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Peña Lab
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Peña Lab

Environmental and Molecular Biogeochemistry
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    • Ph.D. dissertations, M.Sc. theses and B.Sc. Projects
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  • Projects
    • Aqueous Mn(III) Species as Geochemical Vectors of Manganese
    • As removal by Fe electrocoagulation
    • Structure and reactivity of biogenic birnessite
    • Wildfires & Water Quality
  • Equipment
    • ICP Optical Emission Spectrometer Optima 8300
    • Ion Chromatography
    • LiquiTOC
    • Shimadzu UV-vis spectrophotometer UV-2600
  • Teaching

Welcome to the Peña Lab!

Our research aims to advance mechanistic knowledge of contaminant, nutrient, and carbon transformations in natural and engineered systems

sampling of stream water after the caldor fire
Stream water sampling at Capps Crossing, Day 60 of the Caldor Fire (Eldorado National Forest, CA).
manganese biomineralization
Pore-scale study of manganese biomineralization.
Mn_biooxides
Pseudomonas putida GB-1 and biogenic manganese oxides imaged by SEM, TEM and HR-TEM.
iron oxidizing bacteria
Iron oxidizing bacteria sampled in the Boiron River (Morges, CH).
manganese and carbon cycling
Coupled manganese and carbon cycling in soils.
spectromicroscopy
Chemical imaging of wildfire ash samples.
Reactions ocurring in Iron EC
Diagram of chemical reactions during iron electrocoagulation.
sample of burned soil

Our Research

We take an interdisciplinary approach to environmental and molecular biogeochemistry. Our projects include the effects of global warming on carbon cycling, manganese and iron redox chemistry, and impacts of wildfires on water quality and soil processes

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Summer 2022

Who We Are

We are a diverse group of researchers passionate about advancing fundamental research on biogeochemistry and how this can be applied to the real world. If you are interested in working with us, please email Prof. Peña at pena@ucdavis.edu

Meet Our Team
Selfie

Notes and News

See what our group has accomplished lately

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