RESEARCH INTERESTS

Ecophysiology, bioenergetics and biogeochemistry of chemosynthetic microorganisms from deep-sea hydrothermal vents and other  seafloor/subseafloor environments. Most recent research includes: (i) rate-yield  trade-offs and (ii) associated N isotope signatures in chemosynthetic nitrate reducing pure cultures and microbial communities from hydrothermal fluids under different temperature/pressure conditions.

New directions in the Amend Lab will involve evaluating bioenergetic characteristics of different catabolic pathways present in metabolically versatile methanogens isolated from marine sediments.