Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones is an Assistant Professor of Geobiology in the Earth and Environmental Science department at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) and serves as Academic Director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI). His research program integrates geomicrobiology and biogeochemistry to investigate microbial sulfur cycling and microbe-mineral interactions in cave systems, with extensions to mine waste, marine sediments, and wetland ecosystems.

Dr. Jones specializes in extremophile microbiology within acidic cave biofilms, studying how microbial communities shape speleogenesis and secondary mineral formation. His work bridges geological processes and microbial metabolism, particularly focusing on sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in hypogenic caves. He examines biogeochemical cycles in contaminated environments like mine waste sites, exploring microbial potential for bioremediation while investigating mercury methylation pathways in freshwater sediments.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals dominant themes in cave geomicrobiology (42%), mercury biogeochemistry (28%), and microbial community ecology (30%). His research employs metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches to study microbial functions in situ, with field sites including Lehman Caves and Carlsbad Cavern. Key methodologies involve high-throughput sequencing, biofilm incubation experiments, and biogeochemical modeling of cave formation processes.

Dr. Jones actively mentors 10+ graduate and undergraduate researchers, with documented lab groups of 8 members (fall 2022) and 10 members (spring 2024). He integrates science communication into education, having students publish peer-reviewed articles on Sciworthy covering topics from antibiotic resistance to self-healing cement. His teaching portfolio includes Geomicrobiology, Environmental Microbiology, and specialized cave geology courses.

His research operates through NMT's Earth and Environmental Science department with NCKRI collaboration, conducting fieldwork in Great Basin National Park and Carlsbad Cavern. The lab maintains partnerships with the University of Minnesota (where he serves as graduate faculty) and utilizes advanced molecular facilities for studying microbial communities in extreme environments.