Bradley Stevenson

Dr. Bradley Stevenson is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Northwestern University. His research investigates microbial ecosystems in extreme subsurface environments, with applications to biogeochemistry, astrobiology, and public health surveillance.

Current projects span:

• Deep subsurface microbial adaptations
• Wastewater-based epidemiology
• Biogeochemical cycling in cave systems
• Planetary analog environments
• Anthropogenic impacts on subsurface ecology

Publications demonstrate dual focus on fundamental subsurface microbiology and applied environmental monitoring. Recent work includes wastewater surveillance for pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and West Nile virus, deep biosphere characterization in geological formations, and astrobiological investigations in analog environments.

Methodological approaches include stable isotope analysis, metagenomics, geochemical characterization, and development of novel surveillance techniques. Field sites encompass Mammoth Cave systems, Colorado Plateau aquifers, and urban wastewater infrastructure.

Research contributes to understanding microbial life in energy-limited environments, planetary habitability models, and public health monitoring frameworks through environmental sampling and molecular analysis.