Prof. Dr. Stephan M. KRAEMER

  (c) Thomas Exel
University of Vienna
Professor of Environmental Geochemistry
Head Department of Environmental Geosciences
Vice Director Studies Environmental Geosciences
Vice Director Doctoral School VDS-MES
Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2
A-1090 Vienna
Austria
Phone: +43-1-4277-53463

A list of current research projects can be found here

Biogeochemistry

Environmental biogeochemistry is an exciting field of research that studies how biotic (organisms) and abiotic components (soil, minerals and natural organic material) of the environment interact. Surface chemistry processes at the interface between these components play an important role in driving these interactions which in turn control key processes in the environment such as pollutant transport, the bioavailability of nutrients, mineral weathering, and global element cycling. The nature of the chemistry involved is often complex and diverse, including redox processes, acid base chemistry, dissolution and precipitation processes and complexation reactions. Our group research focuses on elucidating the chemical mechanisms at these surfaces on a molecular scale and on quantitatively understanding them.

 

Pollutant and nutrient biogeochemistry

Our group has a particular interest in elucidating processes at the mineral-metal-organic interface that control the transformation, mobilization, or stabilization of various pollutants (e.g. U and Hg) and nutrients (e.g. P, Cu). We do this via field studies and in controlled laboratory experiments, employing various analytical techniques (e.g. XRD, XRF, ICP-MS, XAS) as well as non-traditional isotope geochemistry. We investigate the reactivity of biogenic chemical compounds in model systems but we also involve microbial cultures and plants as well as complex soil systems and sediments. The results of these studies are used to construct quantitative thermodynamic and kinetic models that may serve to predict the effect of biogeochemical processes in complex environments.

Mineral interactions with nucleic acids

Another of our primary interests is investigating the interactions between mineral surfaces and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) to better understand processes which lead to the preservation or degradation of genetic material in environmental systems. We work closely with anthropologists through the MINERVA research platform (link) to elucidate mechanistic controls on DNA preservation at mineral surfaces to better understand and identify environments that favor the preservation of ancient DNA. In addition, we are also interested in the role of minerals in the fate of viral DNA and RNA in environmental systems. We are equipped with a Qubit 4 fluorimeter and an automated gel electrophoresis setup (Agilent 2200 Tape station) for nucleic acid analysis, in addition to our facilities for mineral characterization (XRD, XRF, surface charge, and surface area)

KRaemer GROUP PROJECTS: