.K., Hamers, R.J., and Banfield, J.F., 2001: Competitive Oxidation Kinetics and Microbial Ecology: Intermediate Sulfur Transformations in Acid Mine Drainage Environments.  Presented at the Fall 2001 Meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

Druschel, G.K., Hamers, R.J., and Banfield, J.F., 2001: Tetrathionate catalysis by natural sulfide minerals in acid mine drainage systems.  Presented at the 2001 National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Druschel, G.K., Chan, C.S., Moreau, J., Thomsen-Ebert, T., Labrenz, M., Fowle, D., Welch, S.A., and Banfield, J.F., 2001: Biogenic precipitation of monomineralic nanocrystalline sulfides: Implications of observed and modeled processes to metal contaminant remediation and ore deposition.  Presented at the 2001 Goldschmidt Conference.

Druschel, G.K., Hamers, R.J., and Banfield, J.F., 2000: Oxidation kinetics of tetrathionate at low pH: Implications for pyrite oxidation mechanisms and microbial ecology in acid mine drainage environments.  Presented at the 2000 Goldschmidt Conference.

 

RESEARCH GRANTS

 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

 

 STUDENT ADVISEES

 Primary Advisor:

Greg Lorenson (M.S., 2006)                                       Harry Oduro (M.S., 2007)

Lydia Smith (curr. M.S.)                                             Jessica Sperling (curr. M.S.)

 

Secondary Advisor:

Paula Mouser (Ph.D. w/Rizzo 2006)

Andrea Pierce (curr Ph.D. w/Rizzo)

Julia LaRouche (curr M.S. w/ Bowden)

Simon Bird (M.S. w/Drizo 2008)

Jane Duxbury (M.S. w/Bierman 2008)

Bethany Zinni (M.S. w/Lini 2006)

Heather Burgess (M.S. w/Lini 2007)

Kate Crawford (M.S. w/Watzin, 2007)

Martin Lee (curr. M.S. w/Rizzo)