Shawn G. Benner
Department of Geosciences
Boise State University
Boise ID 83725
(208) 426-3629
email: sbenner@boisestate.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, 2000
Hydrogeology, Geochemistry and Microbiology of a Reactive Barrier for Acid Mine Drainage
M.Sc., Department of Geology, University of Montana, 1994
Fate of Heavy Metals During Surface-groundwater Interaction
B.A., Geology Department, Colorado College, 1988
Evolution of a Complex Stratovolcano
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Associate Professor
2009-present
Geosciences, Boise State University
Assistant Professor
2004-2009
Geosciences, Boise State University
Visiting Scholar
2002-Present
Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University
Assistant Research Professor
2002-2004
Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada
Graduate Faculty
2003-2004
Hydrological Sciences Program, University of Nevada, Reno
Post Doctoral Fellow
2000-2002
Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University
Lecturer
1998-2000
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo
Lecturer
1997
Geology Department, Colorado College
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests are in aqueous geochemistry and hydrogeology with an emphasis on
biogeochemical and hydrologic controls on transport and transformation in aqueous systems. I
am interested in examining scientific problems from the molecular to the field scale and my
research approach often integrates microscopic techniques with fieldwork and laboratory
experimentation and involves collaborative team efforts. I utilize numerical modeling to assist
in developing conceptual models of complex biogeochemical processes.
GRANTS AND CONTRACTS
Current
Elucidating Bioreductive Transformations within Physically Complex Media: Impact
on the Fate and Transport of Uranium and Chromium. DOE Natural and
Accelerated Bioremediation Research (NABIR) Program. 9/15/03-9/30/07,
$83,000, Co-PI
Fire and Erosion in Western Rangelands: Evaluation of Post-fire Treatments, Idaho
Federal Appropriations 06/01/08-05/30/10, $1,500,000, Role: Co-PI.
Evaluation the Source and Release Mechanism of Elevated Uranium Concentrations in
the Shallow Treasure Valley Aquifer: Year I. Idaho Department of
Environmental Quality Amount: 06/01/08-05/30/09, $50,000.00. Role: PI
Supplemental to: Fire and Erosion in Western Rangelands: Evaluation of Post-fire
Treatments, Idaho Federal Appropriations 06/01/08-05/30/10, $120,000,
Role: Co-PI.
Past
Increasing Carbon Storage within Soils through Controlled Microbial Respiration
Processes GCEP. 06/01/07-05/30/08, $35,000/yr, PI
Life cycle Plan: Cesium Signature Detection. DOE NA-22. 06/01/06-05/30/09
$50,000/yr, Co-PI
Reconnaissance Study of Arsenic Distribution in the Shallow Aquifer of the Treasure
Valley, Idaho Water Resources Research Institute. 3/15/04-09/30/07 $26,750,
PI
Nutrient Cycling in a Tropical Watershed, Thailand. 06/01/06-05/30/07 $15,000/yr,
PI
Idaho Space Grant Fellowship: Katrina Ladd, Idaho NASA Space Grant Program
Project 9/15/05-6/30/07 $30,000, Advisor
Influence of Grade Control Structures on Nutrients, United States Army Corp of
Engineers Amount: $74,000 9/01/03-3/31/04 PI.
Nutrient Attenuation Associated with Stream Restoration Nevada Department of
Environmental Protection, the United States Army Corp of Engineers, and the
Cities of Reno/Sparks. $400,000/yr, 3/15/02-2/14/03, PI.
Modeling for the Underground Testing Area, Climax Department of Energy
NNSA/NSO $1,200,000 7/1/03-6/30/06, Co-PI.
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Journal Articles (Published or Accepted)
Benner, S.G. 2010 Anthropogenic Arsenic, News and Views, Nature Geoscience 3, 5-6.
Tufano, K.J., Benner, S.G. Mayer, K.U., Marcus, M.A. Nico, P.S., Fendorf S. 2009 AggregateScale Heterogeneity in Iron (Hydr)oxide Reductive Transformations. Vadose Zone
Journal 8, 1004-1012.
Busbee, M.W., Kocar, B.D., Benner, S.G. 2009 Irrigation produces elevated arsenic in the
underlying groundwater of a semi-arid basin in Southwestern Idaho. Applied
Geochemistry 24, 843-859
Polizzotto, M., Kocar, B. Benner, S.G., Sampson, M., Fendorf, S. (2008) Contributions of
Near-Surface Arsenic Release to History’s Largest Mass Poisoning. Nature, 453 505508.
Benner, S.G., Polizzotto, M., Fendorf, S., Sampson, M. (2008) Hydrologic Constraints on
Arsenic Release from Flood Plain Sediments in Cambodia, Applied Geochemistry 23,
3072-3087.
Kocar, B., Fendorf, S., Benner, S.G., Polizzotto, M., Sampson, M. (2008) Shallow
Biogeochemical Dynamics leading to Arsenic Release, Submitted, Applied Geochemistry
23, 3059-3071.
Mayer, K.U., Benner, S.G., and Blowes, D.W. 2006 Application of the reactive transport
model MIN3P to a reactive barrier treating acid mine drainage. Contaminant
Hydrogeology, 85, 3-4, 195-211.
Hansel, C. M., Benner, S. G. et al. 2005 Factors influencing competing Fe(II)-induced
mineralization pathways of ferrihydrite. Environmental Science and Technology 38, 18,
7147-7153.
Young, M.H., McDonald, E.V., Caldwell, T.C., Benner, S.G., and Meadows, D. 2004. Hydraulic
properties of desert pavements, Mojave desert, California, USA. Vadose Zone Journal 3,
956-963.
Hansel C. M., Benner, S. G. Nico, P. Fendorf, S. 2004. Structural constraints of ferric
(hydr)oxides on dissimilatory iron reduction and the fate of Fe(II) Geochimica et
Cosmochimica Acta , 68, 15 3217-3229
Hansel, C. M., Benner, S. G., Neiss, J., Dohnalkova, A., Kukkadapu, R.K., Fendorf, S.E. 2003.
Secondary mineralization pathways induced by dissimilatory iron reduction of
ferrihydrite under advective flow. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 67,16 2977-2992.
Benner, S. G., Hansel, C. M., Wielinga, B. W., Barber, T. Fendorf, S.E. 2002. Reductive
dissolution and biomineralization of iron oxides under dynamic flow conditions.
Environmental Science and Technology 36, 8 1705-1711
McGregor, R., Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W. Ludwig, R., 2002. Sulfate Reduction Reactive
Barriers to Treat Acidity and Heavy Metals: Two Case Studies. In: Handbook of ground
water remediation of metals, radionuclides, and nutrients with permeable reactive
barriers, edited by D.L. Naftz, S.J. Morrison, C.A. Fuller, and J.A. Davis.
Ludwig, R., McGregor, R., Blowes, D.W., Benner, S., Mountjoy, K. 2002. Geochemistry of an
organic-based permeable reactive barrier for treatment of heavy metals. Ground Water
40, 1, 59-66.
Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., and Mayer, K.U. 2002. Rates of sulfate reduction
and metal sulfide precipitation in a permeable reactive barrier. Applied Geochemistry
17,3, 301-320.
Mayer, K.U., Benner, S.G., Frind, E.O., Thornton, S.F., Learner, D.L. 2001. Reactive transport
modeling of processes controlling the distribution and natural attenuation of phenolic
compounds in a deep sandstone aquifer. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 53 341368.
Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W., Molson, J.W.H. 2001. Modeling preferential flow in permeable
reactive barriers: Implications for performance and design. Ground Water 39, 3, 371379.
Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., Benner, S.G., McRae, C.W.T. and Puls, R. W. 2000. Treatment of
dissolved metals and nutrients using permeable reactive barriers. Journal of
Contaminant Hydrology (45) 1-2, 123-137.
Benner, S.G., Gould, D., and Blowes, D.W., 2000. Microbial populations associated with the
generation and treatment of acid mine drainage. Chemical Geology 169, 435-448.
Herbert Jr., R.B., Benner, S.G., and Blowes, D.W., 2000. Solid Phase iron-sulfur
geochemistry of a reactive barrier for treatment of mine drainage. Applied Geochemistry
15, 1331-1343.
Benner, S.G., Herbert Jr., R.B., Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., Gould, D. 1999. Geochemistry and
microbiology of a permeable reactive barrier for acid mine drainage. Environmental
Science and Technology. 33 2793-2799.
Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., Benner, S.G., Waybrant, K.R., and Bain, J.G. 1998. Porous
reactive walls for the prevention of acid mine drainage: a review. Mineral Processing
and Extractive Metallurgy Review 19 25-17.
Herbert Jr., R.B., Benner, S.G., Pratt, A.R., and Blowes, D.W. 1998. Surface chemistry and
morphology of poorly crystalline iron sulfides precipitated in media containing sulfatereducing bacteria. Chemical Geology 144, 87-97.
Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W., and Ptacek, C.J. 1997. Full-scale porous reactive wall for the
prevention of acid mine drainage. Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation, 17,4 Fall
1997.
Kempter, K.A., Benner, S.G., Williams, S.N. 1996. Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, Guanacaste
Province, Costa Rica: geology of the southwestern flank and hazards implications.
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 71, 109-127.
Benner, S.G., Smart, E.W., and Moore, J.N. 1995. Metal behavior during surface-groundwater
interaction, Silver Bow Creek, Montana. Environmental Science and Technology, 29,
1789-1795.
Refereed Papers in Conference Proceedings
Mayer, K. U., Benner, S. G. Frind, E. O. Thornton, S. F., and Lerner D. L. Multicomponent
reactive transport modeling of natural attenuation at the Four Ashes Research Site, UK
GQ2001, June 18th-21st 2001 at the University of Sheffield.
Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W., and Ptacek, C.J. 2000. Long Term Performance of the Nickel Rim
Reactive Barrier, A Summary. In: Proceedings of the Fifth International conference on
acid rock drainage: ICARD 2000. May 21-24 Denver Colorado. Society for Mining
Metallurgy and Exploration, Littleton Colorado.
Mayer, U., Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W. 1999 The Reactive Transport Model MIN3P: Application
to acid mine drainage generation and treatment- Nickel Rim Mine Site. In: Proceedings
of the Sudbury 99: Mining and the Environment II Conference, Sudbury Ontario,
Canada. September 12-16, 1999.
Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W., Gould, W.D. 1998. Generation and treatment of acid mine
drainage: Correlating bacterial populations with water chemistry, In: Proceedings of
The Eighth Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference Toulouse, France Aug 30 – Sept 3. p
147-148.
Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., Benner, S.G., McRae, C.W.T. 1998. Treatment of dissolved metals
using permeable reactive barriers. In: IAHS Publication no. 250, Groundwater Quality:
Remediation and Protection, Proceedings of the GQ '98 Conference, Tubingen,
Germany, September 21-25, pp. 483-490.
Herbert Jr, R.B., Benner, S.G., and Blowes, D.W. 1998. Reactive barrier treatment of
groundwater contaminated by acid mine drainage: Sulfur accumulation and sulfide
formation. IAHS Publication no. 250, Groundwater Quality: Remediation and
Protection, Proceedings of the GQ '98 Conference, Tubingen, Germany, September 2125.
Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W., and Ptacek, C.J. 1997. Porous reactive wall for prevention of acid
mine drainage: results of a full-scale field demonstration. In: 1997 International
Containment Technology Conference and Exhibition, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.A.,
February 9-12, 1997, pp. 835-843.
Waybrant, K.R., Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W., and Ptacek, C.J. 1997. A geochemical and
mineralogical investigation of porous reactive walls for the prevention of acid mine
drainage. In: Fourth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Vancouver, B.C.
Canada, May 30- June 6, 1997. pp. 14.
Non-refereed Papers in Conference Proceedings
Blowes, D.W., Ptacek, C.J., Benner, S.G., Waybrant, K.R., Bain, J.G., 1998. Permeable reactive
barriers for the treatment of mine tailings drainage water. In: Proceedings of the
Uranium Mining and Hydrogeology II, International Conference and Workshop,
Germany, September 15-17, 1998, Vol. II-Supplements, pp. 113-120.
Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W., and Ptacek, C.J. 1997. Porous reactive wall for the prevention of
acid mine drainage: a full-scale field trial. In: Thirteenth BIOMINET General Annual
Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, January 20, 1997. pp. 61-72.
Benner, S.G., Blowes, D.W., and Ptacek, C.J. 1997. Sulfate reduction in a permeable reactive
wall for the prevention of acid mine drainage. In: 213th ACS National Meeting, San
Francisco CA, April 13-17, 1997.Vol. 37 (1)., pp. 140-141 (extended abstract).
Wielinga, B., Benner, S., Brick, C., Moore, J., and Gannon, J. 1994. Geomicrobial profile
through the hyporheic zone of a historic mining flood plain. In: International
Conference on Groundwater Ecology, Atlanta GA, March 27-30, 1994.
2009 Abstracts in Conference Proceedings
Kocar B.D., Polizzotto, M., Ying, S, Benner, S.G., Sampson, M., Fendorf, S. 2009. Measuring
and simulating the near-Surface biogeochemical and hydrologic processes governing
arsenic transport in the Mekong Delta, Cambodia. For AGU Chapman Conference in
Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Kocar B.D., Polizzotto, M., Ying, S, Benner, S.G., Sampson, M., Fendorf, S. 2009. Coupled
biogeochemical and hydrologic processes governing arsenic mobility within sediments
of Southeast Asia. For AGU Annual Meeting, San Francisco, USA.
S Benner Hydrologic Constraints on Arsenic Behavior, Observations From a Field Site in
Cambodia For AGU Chapman Conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Polizzotto, M.L, Kocar, B.D., Benner, S.G. Sampson, M 2009 Coupled Hydrologic and
Biogeochemical Processes Controlling Arsenic in Cambodian Groundwater For AGU
Chapman Conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Poulos, M J, Pierce, J.L. Flores, A.N., Benner, S.G., Smith, T.J., McNamara, J.P. Aspect-Driven Changes
in Slope Stability Due to Ecohydrologic Feedbacks For AGU Annual Meeting, San Francisco,
USA.