Justin B. Richardson

Justin B. Richardson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences within the School of Earth and Sustainability at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research focuses on nutrient and toxic metal cycling in forested watersheds of New England.

He holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of California Riverside, a PhD in Earth Sciences from Dartmouth College (2015), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Critical Zone National Office at Cornell University.

Dr. Richardson investigates metals and metalloids in the Critical Zone (from treetops to groundwater), addressing three core areas:

• Tracking pollutant trace metals (e.g., lead, mercury) to identify human inputs and natural sequestration;
• Mechanisms controlling nutrient metal accumulation and bioavailability;
• Using metals as tracers for biogeochemical changes during soil formation and ecosystem disturbances.

His methodology integrates field sampling in New England forests with laboratory analyses including mass spectrometry, XRF, XANES, XRD, and stable isotopes. Research spans U.S. and international sites with primary emphasis on northeastern forests.

His research website (SoilBiogeochemist.com) details ongoing projects, though no information on awards, student advising, or grants was provided in the source material.