CLARA CHAN
Geomicrobiology Group
217 Watson, MS 52
Woods Hole, MA 02543
(508) 289-3903
cchan@whoi.edu
Education
Ph. D. candidate, Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley
Thesis: Geomicrobiology of iron-oxidizing microbes
Principal Adviser: Jill Banfield
2006
M. S., Stanford University, Civil and Environmental Engineering
1998
B. S., Stanford University, Geological and Environmental Sciences
1997
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Fellow, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA
2006-present
Studying the mineralogy, ultrastructure, genomics, and biochemistry of the marine iron-oxidizing
microbe Mariprofundus ferrooxydans.
Research Assistant, Banfield Geomicrobiology Group
2000-2006
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA (2001-2006)
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (2000-2001)
Investigated the microbial ecology and mineralogy of neutrophilic iron-oxidizers in iron springs and
a flooded mine. Determined the role of microbial polymers in biomineral nucleation and growth.
Methods included phylogenetic analysis, high-resolution electron microscopy, synchrotron-based Xray microscopy, and field and geochemical analyses.
Laboratory Assistant, Molecular Organic Geochemistry Laboratory, Stanford
1996-1998
Planned and implemented research project supervised by Dr. Michael Moldowan on anaerobic
biodegradation of oils. Prepared samples in an organic geochemistry laboratory for gas
chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Methods included extraction of organic matter
from shales, short-column chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography.
Physical Science Technician, United States Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
1997
Created 3-dimensional geologic maps and models using ARC/INFO and EarthVision (Dynamic
Graphics) software. Responsibilities included project definition, planning, data compilation and
processing, and presentation of results in writing and at conferences. PI: D. Howell
Laboratory Assistant, Theoretical Geochemistry Laboratory, Stanford
1994, 1996
Used petrographic techniques and GIS to study the geology of Eastern Greenland. PI: D. K. Bird
Teaching Experience
Graduate Student Instructor
2002-2003
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley
Minerals: Their Constituents and Origins (instructors J. Banfield and H. R. Wenk, enrollment 16)
Fall 2002. Introduction to Oceans (instructors J. Bishop and T. Powell, enrollment 230) Fall 2003.
Designed and tested exercises for a new environmental mineralogy laboratory section, graded
assignments, led laboratory sections and review sessions, and delivered a lecture in each course.
Teaching Assistant
1997-1998
Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University
Environmental Science and Technology (instructor Gil Masters, enrollment 180) Fall 1997.
Physical Geology (instructor D. K. Bird, enrollment 100, section size 20) Winter 1998.
Led review sessions, laboratories, and field trips.
Computer Skills Instructor
Department of Computer Science, Stanford University
Introduction to the Macintosh (enrollment 5) Fall 1995.
Introduced students to basic Macintosh use through lectures and demonstrations.
1995
Consulting Experience
Geologist and Environmental Engineer, CDM, Walnut Creek, CA
1998-2000
Served as project geologist and hydrogeologist on a variety of environmental investigation and
remediation projects. Supervised drilling and sampling teams during soil and groundwater
investigations. Synthesized and interpreted lithologic, hydrogeologic and analytical data for reports.
Advised engineers on geochemical aspects of in situ remedial technologies such as bioremediation
and chemical oxidation. Developed new strategies for data management using database and GIS
software.
Honors and Awards
Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor, U.C. Berkeley
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship (declined)
University Fellowship, University of Wisconsin
Field Studies Scholarship, Dept. of GES, Stanford
National Merit Scholarship
American Institute of Chemical Engineers Student Award
2004
2001-2004
2001
2000-2001
1995
1993
1992
Publications
Journal Articles
Chan, C. S., de Stasio, G., Welch, S. A., Girasole, M., Frazer, B., Nesterova, M., Fakra, S. and
Banfield, J. F. Microbial polysaccharide template assembly of nanocrystal fibers. Science (2004).
Banfield, J.F., Moreau, J. W., Chan, C. S., Welch, S. A. & Little, B. Mineralogical biosignatures and
the search for life on Mars. Astrobiology, 1: 447-467 (2001).
Papers in preparation
Chan, C. S., Fakra, S. and Banfield, J.F., Mechanisms of microbial extracellular polysaccharide
templation of a metastable iron oxyhydroxide, akaganeite (-FeOOH).
Chan, C. S. and Banfield, J.F. Phylogenetic analysis of microbial communities associated with iron
oxide biomineralization in a circumneutral pH environment.
Selected Abstracts
Oral presentations
Chan, C. S., Thelen, M., Hwang, M. and Banfield, J. F. 2005 Characterization and localization of ironoxidizing proteins in acid mine drainage biofilms. American Geophysical Union Fall 2005 meeting,
invited talk.
Chan, C. S., Fakra, S., De Stasio, G., and Banfield, J. F. 2003 Molecular mechanisms of iron
oxyhydroxide biomineralization. American Geophysical Union Fall 2003 meeting, invited talk.
Chan, C. S., Nesterova, M., Welch, S. A., De Stasio, G., and Banfield, J. F. 2003 Microbial polymer
templation of iron oxyhdyroxides. Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory users meeting
2003, invited talk.
Chan, C. S., Nesterova, M., Welch, S. A., De Stasio, G., and Banfield, J. F. 2003 Microbial polymer
templation of iron oxyhdyroxides. Goldschmidt conference 2003, talk.
Posters and other presentations
Chan, C. S., Fakra, S., and Banfield, J. F. 2004. Iron oxyhydroxide mineralization by microbes in
terrestrial environments. American Geophysical Union Fall 2004 meeting.
Chan, C. S. and Banfield, J. F. 2003. Roles of microbial communities and polymers in iron oxide
mineralization. American Society for Microbiology 2003 General Meeting.
Chan, C. S. and Banfield, J. F. 2002. Microbial communities associated with biogenic iron oxide
mineralization in circumneutral pH environments. AGU Fall 2002 meeting.
Chan, C. S., Skatvold, A. M., Labrenz M., Welch S. A., and Banfield, J. F. 2001 Phylogenetic analysis
of microbial populations associated with iron cycling in the Piquette Mine in Tennyson, Wisconsin.
AGU Fall 2001 meeting.
Research Funding and Support

NSF Ridge 2000 Postdoctoral Fellowship

Advanced Light Source beamtime awarded for “Microbial polymer templation of iron oxide
mineralization in biofilms and biomimetic synthesis: a STXM investigation” ALS-01290.

Contributed to preparation of funding proposals under the direction of Dr. Jillian Banfield.
Skills
Electron microscopy, mineralogy: Scanning electron microscopy and high resolution transmission
electron microsopy, mineralogical and biological sample preservation and preparation (critical point
drying, embedding and microtoming, sputter and evaporative coatings); X-ray diffraction.
Geochemistry: Ion chromatography, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy.
Synchrotron-based X-ray analyses: Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy, including NEXAFS
(near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure) spectroscopy, and micro-EXAFS (extended X-ray
absorption fine structure) at the Advanced Light Source, LBL.
Microbiology and molecular biology: Culturing of neutrophilic and acidophilic iron-oxidizing
microbes, construction of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries from environmental samples, phylogenetic
analysis using BLAST, ARB, and PAUP, fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Biochemistry: protein extraction, purification, antibody testing and immunolabeling for light,
fluorescence and electron microscopy.
Fieldwork: Groundwater well installation and monitoring, soil sampling and core logging,
geochemical sampling and field-based analyses.