Countless geochemical and environmental processes occur on the microscopic-scale. As such, a fundamental understanding of these microscopic phenomena is necessary to understand the influence of these processes on large-scale environments and ecosystems. I am interested in the examination of these processes using spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and vibrational spectroscopies including infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Specifically, my research can be divided into three components, (1) chemically and biologically mediated cycling of iron, sulfur, and associated trace metals; (2) mechanistic investigations of mineral precipitation and surfaces; and (3) the use of synchrotron-based spectroscopic techniques for the study of soil and sediment processes.