by Alain | Oct 2, 2017 | Life in the Lab
The Terrestrial Biogeochemistry Laboratory in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science of the University of Pennsylvania invites applicants for competitive Ph.D. fellowships in one of two research areas: Soil carbon biogeochemistry: Projects seek to quantify and characterize the recalcitrant pools of pyrogenic and geogenic carbon in soils. We’ll examine chemical transformations and dissolution as mechanisms controlling their fate in the critical zone. Urban biogeochemistry: New and evolving research projects to study the biogeochemical functioning of urban ecosystems with emphasis on cycling and storage of carbon and nutrients. Positions are ideal for candidates who have completed an MSc in soil science, geosciences, environmental chemistry, ecosystem science or related fields, but outstanding BSc graduates in such programs will be considered. For further information, please contact Dr. Alain Plante by email (aplante@sas.upenn.edu) or consult the department website (www.sas.upenn.edu/earth). Applications can be submitted directly online (https://www.applyweb.com/upenng/) before December 15.
by Alain | Sep 28, 2017 | Peer approved
Happy to announce the recent publication of:
Ohno T, KA Heckman, AF Plante, IJ Fernandez, TB Parr. 2017. 14C mean residence time and its relationship with thermal stability and molecular composition of soil organic matter: A case study of deciduous and coniferous forest types. Geoderma doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.08.023 This collaborative project with Stom Ohno and colleagues from the University of Maine investigated the influence of forest type and soil depth on SOM stability, and found that the mean residence time of soil organic matter was greater for a deciduous forest soil compared with a coniferous forest soil, and speculated that extractable metal (oxy)hydroxide minerals were C-saturated in coniferous, but not deciduous soils.
by Alain | Aug 8, 2017 | Peer approved
Happy to announce the publication of:
Coward, E.K., Thompson, A.T., and A.F. Plante (2017) Iron-mediated mineralogical control of organic matter accumulation in tropical soils Geoderma doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.07.026. This project was part of Elizabeth Coward’s PhD dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania. She used inorganic selective dissolution experiments for direct quantification of Fe-bound C. Results suggest that low-molecular weight complexations dominate Fe-C associations in Luquillo soils, and mass balance analyses suggest Fe-associated pool of C is limited (< 50% total C). The predominance of Fe-C associations as the principal stabilization may thus be overestimated in these soils.
by Alain | Aug 7, 2017 | Life in the Lab
In our our ongoing video series, “What are you doing today?“, undergraduate research assistant Madison Bell-Rosof explains why measure the specific surface area of soil samples.
by Alain | Jul 26, 2017 | Life in the Lab
In our our ongoing video series, “What are you doing today?“, undergraduate research assistant Hannah Sanders explains why she’s using dental tools to pick biochar chunks clean of soil.
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