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Robert A Sanford

Research Associate Professor Emeritus

Research Interests

I focus on the Microbial Ecology of biogeochemical processes, particularly those that occur in the subsurface. Of particular interest are studies involving respiratory anaerobic microorganisms, such as those that reduce halogenated compounds and metals, in both natural and human impacted ecosystems. Recent projects have involved deep subsurface microbial activity in the Illinois Basin Mt. Simon formation; microbial community composition in the Mahomet aquifer (major drinking water source for Champaign); bioremediation of chlorinated solvents in low permeability zones; evaluation of sulfate reducing microbial growth in microfluidic devices; and detailed evaluation of the N-cycle in agricultural soils and tropical soils relative to greenhouse gas (nitrous oxide) formation.

Education

  • PhD. Microbiology, Michigan State University 1996
  • MS. Microbiology, Colorado State University
  • BA. Biology, Whitman College

Courses Taught

  • GEOL 561: Geomicrobiology and Geochemistry (Spring)
  • Fall Geomicrobiology Topics Seminar (Climate Change, Bioremediation, etc.)

Additional Campus Affiliations

Research Associate Professor Emeritus, Earth Science and Environmental Change

Recent Publications

Kearney, K. J., Blount, T., Palmer, E., Arvizu, R., Sanford, R., Valocchi, A., Schaefer, C., & Werth, C. J. (2024). Assessment of Cryogenic Coring to Preserve Vertical Distributions of Trichloroethylene and Reaction Products in an Aquitard. Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, 44(2), 118-128. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwmr.12628

Murali, R., Pace, L. A., Sanford, R. A., Ward, L. M., Lynes, M. M., Hatzenpichler, R., Lingappa, U. F., Fischer, W. W., Gennis, R. B., & Hemp, J. (2024). Diversity and evolution of nitric oxide reduction in bacteria and archaea. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(26), Article e2316422121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2316422121

Zhang, Y., Boyanov, M. I., O'Loughlin, E. J., Kemner, K. M., Sanford, R. A., Kim, H. S., Park, S. C., & Kwon, M. J. (2024). Reaction pathways and Sb(III) minerals formation during the reduction of Sb(V) by Rhodoferax ferrireducens strain YZ-1. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 465, Article 133240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133240

Chen, M., Conroy, J. L., Sanford, R. A., Wyman-Feravich, D. A., Chee-Sanford, J. C., & Connor, L. M. (2023). Tropical lacustrine sediment microbial community response to an extreme El Niño event. Scientific reports, 13(1), Article 6868. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33280-2

He, Y., Pan, J., Huang, D., Sanford, R. A., Peng, S., Wei, N., Sun, W., Shi, L., Jiang, Z., Jiang, Y., Hu, Y., Li, S., Li, Y., Li, M., & Dong, Y. (2023). Distinct microbial structure and metabolic potential shaped by significant environmental gradient impacted by ferrous slag weathering. Environment international, 178, Article 108067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108067

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