Low Temperature & Microbial Geochemistry

The Leavitt Lab works to understand how microbes influence Earth’s elemental cycles today to make inferences about the past and predictions about the future. We use microbial cultivation (including chemostats) and (in)organic isotope geochemistry to study how energy fluxes constrain microbial physiology and subsequently transformation rates within major elemental cycles. Our research projects involve microbes such as aerobic and anaerobic hyperthermophilic acidophiles (‘extremophiles’!), traditional and non-traditional methanogens, sulfate reducers, and a wide array of aerobes.

Our lab is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment to engage undergraduate and graduate students in scientific research. Those interested in joining our team are encouraged to contact Wil directly for details. Prospective graduate students can find information about Dartmouth’s Earth Science program here and application details here.