David Burdige

Dr. David Burdige is a Professor & Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University's Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences, with a joint appointment in Chemistry and Biochemistry. His expertise spans marine geochemistry, biogeochemical processes, and sediment dynamics. He has authored over 90 peer-reviewed papers and a seminal textbook, Geochemistry of Marine Sediments. His research focuses on carbon, nitrogen, and trace metal cycling in marine and estuarine sediments, with fieldwork in Antarctica, the Bahamas, and California margins.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego (1983)
• B.A. (Honors) in Chemistry, Swarthmore College (1978)

Research Interests:

• Biogeochemistry of sediments and coastal ecosystems
• Carbon sequestration in mangroves and seagrass beds
• Iron and sulfur cycling in anoxic environments
• Modeling sediment organic matter dynamics

Awards & Recognition:

• Fellow of ASLO (2017)
• NSF Antarctic Service Medal (2016)
• Discover Magazine Top Scientific Discovery (2009)

Grants & Collaborations:

• $1.45M study on seagrass ecosystem responses to climate change
• $827k NSF grant on blue carbon sequestration
• Leadership in Antarctic sediment studies and coastal acidification research

Labs & Facilities: Extensive geochemical labs at ODU, including spectrofluorometers, ion chromatography, and anaerobic chambers. Active fieldwork via the R/V Fay Slover research vessel.