Area of Interest:

Geochemistry

Professional Background:

Dr. Albert's research is aimed at understanding the cycling of carbon in sedimentary environments. He is interested in:

• the rates and mechanisms of organic matter decomposition in anaerobic systems, particularly the coupling of fermentative and terminal metabolic processes (e.g., sulfate reduction and methanogenesis) and the specific roles of small organic acids like formate, acetate, and propionate in this coupling;
• the fates of sulfide and methane produced by anaerobic metabolism; and
• the roles organic and inorganic metabolites in sediment porewaters play in the preservation of organic carbon via sorption to mineral surfaces.

His work is funded by NSF, ONR, and DOE. Dr. Albert manages the CHAOS Biogeochemistry Laboratories on main campus and teaches a course on laboratory techniques.