Sanjai Parikh
Dr. Sanjai J. Parikh
Post Doctoral Associate
Education
  • B.S., 1998. The University of Maryland: Agronomy: Conservation of Soil, Water and Environment
  • M.S., 2002. The Pennsylvania State University: Soil Science
  • Ph.D., 2006. The University of Arizona: Soil, Water and Environmental Science (Major: Environmental Soil Chemistry, Minor: Soil Science - Pedology)
Research Interests
  • I feel that there is a growing need for research investigating the interactions between geological and biological processes within the Earth’s crust. While these processes can occur independently, the synergism of the combined processes likely drive a significant portion of the Earth’s weathering processes; transforming rock to soil, altering landscapes, providing essential nutrients, controlling element cycling, and influencing contaminant transport. My research addresses a wide-range of biogeochemical processes at solid-liquid interfaces in the critical zone. Examples of my research interests include: (1) determining reaction rates of contaminant oxidation/transformation at mineral and bacteria surfaces; (2) elucidating the role of bacterial surface biomolecules in cell adhesion and biomineralization/dissolution reactions; (3) investigating the role of extracellular polymeric compounds in heavy metal biogeocycling;  (4) identifying persistent degradation products of primary pollutants (organic and inorganic) and determining their bioavailability; (5) examining transport and degradation mechanisms for endocrine disrupting chemicals (e.g., pharmaceuticals, agricultural hormones) in soil and water (i.e., ground-, surface-, wastewater).
Publications: Peer-Reviewed

Parikh, S.J., B.J. Lafferty, and D.L. Sparks. 2008. An ATR-FTIR spectroscopic approach for measuring rapid kinetics at the mineral/water interface. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 302:177-185.

Parikh, S.J., and J. Chorover. 2008. ATR-FTIR study of lipopolysaccharides at mineral surfaces. Colloids Surf. B, Biointerf. 62:188-198.

Parikh, S.J., and J. Chorover. 2007. Infrared spectroscopy studies of cation effects on lipopolysaccharides in aqueous solution. Colloids Surf. B, Biointerf. 55:241-250.

Parikh, S.J., and J. Chorover. 2006. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy reveals bond formation during bacterial adhesion to iron oxide. Langmuir. 22:8492-8500.

Post, D.F., S.J. Parikh, R.A. Papp, and L. Ferriera. 2006. Evaluation of student skills to determine soil morphological properties. J. Nat. Resour. Life Sci. Educ. 35:217-224.

Parikh, S.J., and J. Chorover. 2005. FTIR spectroscopic study of biogenic Mn-oxide formation by Pseudomonas putida GB-1. Geomicrobiol. J. 22:207-218.

Parikh, S.J., J. Chorover, and W.D. Burgos. 2004. Interaction of phenanthrene and its primary metabolite 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid with estuarine sediment and humic fractions. J. Contam. Hydrol. 72:1-22.

Rabenhorst, M.C., and S. Parikh. 2000. Propensity of soils to develop redoximorphic color changes. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 64:1904-1910.

Publications: Technical Papers, Theses, Dissertation

Post, D.F., S.J. Parikh, R.A. Papp, and L. Ferriera. 2007. Improving soil morphology skills through self evaluation. CSA NEWS 52:30-31.

Parikh, S.J., 2006. A spectroscopic study of bacterial polymers mediating cell adhesion and mineral transformations. Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

Parikh, S.J., 2001. Interactions of phenanthrene and degradation products with estuarine sediment and extracted humic substances. M.S. Thesis, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Parikh, S.J., and J. Chorover. 1999. Humic substances and water soluble materials in turfgrass growth media. Dave Smith, FERTL Soil, Kennett Square, PA.

Thomas, E., Parikh, S.J., and E. Young. 1997. Soil testing methods for site specific farming. Miner Institute Farm Journal. Oct. 1997.

Awards and Honors

  • ACS National Meeting Outstanding Student Paper, 2006, Division of Geochemistry

  • NASA Travel Grant/Scholarship, 2005, Mineralogical Society of America Short Course: Molecular Geomicrobiology

  • NSF Travel Grant, 2005, Workshop: Frontiers in Exploration of the Critical Zone

  • Donald F. Post Teaching Assistant Award, University of Arizona, 2004

  • W.H. Fuller Scholarship, University of Arizona, 2002, 2003

  • UA Graduate & Professional Student Council Travel Grant, 2003, AGU National Meetings

  • Environmental Chemistry Symposium at PSU, 2002, Second place poster presentation

  • G.E.P. Smith Scholarship, University of Arizona, 2001

  • Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Fellowship, 2001

  • Environmental Chemistry Symposium at PSU, 2001, Second place oral presentation

  • College of Agriculture Conference Travel Grant (PSU), 2000, SSSA National Meetings

  • University of Maryland President’s Scholarship, 1995 - 1998

  • University of Maryland Honors Citation, 1998

  • Mid-Atlantic Association of Professional Soil Scientists Scholarship, 1998

  • University of Maryland Summer Research Scholarship, 1998

 

See http://ag.udel.edu/soilchem/publications.html

 

Contact Information:

Plant and Soil Sciences
University of Delaware
152 Townsend Hall
Newark, DE 19716
Phone: 302 831-0608
Fax: 302 831-0605
e-mail: sjparikh@udel.edu

 

 

Resources & Links