Major research themes
Marine sediments
- Biogeochemistry of organic matter degradation
- Controls on selective preservation of biomarkers
- Biosphere:geosphere interactions
Wetlands
- Microbial pathways for methane production
- Molecular hydrogen and methanogenesis
- Microbial lipids in peat bogs
Soil
- Characterisation of key soil organic matter fractions
- Kinetics of turnover of different organic matter pools
- Roles of micro-organisms and fauna in soil organic matter cycling
Glaciers
- Hydrology and hydrogeochemistry of glaciers
- Role of ice sheets in global carbon cycling
- Subglacial biogeochemical processes
Molecular archives
- Sedimentary records of past climate
- Marine sediment records
- Peat bogs
- Lake sediments
Biomolecular palaeontology
- Experimental and field studies of fossilisation of organic cuticles
- Fossils as sources of palaeoenvironmental information
Archaeological chemistry
- Palaeodietary reconstruction by stable isotope analysis of ancient skeletal remains
- Molecular and isotopic approaches to reconstructing agricultural practices in ancient landscapes
New Technique Development and Applications
- Protocol development for new molecular and stable isotopic proxies
- Culture independent methods for the study of unculturable microorganisms
- New applications of compound-specific radiocarbon analysis