MARINE & SUBSURFACE GEOCHEMISTRY
McDermott Lab
Research in the McDermott lab investigates the aqueous and volatile geochemistry and biogeochemistry of seafloor hydrothermal vents and ancient terrestrial fracture waters tapped by deep mines. These systems link fundamental geological and biological processes that sustain microbial life in the largely unexplored deep subsurface biosphere, and they represent modern analogues of environments that may have played a critical role in the origin of life on the early Earth. Much of our work is interdisciplinary. Collaborations with microbiologists and geologists enrich our understanding of these complex systems. We use a suite of geochemical tools, from isotopic characterization and abundance analyses to thermodynamic assessments, to reveal the origin of carbon and sulfur-containing compounds in deep vent and mine fluids.
Are these compounds generated by living things, or can they form without any contribution from life?
Current Members
Jill McDermott
Center Director
Principal Investigator
F. Hook Associate Professor
Jill is a Chemical Oceanographer trained at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of New Hampshire.
Jessica Rodgers
Graduate Researcher
Jess is interested in hydrothermal vents, marine biogeochemistry, inorganic and organic geochemistry, the origin of life, and life in extreme environments. Before joining the lab, Jess was a Research Assistant at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Jada Siverand
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Jada investigates subseafloor fluid circulation patterns, hydrothermal metals export, and viable conditions for venting off-axis of MOR spreading centers.
Esmira Bibaj
Graduate Researcher
Esmira is interested in examining the biogeochemistry of hydrothermal vent systems.
Amanda Pearson
Undergraduate Researcher
Amanda is pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Former Members
William Dowd
Graduate Researcher
William graduated with a Ph.D. from Lehigh University and went to work as an Environmental Chemist at Gradient in Boston, Massachusetts.
Connor Downing
Graduate Researcher
Connor graduated with a Masters from Lehigh University and went to work at Cooper Environmental.
Susan Ambrose
Graduate Researcher
Susan graduated with a Masters from Lehigh University and went to work as an Environmental Chemist at M.J. Reider Associates
Tiffany Baumann
Undergraduate Researcher
Tiffany went on to pursue a Masters in Earth and Environmental Science at Lehigh University
Talia Rodkey
Undergraduate Researcher
Talia went to work as an Applications and Support Engineer at Bruker Alicona
Grant Loescher
Undergraduate Researcher
Grant went on to pursue a Masters in Geological Science at the Arizona State University
Kelden Pehr
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Kelden went to work as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of North Dakota
Henry Price
Undergraduate Researcher
After obtaining a NSF GRFP, Henry went to pursue a Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering at MIT
Fieldwork
From the deep ocean, to deep within the Earth's crust.
Oceanographic Research Expeditions
2025 R/V Atlantis/HOV Alvin and AUV Sentry expedition (AT50-33) to 9°50’N East Pacific Rise.
2024 R/V Atlantis/HOV Alvin and AUV Sentry expedition (AT50-21) to 9°50’N East Pacific Rise.
2023 R/V Falkor (too)/ROV Subastian expedition (FKt230812) to the Eastern Galapagos Spreading Center.
2023 R/V Atlantis/HOV Alvin and AUV Sentry expedition (AT50-07) to 9°50’N East Pacific Rise.
2021 R/V Roger Revelle/ROV Jason and AUV Sentry expedition (RR2102) to 9°50’N East Pacific Rise.
2019 R/V Manta/AUV Mesobot to the Gulf or Mexico.
2019 R/V Pelican/ROV Global Explorer to the Gulf of Mexico
2018 R/V JOIDES Resolution (Expedition #376) to Brothers Arc Volcano
2017 E/V Nautilus/ROV Hercules to Pescadero Basin
2016 R/V Polarstern/HROV Nereid Under Ice to Gakkel Ridge
2013 R/V Falkor/HROV Nereus expedition (FK008) to Mid-Cayman Rise
2012 R/V Atlantis/ROV Jason II expedition (AT18-16) to Mid-Cayman Rise
2011 R/V Okeanos Explorer/ROV Little Hercules expedition to Mid-Cayman Rise (link; via tele-presence)
2009 R/V Cape Hatteras/HROV Nereus expedition to Mid-Cayman Rise
2007 R/V Atlantis/DSV Alvin expedition (AT15-27) to 9°50’N East Pacific Rise (starboard observer on Alvin dive #4380)
2006 R/V Atlantis/DSV Alvin expedition (AT15-13) to 9°50’N East Pacific Rise (starboard observer on Alvin dive #4279)
2006 R/V Atlantis/DSV Alvin expedition (AT15-06) to 9°50’N East Pacific Rise
Land Research Expeditions
2022 Fluid and gas sampling at Soudan Mine Underground State Park, MN, USA
2019 Fluid and gas sampling at Soudan Mine Underground State Park, MN, USA
2016 Rock and gas sampling expedition at gold mine in Preissac, QC, Canada
2016 Rock and fluid sampling expedition at base metal mine in Sudbury, ON, Canada
2015 Rock, fluid and gas sampling expedition at base metal mine in Timmins, ON, Canada
2015 Rock core and fluid sampling campaign at Grimsel Test Site, Switzerland
2014 Borehole fluid and gas sampling expedition at base metal mine in Sudbury, ON, Canada
Publications
Albers E., Diehl A., Fitzsimmons J.N., Jensen L.T., Klein F., McDermott J.M., Purser A., Seewald J.S., Walter M., Wegener G., Bach W., Boetius A., German C.R. (2025) Ultramafic-influenced submarine venting on basaltic seafloor at the Polaris site, 87°N, Gakkel Ridge, Earth & Planetary Science Letters, 651, 119166, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2024.119166
Schuler, C. J., Patsis, A., Alexander, S. C., Hsu, D., Dowd, W. S., Lee, W., Matzen, S. L., Marcus, A. M., Sheik, C. S., McDermott, J., Kang, P. K., Santelli C. M., Toner, B. M. (2024). Densely populated biofilms and linked iron and sulfur cycles in the fractured-rock continental subsurface. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2024.04.019
Berrios-Rivera N., Gee J.S., Parnell-Turner R., Maher S.,Wu J.-N., Fornari D.J., Tivey M., Marjanović M., Barreyre T., McDermott J.M. (2023) Jill McDermott (2023) Significance of Short‐Wavelength Magnetic Anomaly Low Along the East Pacific Rise Axis, 9° 50′ N, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24, e2023GC010875. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GC010875
Wu J.-N., Parnell-Turner R., Fornari D.J., Berrios-Rivera N., Barreyre T., McDermott J.M. (2023) The Role of On- and off-Axis Faults and Fissures during Eruption Cycles and Crustal Accretion at 9°50’N, East Pacific Rise, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24, e2022GC010794. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GC010794
Govindarajan A.F. , L. McCartin, A. Adams, E. Allane, M. Belani, R. Francolinig, J. Fujii, A. Kukulya, F. Marin, K. Tradd, D. Yoerger⚓︎, J. McDermott & S. Herrera (2022) Improved biodiversity detection using a large-volume environmental DNA sampler with in situ filtration and implications for marine eDNA sampling strategies. Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 189: 103871, doi: 10.1101/2022.01.12.475892
Dowd W.S, C.J. Schuler, C.M. Santelli, B.M. Toner, C.S. Sheik, K. Pehr, J.M. McDermott (2022) Potential energy sources for the deep continental biosphere in isolated anoxic brines. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 595(2022), 117720, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117720 PDF.
McDermott J. M., R. Parnell-Turner, T. Barreyre, S. Herrera, C. Downing, N. Pittoors, K. Pehr, S. Vohsen, W. Dowd, J. Wu, M. Marjanovic & D. Fornari (2022) Discovery of Active Off-Axis Hydrothermal Vents at 9°54’N East Pacific Rise. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 119 (30) e2205602119, doi: 10.1073/pnas.2205602119. PDF.
Pereira S.I., Diehl A., McDermott J.M., Pape T., Klose L., Strauss H., Bohrmann G., Bach W. (2022) Geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids from the E2-segment of the East Scotia Ridge: Magmatic input, reaction zone processes, fluid mixing regimes and bioenergetic landscapes, Frontiers in Marine Sciences. 9, 765648, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.765648. PDF.
McCartin L., S. Vohsen, S. Ambrose, M. Layden, C. McFadden, E. Cordes, J. McDermott & S. Herrera (2022) Temperature Controls eDNA Persistence Across Physicochemical Conditions in Seawater. Environmental Science & Technology. 56(12), 8629–8639, doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01672. PDF.
Wu J.-N., Parnell-Turner R., Fornari D., Kurras G., Berrios-Rivera N., Barreyre T., McDermott J.M. (2022) Extent and Volume of Lava Flows Erupted at 9°50'N, East Pacific Rise in 2005-2006 from Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Surveys, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 23, e2021GC010213, doi: 10.1029/2021GC010213. PDF.
Sherwood Lollar B., Heuer V.B., McDermott J., Tille S., Warr O., Moran J.J., Telling J., Hinrichs K-U (2021) A window into the abiotic carbon cycle–Acetate and formate in fracture waters in 2.7 billion year-old host rocks of the Canadian Shield, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 294, 95-314, doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2020.11.026 PDF.
McDermott J.M., Sylva S.P., Ono S., German C.R., Seewald J.S. (2020) Abiotic redox reactions in hydrothermal mixing zones: Decreased energy availability for the subsurface biosphere, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(34), 20453-20461 doi: 10.1073/pnas.2003108117. PDF.
de Ronde, C.E.J., Humphris, S.E., Höfig, T.W., Reyes, A.G., and the IODP Expedition 376 Scientists (including Brandl P.A., Cai L., Cai Y., Caratori Tontini F., Deans J.R., Farough A., Jamieson J.W., Kolandaivelu K.P., Kutovaya A., Labonté J., Martin A.J., Massiot C., McDermott J.M., McIntosh I.M., Nozaki T., Pellizari V.H., Roberts S., Rouxel O., Schlicht L.E.M., Seo J.H., Straub S.M., Strehlow K., Takai K., Tanner D., Tepley III F.J., Zhang C.) (2019) Critical role of caldera collapse in the formation of seafloor mineralization: The case of Brothers volcano, Geology, 47(8), 762-766, doi 10.1130/G46047.1 PDF.
Wygel C.M., Peters S.C., McDermott and Sahagian D.L. (2019) Bubbles and Dust: Experimental Results of Dissolution Rates of Metal Salts and Glasses From Volcanic Ash Deposits in Terms of Surface Area, Chemistry, and Human Health Impacts. GeoHealth, 3(11), 338-355. PDF.
McDermott J.M., Sylva S.P., Ono, S., German C.R. and Seewald J.S. (2018) Geochemistry of fluids from Earth's deepest ridge-crest hot-springs: Piccard hydrothermal field, Mid-Cayman Rise. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, 228, 95-118. PDF.
Wang D.T., Reeves E.P., McDermott J.M., Seewald J.S., and Ono S. (2018) Clumped isotopologue constraints on the origin of methane at seafloor hot springs. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, 223, 141–158. PDF.
Warr O., Sherwood Lollar B., Fellowes J., Sutcliffe C.N., McDermott J.M., Holland G., Mabry J.C., Ballentine C.J. (2018) Tracing ancient hydrogeological fracture network age and compartmentalisation using noble gases. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta 222: 340-362. PDF
Anderson R.E., Reveillaud J.C., Reddington E., Eren A.M., McDermott J.M., Seewald J.S. , Stepanauskas R. and Huber, J.A. (2017) Genomic variation in microbial populations inhabiting the marine subseafloor at deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Nature Communications. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01228-6. PDF.
Li L., Wing B.A., Bui T.H., McDermott J.M., Slater G.F., Moser D.P., Fisher J., Wei S., Lacrampe-Coulome G. and Sherwood Lollar, B. (2016) Sulfur mass-independent fractionation in subsurface fracture waters indicates a long-standing sulfur cycle in Precambrian rocks. Nature Communications. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13252. PDF.
Reveillaud J.C., Reddington E., McDermott J.M., Algar C., Meyer J.L., Sylva S.P., Seewald J.S., German C.R. and Huber J.A. (2016) Subseafloor microbial communities in hydrogen-rich vent fluids from hydrothermal systems along the Mid-Cayman Rise. Environmental Microbiology doi:10.1111/1462-2920.13173. PDF.
McDermott J.M., Seewald J.S., German C.R. and Sylva S.P. (2015) Pathways for abiotic organic synthesis at submarine hydrothermal fields. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112(25): 7668-7672. PDF.
McDermott J.M., Ono S., Tivey M.K., Seewald J.S., Shanks III W.C. and Solow A.R. (2015) Identification of sulfur sources and isotopic equilibria in submarine hot springs using multiple sulfur isotopes. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta 160: 169-187. PDF.
Reeves E.P., McDermott J.M. and Seewald J.S. (2014) Methanethiol production in mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal fluids. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111(15): 5474-5479. PDF.
Bennett S.A., Statham P.J., Green D.R.H., Le Bris N., McDermott J.M., Prado F., Rouxel O.J., Von Damm K.L. and German C.R. (2011) Dissolved and particulate organic carbon in hydrothermal plumes from the East Pacific Rise, 9°50’N. Deep-Sea Research Part I 58(9): 922-931. PDF.
German C.R., Bowen A., Coleman M.L., Honig D.L., Huber J.A., Jakuba M.V., Kinsey J.C., Kurz M.D., Leroy S., McDermott J.M., Mercier de Lépinay B., Nakamura K., Seewald J.S., Smith J., Sylva S.P., Van Dover C.L., Whitcomb L.L. and Yoerger D.R. (2010) Diverse styles of submarine venting on the ultra-slow spreading Mid-Cayman Rise. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107(32): 14020-14025. PDF.