Dr. Jason Keller
Email: jkeller@chapman.edu
Website: https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/jason-keller
College: Schmid College of Science and Technology
Department: Life and Environmental Science
Overview of scholarly research/creative activity: We are interested in understanding the connections between ecosystems and the global climate, with a particular focus on greenhouse gas dynamics in wetlands. Students are key collaborators and gain experience in the field and the laboratory, presenting at conferences, and, in some cases, publishing scientific manuscripts.
Specific projects working on: Ongoing projects in the laboratory explore the process of microbial organic matter reduction, where soil microbes “breathe” organic compounds instead of oxygen. We have shown that this process is a key regulator of the production of the greenhouse gas methane in many wetland soils. Currently, we are investigating how this process changes in response to vegetation and water-table manipulations at a wetland in Alaska and working with an analytical chemist to see which of ~60,000 organic compound in wetland soils are available to microbes using this process. We are looking for students interested in environmental science, chemistry, and/or ecology to participate in these projects. No prior experience is necessary; but, the ideal students will be curious, detail-focused, and willing to learn new laboratory techniques (e.g., gas chromatography, work in the anaerobic chamber, and bench-top chemistry). Participation in a weekly group meetings to discuss relevant primary literature and ongoing research is required from all students.
Number of students looking to work with: 3-4
Time commitment for students: Weekly lab meeting (1 hr), individual meeting to discuss project, 5-10 hours per week of lab work.
Requirements for students who work with you: Interest in environmental science, chemistry, and/or ecology. Curious and willing to learn.
When students are needed: Spring 2021
What would students be expected to do: Laboratory experiments, data entry and analysis, engaging in the primary literature.