Investigate the Present
Our research investigates the critical geologic processes and ecosystems that shape our world today. Through field research and laboratory analyzes, EPS faculty and students characterize the complex relationships that exist between humans, environments, and the diverse life they sustain.
Meilian (Maggie) Chen
Lecturer and Laboratory Coordinator | mchen51@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Environmental Science, Geochemistry
Research Interests: My research interests in environmental biogeochemistry focus on dynamics of dissolved organic matter in inland waters, coastal ecosystems, polar oceans, and sediments.
Nicholas Dygert
Associate Professor | he/him/his | 865-974-6022 | ndygert1@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I use field investigations, experiments, and numerical models to understand processes that shape the evolution of planetary interiors and crusts, and to interpret their expressions in the rock record. My focus is the Earth and Moon.
Annette Summers Engel
Donald H. and Florence Jones Professor of Aqueous Geochemistry | she/her/hers | 865-974-0402 | aengel1@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Earth System Science, Environmental Science, Geochemistry, Geomicrobiology
Research Interests: Understand and improve water and environmental quality by exploring how biological activities interact with and impact geological and geochemical processes through time using advanced geochemistry and geomicrobiology methods.
Chris Fedo
Professor | he/him/his | 865-974-6002 | cfedo@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Climate Change, Geochemistry, Planetary Geoscience, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Research Interests: I study clastic sediments and sedimentary rocks in order to interpret planetary surface processes including weathering, transport, sedimentary environments, stratigraphy, and lithification.
Shichun Huang
Associate Professor | he/him/his | 865-974-8347 | shuang25@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I use elemental and isotopic tracers, together with petrology and mineralogy, to study the Earth’s mantle and the early Solar System.
Linda Kah
Kenneth R. Walker Professor | 865-974-6399 | lckah@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Earth System Science, Geochemistry, Geomicrobiology, Paleobiology, Planetary Geoscience, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Research Interests: My lab integrates sedimentology, geochemistry, and paleobiology to understand planetary biospheres. We explore rock fabrics and geochemical data to understand the evolution of the early Earth, and investigate potential habitable environments on Mars.
Molly McCanta
Associate Professor | she/her/hers | 865-974-6003 | mmccanta@utk.edu
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Petrology, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I am an igneous petrologist whose research is focused on the mineralogic record of magma storage regions conditions and eruptive processes on Earth and other terrestrial bodies.
Michael McKinney
Professor | 865-974-6359 | mmckinne@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Earth System Science, Environmental Science
Research Interests: Urban ecology: maximizing biodiversity and ecosystem services on green roofs and green infrastructure, urban invasive species, microplastic pollution. Freshwater mussels and snails: relocation success metrics.
Amelia (Amy) Robinson
Lecturer | she/her | 865-974-8340 | arobins5@utk.edu | Website
Research Interests: Geochemistry and Hydrogeology
Drew Steen
Associate Professor | he/him | 865-974-4014 | asteen1@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Geochemistry, Geomicrobiology
Research Interests: I’m interested in how microbes affect the Earth and vice versa. I’m particularly interested in microbe-organic matter interactions in low-energy environments, like marine sediments and permafrost soils.
Anna Szynkiewicz
Associate Professor | 865-974-6006 | aszynkie@utk.edu | Website
Research Discipline: Environmental Science, Geochemistry, Hydrogeology, Planetary Geoscience
Research Interests: I am a geologist and stable isotope geochemist using chemical and light isotope tracers to study surface processes related to water activity on Earth and Mars. I also investigate the origin of sulfur-bearing minerals on Mars.
