Research in WRL is divided into three broad categories, follow the link to the subject that interests you but be sure to visit others because as you will see there really is a connection between all of the projects we do.

1. Metal speciation in the hyporheic zone

Leonette Cox's PhD research focuses on identifying the parameters that control in situ organometal speciation during chemical weathering in black shale draining streams (high natural metal background, low salinity, low pH)) and Antarctic Dry Valley lakes (low natural metal background, high salinity, alkaline pH). Her research centers on the application of hyphenated analytical techniques including GC-ICP-MS speciation of organometals as well as thermodynamic modelling of species. 

2. Development of new analytical techniques to study migration pathways of birds

Bindu Kaimal's PhD research centers on the development of LA-ICP-MS as a technique to study life histories of birds through feather metal chemistry.  Specifically Bindu developed an LA-ICP-MS method which provides metal concentration data from feathers allowing distinctions between populations of birds based on metal chemistry as well as distinguishing resident from non-resident populations.

3. Mercury speciation and urinary porphyrin metabolic profiling

David Clarke's PhD research brings together analytical chemistry and toxicology in the assessment of organomercury exposure and the effect on heme metabolism.  David's research involves the development of a rapid GC-fluorescence detection method for Hg speciation in biological and environmental samples.  In addition, through animal studies, David is assessing the relation between dose of organoHg to heme metabolism changes through urinary porphyrin measurements.

4. Development of GC-FTIR for detection of chemical toxicants

Bryanna's MS research centers on the hyphenation of GC to FTIR for the rapid detection of air borne chemical toxicants.

5. Evolutionary response to elevated trace metals - Crayfish of black shale draining streams

Jaimie Conrad's MS research centers on studying whether crayfish found in black shale draining streams (high background metals) of the same species have adapted to these trace metals and their counterparts in non-black shale draining streams have not.  She is assessing whether the crayfish have adapted recently and if so she will attempt to uncover the physiological changes that have occurred since the populations were isolated several hundred years ago.

Other projects are finishing up or coming on-line.  Please drop back for a visit to see what's new.