Principle Investigator
Karen Lloyd, PhD
USC Wrigley Chair in Environmental Studies
Current graduate students
Paul Rousteau, post-doc
Paul works on microbes in sediment and how they are shaping our world. He use fluorescence microscopy techniques along with molecular biology and geochemical analysis to study microbial communities.
Jennifer Baily, PhD student
Jennifer studies how aerobic methanotrophs affect in situ rates of methane oxidation in a eutrophic lake and the deep-sea pelagic environment near methane seeps.
Caleb Rosen, PhD student, co-advised by Dr. Cameron Thrash
Caleb’s projects involve bioenergetics directed microbial cultivation: finding microbes consuming N2O with CH4 and investigating microbe-mineral interactions at Mt. Erebus, Antarctica.
Chukwufumnanya Abuah, PhD student
Fumnanya leverages bioinformatics tools to investigate the mechanisms driving organic matter degradation in permafrost and fjord sediments. Her research focuses on microbial metabolisms and their roles in shaping community dynamics.
Sarina Mitchell, PhD student
Sarina’s research focuses on linking deeply-sourced microbial life to the large-scale geologic processes of subduction and hot-spot volcanism. Her research on mud volcanoes near the Mariana Trench focuses on understanding how serpentinization-derived volatiles, such as H2, CH4, and H2S can support microbial communities that live deep within Earth’s crust. Sarina is passionate about advancing deep-sea sampling strategies that are compatible with molecular-based microbial analysis.
Juli Panehal, PhD student
Juli is passionate about using bioinformatics to learn the limits of life on Earth and the possibilities of life beyond Earth. She obtained a Masters in Astrophysics from Calstate LA and pivoted into geomicrobiology to gain a more hands-on approach in learning about these fascinating extreme environments.
Lovell Smith, PhD student
Lovell is passionate about astrobiology, with a particular interest in extreme environments on Earth and the organisms that thrive there—especially systems that serve as analogs for studying the potential for life on astronomical objects like Europa and Enceladus. He studies deep-subsurface microbes and geochemistry at the sedimentary interface between Mariana Forearc mud volcanoes and oxygenated seawater.
Leketha Williams, post-baccalaureate researcher
Leketha works on subsurface methane, sulfur, and organic matter cycling in Hydrate Ridge and Astoria Canyon, off the coast of Oregon.
Graduated students:
Jordan Bird, PhD, jordantobybird@gmail.com Current employer: U. Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Joy Buongiorno, PhD, jbuongior21@gmail.com, Current position: Assistant Professor at Maryville College
Richard Kevorkian, PhD student, rtkevork@gmail.com, Current employer: Colorado State University
Katherine Fullerton, MS, kfulle16@vols.utk.edu, Current employer: Pellissippi State Community College
Katie Sipes, PhD student, ksipes@vols.utk.edu
Timothy J (TJ) Rogers, PhD student, troger20@vols.utk.edu
Current and former undergraduate researchers and technicians:
Leketha Williams (UTK; Fall 2022-Fall 2023); John Hinkel (UNC; Summer 2022), Alay Mistry (UTK; Fall 2021), Sydney Tarrant (UTK; Fall 2021), Paul Duesing (UTK; Fall 2020-Fall 2021), Gage Coon (UTK; Fall 2020-Fall 2023), Cara Rubin (UTK; Fall 2020), Maddie Spradley (UTK; Fall 2019-Spring 2020), Roberto Diaz (REU, Summer 2019), Peibo Li (UTK; Fall 2018-Spring 2020), Raegan Paul (UTK; Fall 2018-2021), Abby Coderre (UTK; Spring 2017), Brandy Barber (UTK; Fall 2017-Fall 2018), Rachel Winstead (UTK; Fall 2016-Fall 2017), Alex Swystun (UTK; Spring 2017-Summer 2017), Sean Callahan (New Haven University; Summer 2017), Ameen Abdel-Khalek (Spring 2016-Spring 2017), Jacob Rosalsky (Harvey Mudd; Summer 2016), Taylor Pickett (UTK, Summer 2016), Talor Noordhoek (UTK, Summer 2016), Jason Chu (UTK; Fall 2015), Lindsey Whatley (UTK; Fall 2015), Alexander Eddie (UTK; Summer 2015), Jessica Keys (Elmhurst College; Summer 2015), Ferron Martin (UTK; Summer 2015), Sara Hitson (UTK; Fall 2014-Spring 2015), Spirodon Papoulis (Michigan State University; Summer 2014), Caitlyn Quinton (UTK; Fall 2013), Kyle Saylor (UTK; Spring 2013-Spring 2014), Kelsey Coombs (UTK; Fall 2013-Spring 2014), Caitlyn Mandel (UTK; Fall 2013), Emily Deas (Belmont College; Summer 2013), Emily McCully (Flagler College; Summer 2013), Nikanj Patel (UTK; Fall 2012-Spring 2013), Megan May (Depauw University; Summer 2012), Sarah Underwood (UNC; 2007-2009), Chip Peterson (UNC; 2007-2008), Zoe Manikan (UNC; 2006-2007), Laura Wehrmann (Oldenburg University, Germany; 2005), Daniela Kolhöfer (Oldenburg University, Germany; 2005), Yushih Lin (Bremen University, Germany; 2006)