My research focuses on diagenesis of sedimentary rocks with application to petroleum geology and Mars sedimentology. Iron is the fourth most common element on the surface of the Earth and authigenic iron minerals record subsurface biota-water-rock interactions. This record helps illumine petroleum system diagenetic properties. As iron is also a common element on Mars, similar subsurface processes may have occurred in abundant martian sedimentary rocks and diagenetic minerals may also preserve evidence of past microbial life on that planet.
