Darci Rush

I am an organic geochemist, interested in the power of marine microbial biogeochemistry. I search the seafloors for traces of microorganisms from the distant past. These tiny cells have been shaping their environment since the beginning of life on Earth. Lipids are resistant molecules that can act as chemical fossils to these microorganisms, preserved over the geological record. Using lipids specific to microbial processes within biogeochemical cycles, I extract information about the environmental conditions in which these microorganisms once lived. I specialise in the development of analytical methods to apply these novel organic proxies to paleoenvironments. I also use a combination of genetic, isotopic, and lipid work to disentangle modern systems to better inform past interpretations.