3215 Marine St. STE E127
Boulder, Colorado 80303
Ph.D. 2016 Environemtal Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
M.S. 2013 Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
Research Interests
Brett's research focuses on the chemistry of natural organic matter in natural and managed aquatic environments, with an emphasis on natural organic matter optical measurements, biotic and abiotic transformations, and interactions with trace metal contaminants. His current CU collaborators are Joseph Ryan and Jeff Writer.
Organic Carbon Migration in Aquatic Environments Lab
Brett Poulin and Sara Breitmeyer (sbreitmeyer@usgs.gov) run the USGS's Organic Carbon Migration in Aquatic Environments Lab. Their organic geochemistry project specializes in the isolation and characterization of natural organic matter in surface water environments, and investigates interactions between natural organic matter and trace metal contaminants (e.g. mercury). The projects includes both field campaigns and fundamental lab studies, and utilize external facilities to make state-of-the-art measurements (e.g., X-ray absorption spectroscopy, ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry). Current multi-year projects include managed wetlands in the Florida Everglades and a hydroelectric system on the Snake River, Idaho.
Analytical Capabilities:
- Dissolved organic carbon quantification
- Dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractionation and isolation by low pressure liquid chromatography (XAD)
- DOM characterization by UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy
- Laboratory Redox Manipulation by Electrochemistry