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Overview
Our research examines the biogeochemistry and hydrogeology of aqueous systems, with emphasis on the subsurface. Recent and ongoing projects in the group include:
Research approach and facility We conduct both field and laboratory studies. In both cases, our research approach is to combine chemical analyses of water, gas, and solids with geochemical modeling calculations and analyses that directly examine microbial community composition. Students in the group, therefore, can gain experience with a broad range of techniques. Our laboratory contains equipment needed for a variety of geochemical and microbiological tasks. It contains a dual-column gas chromatograph for analyzing gas composition (Gow Mac), an ion chromatography system capable of analyzing both cations and anions (Dionex), a UV Vis spectophotometer, an anaerobic chamber, a custom gas manifold for mixing gases and making anaerobic media, equipment needed for DNA extraction, and a fluorescence microscope for visualizing cells. Field equipment available in the laboratory includes a submersible pump for sampling groundwater and hand held pH, temperature, conductivity meters. More information about facilities available in the Department of Geology and on the K-State campus is available here. Peer-reviewed publications Please check out Matthew Kirk's profile on Google Scholar. Current and recent funding
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Bacteria (green) growing in a porous medium column reactor experiment.
Sampling water and natural gas from a commercial gas well in Michigan.
Bioreactor experiments containing iron- and sulfate-reducing bacteria.
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