Jeremy Rich
Asst Professor of Environmental Studies (Research):
Center for Environmental Studies
Phone: +1 401 863 6278
Phone 2: +1 401 863 6748
Jeremy_Rich at brown dot edu
My research integrates microbial ecology and biogeochemistry, with a current focus on nitrogen cycling in estuarine and marine environments. I use molecular techniques to unravel the microbial diversity driving biogeochemical processes. This complements my work measuring actual process rates and how switching among biogeochemical pathways is influenced by environmental factors. What I find most exciting are interactions among ecological, geochemical, and microbial controls of elemental cycles.
Biography
Dr. Rich's research examines microbial communities and biogeochemical processes in terrestrial and aquatic environments, and specifically the microbial factors that influence nitrogen availability. His current position is Assistant Professor, Research in the Center for Environmental Studies at Brown University. His research group focuses on microbial ecology and environmental microbiology, with current projects investigating anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) and denitrification in estuarine and marine ecosystems. He teaches a course in Microbial Diversity and the Environment at Brown University. Dr. Rich received his Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. David Myrold at Oregon State University in 2003. During his dissertation research, Dr. Rich investigated relationships between denitrifying bacterial community composition and the process of denitrification in soils using molecular techniques. During his postdoctoral work at Princeton University with Prof. Bess Ward, Dr. Rich employed 15N stable isotope techniques to quantify a newly discovered process in marine environments referred to as anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), which can serve as an alternative mechanism to conventional denitrification. Dr. Rich grew up in Wisconsin and received a B.S. in Natural Science from UW-Madison in 1996.
Interests
Much of my work focuses on the microbial aspects of the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen is a key limiting nutrient in ecosystems, and human activities have substantially increased inputs of biologically available nitrogen, leading to profound environmental changes. I am currently investigating anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), a newly discovered pathway in the nitrogen cycle, and denitrification. Both pathways lead to the loss of biologically available nitrogen in estuarine and marine environments. I have quantified rates of these processes in the Chesapeake Bay, Eastern Tropical South Pacific (Peru) and Arabian Sea. It's clear from the these studies that either anammox or denitrification can be the dominant process, but it is not clear why. We are currently working with modelers to design experiments and develop predictive models of nitrogen flow through anammox and denitrification. We are measuring anammox and denitrification rates in coastal New England in order to document controls on nitrogen flow. We are also applying molecular techniques to quantify the diversity and abundance of anammox bacteria in marine environments, in order to gain insight into how systems are functioning.
Degrees
PhD
Awards
2004-2006, National Science Foundation, Postdoctoral Fellowship in Microbial Biology
2003, American Society for Microbiology, Student Member Travel Grant
1999-2001, Oregon State University, Agricultural Research Foundation Grant
1998, American Society for Microbiology, Student Member Travel Grant
1998, University of Maine Alumni Association, Academic Travel Grant
1995, National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates Fellowship
Teaching
My teaching interests cover all aspects of microbes in the environment, from their basic biology to practical applications, like bioremediation, to their role in shaping the biotic conditions on ancient Earth and modern biogeochemical cycles.
Funded Research
2009-2012 ($446,472) National Science Foundation (NSF), Chemical Oceanography. Lead PI Collaborative Research with the Marine Biological Laboratory: Environmental Controls on Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation (Anammox) and Denitrification in Marine and Estuarine Sediments
2010-2012 ($173,058) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Rhode Island Sea Grant. Lead PI. Impacts of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation (Anammox) in Rhode Island Coastal Waters.
Curriculum Vitae
