Christopher G. Weisener

Assistant Professor
Canadian Co-Chair, Steering Committee on Canada/China Environmental Cooperation

Phone: 519-253-3000 ext. 3753 Office: GLIER Rm 221
E-mail me

Expertise

• Applied geochemistry and biogeochemistry
• Analytical geochemistry
• Contaminant stress on ecosystems in changing global environments
• Environmental tracers
• Applied synchrotron science

Education:
Ph.D. 2003, Applied Science, IWRI, University of South Australia
B.Sc. 1998, Earth Science, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada

Past Academic Positions:

• Assistant Professor, GLIER, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, 2005-Current
  
• Post Doctoral Fellow, GLIER, University of Windsor, 2004-2005
  
• Post Doctoral Fellow, Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, 2003-2004
  

Research Interests:
My significant contributions to research address a central theme which links multidisciplinary research involving metal and nutrient cycling and microbial influences on metal transport in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Part of this research is focused on the further development of novel environmental tracers for assessing contaminants in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems within Great Lakes basin and international community. This research provides insight into the complex linkages between toxicity; bacteria metal cycling and stress effecting local/regional ecology resulting from natural and anthropogenic sources.

Recent and Selected Publications:

Babechuk, M., Weisener, C.G, Fryer, B. and Maunders C. (2009) Microbial reductive dissolution of stable ferrous arsenate mineral phases: a case for arsenic mobility, Applied Geochemistry, in press.
 
Smeaton, C., Fryer, J., and Weisener, C.G., (2009) Intracellular precipitation of Pb by Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 during the reductive dissolution of Pb-jarosite, Environmental Science and Technology, in press.

Ludwig, R., Smyth, D., Blowes, D., Spink, L., Jewett, D., and Weisener C.G. (2009) Treatment of arsenic, heavy metals, and acidity using a mixed ZVI-Compost PRB, Environmental Science and Technology, 43,1970-1976.

Weisener, C.G., Babechuk M.  Fryer, B. and Maunders C. (2008) Microbial biochemical alteration of silver jarosite in mine wastes: implications for trace metal behavior in terrestrial systems, Geomicrobiology Journal, 25, 1-10.

Smeaton, C., Weisener, C.G., Fowle, D.F., Burns, P, and Fryer, B. (2008) Bacterial enhanced dissolution of meta-autunite. American Mineralogist,  93, 1112.

Crowe, S.A., O’Neil, A.H., Kulezycki, E., Weisener, C.G., Roberts, J.A. and Fowle, D.F. (2007) Reductive release of trace metals from sediments: The importance of manganese. Geomicrobiology, 24, 157-165.

Crowe, S.A., Roberts, J.A., Weisener, C.G. and Fowle, D.F. (2007) Alteration of iron-rich sediments by dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRB). Geobiology, 5, (1), 24-45.

Gerson, A.R., Anastasio, C., Crowe, S., Fowle, D., Guo, B., Kennedy, I., Lombi, E., Nico, P.S., Marcus, M.A., Martin, R., Patunc, D., Roberts, J.A., Weisener, C.G., Werner, M.L. (2007) Frontiers in Assessing the Role of Chemical Speciation and Natural Attenuation on the Bioavailability of Contaminants in The Terrestrial environment in Geoderma,Elsevier, Adelaide.

Weisener, C.G., Sayle, K.S., Smyth, D.J., and Blowes, D.W. (2005) A field Column study using zero-valent iron for mercury removal from contaminated groundwater. Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 6306-6312.

Current Research Projects:

• Microbial biochemical alteration of Iron sulphate minerals: Implications for trace metal behaviour in terrestrial systems.
• Microbial alteration of Iron Arsenates: As mobility
• Development of “green mining”; remediation strategies to control metals and acidity in mine environments; wetlands, and sustainable ecological solutions
• Phosphorus, nutrient studies

Current Graduate Students:

• Christina Smeaton (Ph.D. candidate- GLIER; co-supervised by Brian Fryer)
• Desiree Chevalier (M.Sc. candidate- GLIER; co-supervised by Joel Gagnon)

LINK TO CV