Elizabeth M. Herndon
Staff Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Earth Sciences Group, Environmental Sciences Division
I am an environmental geochemist interested in the interactions between minerals, water, and biota that shape the Critical Zone – the thin surface of the Earth’s crust from groundwater to canopy that supports life. In particular, my research focuses on metal biogeochemistry and how these processes influence carbon and nutrient dynamics. Additionally, I’m interested in how anthropogenic perturbations influence the transport of elements through watersheds, e.g. from air into soils, and from soils into vegetation and river systems.
In order to examine biogeochemical processes across multiple scales, my research incorporates a variety of methods such as field sampling, mesoscale laboratory experiments, and analytical techniques (both in-house and at national laboratories).
Google Scholar Profile
Current CV (updated January 2019)
Staff Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Earth Sciences Group, Environmental Sciences Division
I am an environmental geochemist interested in the interactions between minerals, water, and biota that shape the Critical Zone – the thin surface of the Earth’s crust from groundwater to canopy that supports life. In particular, my research focuses on metal biogeochemistry and how these processes influence carbon and nutrient dynamics. Additionally, I’m interested in how anthropogenic perturbations influence the transport of elements through watersheds, e.g. from air into soils, and from soils into vegetation and river systems.
In order to examine biogeochemical processes across multiple scales, my research incorporates a variety of methods such as field sampling, mesoscale laboratory experiments, and analytical techniques (both in-house and at national laboratories).
Google Scholar Profile
Current CV (updated January 2019)
Max Barczok
Ph.D. student, Kent State University
I study the geochemistry of soils and am interested in iron oxide redox reactions and their role in nutrient cycling such as phosphorus. Phosphorus is a nutrient of interest for me as it is critical for plant growth but can be adsorbed on iron oxides and made unavailable to plants. My goals are to identify which common iron oxides (Hematite, Goethite and Ferrihydrite) have the largest impact on phosphorus availability and the effect of changing redox conditions (seasonal wetting and drying of soil for example) on iron oxides themselves. I hope to relate this work to the changing climate in the American arctic and the resulting drier and warmer conditions that we expect in the future.
Ph.D. student, Kent State University
I study the geochemistry of soils and am interested in iron oxide redox reactions and their role in nutrient cycling such as phosphorus. Phosphorus is a nutrient of interest for me as it is critical for plant growth but can be adsorbed on iron oxides and made unavailable to plants. My goals are to identify which common iron oxides (Hematite, Goethite and Ferrihydrite) have the largest impact on phosphorus availability and the effect of changing redox conditions (seasonal wetting and drying of soil for example) on iron oxides themselves. I hope to relate this work to the changing climate in the American arctic and the resulting drier and warmer conditions that we expect in the future.
Sydney Laubscher
M.S. student, Kent State University
I am interested in the interaction between soil geochemistry and biological cycles, and study how manganese is influenced by red maple trees. In acidic environments, such as at acid mine drainage sites, manganese can accumulate in streams and soils and be retained in the system through vegetative uptake and storage. Some plants, such as red maples, can retain large amounts of manganese exceeding nutritional value, while others experience toxic side effects. My greenhouse experiment explores whether uptake of manganese is limited by the supply (or dissolution rates) of manganese in the system or by biological controls within the trees.
M.S. student, Kent State University
I am interested in the interaction between soil geochemistry and biological cycles, and study how manganese is influenced by red maple trees. In acidic environments, such as at acid mine drainage sites, manganese can accumulate in streams and soils and be retained in the system through vegetative uptake and storage. Some plants, such as red maples, can retain large amounts of manganese exceeding nutritional value, while others experience toxic side effects. My greenhouse experiment explores whether uptake of manganese is limited by the supply (or dissolution rates) of manganese in the system or by biological controls within the trees.
Nicolle DiDomenico
Undergraduate researcher, Kent State University
Di Domenico, N., Barczok, M., and Herndon, E. (2019) Using sequential extractions to measure potentially bioavailable phosphate in soil systems with poorly crystalline iron-oxides. Undergraduate Research Symposium (Poster award – 1st place in division), Kent State University.
Undergraduate researcher, Kent State University
Di Domenico, N., Barczok, M., and Herndon, E. (2019) Using sequential extractions to measure potentially bioavailable phosphate in soil systems with poorly crystalline iron-oxides. Undergraduate Research Symposium (Poster award – 1st place in division), Kent State University.
Former lab members:
Graduate students
Lindsey Yazbek, M.S. 2019 (Kent State)
Hydrogeochemical factors influencing metal transport and transformation in a stream impaired by acid mine drainage
Kiersten Duroe, M.S. 2019 (Kent State), Staff Geologist at O'Brien and Gere
Iron Redox Cycling and Impacts on Phosphorus Solubility in Tundra and Boreal Ecosystems
Meaghan Shaw, M.S. 2018 (Kent State), PhD student at University of New Hampshire
Concentration-discharge behavior of contaminants in a stream impacted by acid mine drainage
Brianne Yarger, M.S. student, Kent State University
Undergraduate Researchers
Mallory Klein, Kent State Geology major (2018) and lab researcher
Developing a protocol for extracting mineral-associated organic matter in soils developed from coal mine waste.
Hannah Frederick, Kent State Honors Thesis (2015-2017)
Geochemical evaluation of weathering processes and metal uptake by vegetation in coal mine spoil
Current: Graduate research assistant in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC-Boulder
Jonathan Mills, Kent State Geology major (2016) and lab researcher
Evaluating phosphorus solubility in tundra and boreal peatlands
Current: Graduate research assistant, Ag. and Env. Eng., Purdue
Amineh AlBashaireh, Ecology REU program (2015)
Geochemistry of iron and phosphorus in arctic tundra soils
College of Wooster '18
Undergraduate Lab Assistants
Devin Starr, Mike Crowell, Shannon Joseph, Bryan Agee, Roman Waked, Paul Panehal, Allison Reynolds, Mitchell Ladig
