Research Program

The Microbiology of Biofilms in Extreme Environments:We study the feedbacks between microorganisms and their environments using molecular, microscopic, and chemical analyses. In particularly, we are interested in microbial growth on and within rocks in polymer-encased structures known as biofilms. Our work is focused upon biofilms in a number of extreme habitats such as highly acidic environments associated with acid mine drainage, high pH environments associated with old oceanic crust, and high temperature, high pressure environments associated with deep-sea hydrothermal vents. 

Courses Taught

BIOL 3220, 3221. Microbiology.

BIOL 4800, 6992. Astrobiology: The Planetary Context of Life

Recent Publications

Schrenk, M.O., J.A. Huber, K.J. Edwards. In press. Microbial provinces in the subseafloor. Ann. Rev. Mar. Sci. 2.

Schrenk, M.O., J.F. Holden, J.A. Baross. 2008. Magma-to-Microbe Networks in Seafloor Sulfide Deposits. In Magma to Microbe at Mid Ocean Ridges. AGU Monograph. R. Lowell, A. Metaxas (Eds.).

W.J. Brazelton, M.O. Schrenk,D.S. Kelley, J.A. Baross. 2006. Methane and sulfur metabolizing microbial communities dominate in the Lost City Hydrothermal Field ecosystem. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72(9):6257-6270.

Baross, J.A., J.A. Huber, and M.O. Schrenk. 2006. Limits of Carbon Life on Earth and Elsewhere. In Planets and Life: The Emerging Science of Astrobiology. J.A. Baross and W.T. Sullivan (Eds). Cambridge University Press.

Kelley, D.S., J. Karson, G. Früh-Green, D. Yoerger, T. Shank, D. Butterfield, J. Hayes, M.O. Schrenk, E. Olson,G. Proskurowski, M. Jakuba, A. Bradley, B. Larson, K. Ludwig, D. Glickson, K. Buckman, A.S. Bradley, W. Brazelton, K. Roe, M. Elend, A.Delacour, S. Bernasconi, m. Lilley, J. Baross, R. Summons, S. Sylva. 2005. A Serpentinite-hosted ecosystem: The Lost City Hydrothermal Field. Science. 307: 1428-1434.

Laboratory Personnel

 Heather Blumenfeld           

Ushma Patel

 Quinn Woodruff                    

 Lauren Polli 

 Sarah Thalhamer