Dr. Christopher Omelon

Biography

Dr. Christopher Omelon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at Queen's University. He holds a B.A. and M.Sc. in Geography from McGill University and a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Toronto. His M.Sc. research focused on geochemical dynamics in saline spring discharge, while his Ph.D. examined the microenvironmental conditions of microbe-mineral interactions in cryptoendolithic habitats. He has conducted fieldwork in the Canadian high Arctic, specifically in Axel Heiberg Island and Ellesmere Island. Throughout his academic journey, he has completed a NASA Planetary Biology Internship and held postdoctoral positions at Western University, McGill University, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Kansas. His research interests encompass geomicrobiology, particularly the interactions between microorganisms and their natural surroundings. His work explores the diversity of microbial communities and their significant influence on the geochemical dynamics of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, especially in the context of climate warming affecting the Arctic landscape.

Research Interests