Microbial and Environmental Evolution. We use a combination of field-based sedimentology, petrography, and geochemistry to examine the history of microorganisms and environments throughout geologic time.

Experimental Microbial Ecology. We conduct experiments with modern microbes to improve interpretation of the geologic record of ancient organisms.

Sedimentology of Fine-Grained Sediments. Since fine-grained sediments host important records of early ocean composition and biota, we explore depositional processes and petrology of these rocks to increase the resolution of stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. This work also has relevance to understanding petroleum systems.