OverviewResearch in the Geochemistry group focuses on low temperature and low pressure geochemistry in aquatic systems, both freshwater and marine environments. Our research objectives are to characterize and understand the biogeochemical processes that regulate the distribution of inorganic and organic compounds to determine their impact on the environment in the past, the present, and the future. Geochemical measurements are also used in geological and biological archives such as corals, deep sea sediments, and cave deposits to investigate ocean and climate history. Some of our research is field-based and includes oceanic cruises, in situ measurements in coastal and deep-sea environments, and investigations in pristine or polluted rivers, lakes, aquifers, and coastal marshes. Laboratory-based research investigates interactions between minerals, microorganisms, and dissolved chemicals to characterize the processes that mediate their dissolution and precipitation.

EAS Faculty & Research Interest•Dr. Kim CobbPaleoclimates and isotope geochemistry. Mechanism of global climate changes in geological time using isotopes and trace metals, geochemistry of corals and speleothems, carbon and oxygen isotopes, magnetic sector and secondary ion mass spectrometry.

•Dr. Jennifer GlassGeobiology. Evolution of life on Earth, trace metal requirements in the nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur cycles, geochemical proxies, bioinformatics, metalloenzymes.

• Dr. Ellery IngallBiogeochemistry of natural waters and sediments. Cycling of phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon in aquatic systems, redox geochemistry, organic geochemistry, nuclear magnetic resonance, synchrotron X-ray techniques.

• Dr. Taka ItoOcean circulation, marine biogeochemical cycles, impact of climate on ocean biogeochemistry, numerical modeling, coupling biogeochemical modeling with global circulation models.

•Dr. Joel KostkaBiogeochemistry, geomicrobiology. Characterization of microbial populations involved in carbon, nitrogen, and metal cycling in sediments and terrestrial environments, microbial processes involved in the bioremediation of organic and metal contaminants, biofuels as alternative source of energy.

•Dr. Jean Lynch-StieglitzPaleoclimate and isotope geochemistry. Interaction of the ocean and climate over the decade to tens of thousands of years, variability in ocean circulation in the geological past, geochemical paleoproxies, oxygen and carbon isotopes in carbonates from foraminifera.

• Dr. Martial TaillefertInorganic geochemistry in aquatic systems, chemical oceanography, geomicrobiology. Interactions between chemical and biological processes at redox interfaces, cycling of trace metals and metal bioremediation, in situ measurements in sediments, analytical speciation of trace metals, dynamic biogeochemical modeling.

Research Scientists

Dr. Jessica ConroyMeg Grantham

Jonathan Delgardio

EAS Research Areas•Atmospheric Chemistry, Aerosols & Clouds•Paleoclimate•Planetary Science•Geochemistry•Dynamics of Weather and Climate•Geophysics•Oceanography and Climate•Remote Sensing

Jordon BecklerKeaton BelliJacky BraccoStacy CarolinColin Dean

Nelson W. GreenWei-Ching HsuMorris E Jones

Peter LeechHui Lin

Jessica MoermanKathleen SalomeHussein SayaniBabak Shafei

Anna Williams

Graduate Students

GeochemistryRelated Courses• Geochemical Thermodynamics• Geochemical Kinetics• Aqueous Geochemistry• Isotope Geochemistry• Organic Geochemistry• Geomicrobiology• Biogeochemical Cycles• Oceanography• Water Quality Modeling• Earth System Modeling• Paleoclimate & Paleoceanography• Tectonics, Climate & Landscape• Environmental Field Methods

Application Requirements•B.S. or M.S. in any field of

geophysical, physical or environmental science•GPA: 3.0/4.0 & Higher•Graduate record Exam (GRE)•TOEFL (International Students)

Application TargetJanuary 15

Admissions: Dr. Kim Cobbkim.cobb@eas.gatech.edu

Information: Kathy Plummerplummer@eas.gatech.edu

Application Materials•Application Form (Online)•Personal Statement•Recommendation Letters (3)•Official Transcripts (each school)•Test Scores (GRE and/or TOEFL)

EAS Opportunities•Research field missions•State-of-the-art laboratories•Local environmental monitoring•Broad range of computing resources•Interdisciplinary seminar series

Financial Assistance•Graduate Assistantships (RA/TA)•Full Tuition Payment•National and Local Fellowships•Professional Conference

School of Earth & Atmospheric Science

Degree RequirementsM.S. Students•Course: 30 Credit Hours•Thesis or Non-Thesis

Ph.D. Students•EAS Course: 15 Credit Hours•Minor Course: 9 Credit Hours•Academic Breadth•Comprehensive Exam•Doctoral Examination