Research : Biomineralization, Biogeochemistry, Mineralogy/Crystallography, Microscopy and Invertebrate Paleontology
My current research interests fall dominantly within the fields of Biomineralization and Paleoecology. Ongoing work using modern and fossil marine invertebrates involves investigation of fundamental questions in Natural Sciences, within several subdisciplines ranging from paleoclimatology to materials science, in a multidisciplinary research framework. Some examples are given as follows:
Biomineralization
- Climatic and environmental proxies
- Biomineral crystal structure, growth and physical properties
- Development of microscopy and analytical techniques for biomineral characterization
Paleoecology
- Biogeochemistry of fossils
- Late Paleozoic paleoecology and paleoclimatology
- Fossil brachiopod faunas
Conjugate research interests also include investigating linkages between marine and non-marine ecosystems, carbonate sedimentology, and fossil invertebrate biomechanics.
Current Research Projects
- Crystallography (EBSD) of fossils (brachiopods, foraminifera, eggshells, bivalves) for clumped isotope applications [in collaboration with colleagues at Johns Hopkins, Texas A&M, UCLA, and ETH Zurich].
- Development of atom probe tomography (APT) for Earth Sciences.
- Microstructural characterization of the mineralization in pearls and eggshells [in collaboration with Drs. Jean-Pierre Cuif and Yannicke Dauphin].
- Unusual biomineral structures in trilobites [in collaboration with Dr. Thomas Hegna at Western Illinois University].
Research Areas
- Paleontology, Paleoclimatology, and Paleoecology
There are four fundamental questions that drive my research activities: 1) To what extent does biology influence biomineral chemistry and what are the implications for climate and/or environmental reconstructions? 2) How do organisms “manipulate” simple, inorganic chemical substances to produce 3D complex mineral-based materials with superior physico-chemical properties 3) What can we learn from biomineralization about the influence of geological versus biological processes in the origin of life on our planet and within the Solar System? 4) How can studying the biological imprint of biominerals help us understand ecological adaptation of organisms throughout Earth’s history?
Research:
- Biological Control of Mineral Formation & Properties
- Atom Probe Tomography (APT) Earth Sciences
- Chemical Proxy Interpretation
Dr. Alberto Perez-Huerta conducts research on biomineralization and paleoecology, with a special emphasis on the chemical analysis of recent and fossilized biomineralized structures to better understand biomineralization processes and the use of chemical proxies for paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
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