David Johnston
David Johnston
Professor
Harvard University
Earth and Planetary Sciences
20 Oxford St
Cambridge
MA
02138
Email
Fields of interest
Earth history, microorganisms and Earth surface evolution, Isotope geochemistry and historical geobiology. Re-animating ancient ecosystems and ocean chemistry using stable isotope systems, chemical speciation techniques, modern microbial experiments (for calibration) and theoretical considerations
Description of scientific projects
The primary goal within the group is to better understand the relationship between microorganisms and Earth surface evolution. Our work ranges from geologically rooted questions, where we aim to track the onset or environmental expression of different metabolic processes and follow atmospheric/oceanic oxidation, through to modern processes and environments (such as experimental work with extant organisms, purified protein, work in the modern ocean water column, and early diagenesis in marine sediments).