We are a microbial ecology lab fascinated by the cryosphere and the microorganisms that thrive in these extreme environments. We study the ecophysiology of icy extremophiles, their interactions with the surrounding environment, and how their metabolism helps shapes ecosystem processes.
Icy environments serve as analogs for past global glaciation events, inform exobiological exploration, yield novel microorganisms for diversity studies and biotechnological advancement. Direct sampling within and below ice is tricky, and microbial inhabitants grow slowly, making detection of in situ processes challenging. Thus, our work is highly collaborative and employs a diversity of tools—from remote sensing to isotope geochemistry and culture and molecular microbiology. Clean access is a priority in these pristine systems, and an important aspect of our work includes methods to monitor and ensure clean sampling.
Our work takes us to glaciated regions around the world – to learn more about our fieldwork check out projects and the photo gallery.