Department of Earth and Environmental Science

Alain F. Plante

Research team

Our research team seeks to characterize the quantity, quality and function of organic matter in surface soils from various ecosystems.

Postdoc position available: Work will focus on experiments and method development to characterize soil organic matter quality using thermal analysis techniques. Ph.D. in soil science, biogeochemistry, environmental chemistry, ecosystem science, or related field, a strong publication record and good communications skills are required. Interested applicants can email a cover letter, current CV, and names and contact information of two references.

Current Team members:

Postdocs:

Jose Manuel Fernandez (Fall 2008-2010) Characterization of soil organic matter quality by thermal analysis

PhD students:

Anarmaa Sharkhuu (started Fall 2008) Soil C biogeochemistry in northern Mongolia

Wenting Feng (started Fall 2008) CSAT3 - Physico-chemical and biochemical controls on soil carbon saturation behavior

Undergraduate researchers:

Stephanie Scott (Summer 2009) carbon analyses in soil and water

Past Team members:

Ioana Aron (Undergrad, Spring 2009) method development for aqueous TOC and TN analysis

Chukuemeka Oje (Undergrad, Fall 2008) method development for soil respiration

Amanda Conover (Undergrad, Summer 2008) CSAT3 - Physico-chemical and biochemical controls on soil carbon saturation behavior, collaborating with Anthony Aufdenkamp at Stroud Water Research Center

Inigo Virto (Postdoc, Fall 2007) Worked to separate soils using a sequential density fractionation technique with sodium polytungstate (SPT)

Aslihan Sen (Undergrad, Summer 2007) NSF REU Supplement to “Vulnerability of soil organic matter to temperature changes: Exploring constraints due to protection mechanisms and microbial community structure”

Charlie Slominski (Undergrad, Summer 2007) Penn Provost’s Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program, worked on “Vulnerability of soil organic matter to temperature changes”