Daniel Brabander

Education
B.S., M.A., Binghamton University; Ph.D., Brown University

Previous position

Teaching interests
I teach courses ranging from large introductory classes such as Dynamic Earth with as many as 75 students to mid- and upper-level courses such as Environmental Science and Environmental and Forensic Geochemistry. At present time all the courses I teach have a lab component, and the upper-level courses have field and semester-long projects. My tentative schedule for the coming academic year includes:

• GEOS 101 Earth Processes and the Environment (Fall 2004)
• GEOS 102 The Dynamic Earth
• GEOS 201/ES201 Methods and Problems in Environmental Science (Spring 2005)
• GEOS315/ES 315 Environmental Geochemistry (Fall 2004)

In the classroom I foster peer instruction and inquiry-based learning and assessment all within a context-based curriculum. In my classroom, I seek to create a learning community that increases students' self-confidence, encourages all students to participate, helps students learn how to define problems and seek solutions, and lends itself to authentic assessment of students' performance.

Research interests
My research goals emphasize multidisciplinary projects that cut across departmental boundaries and foster collaboration among biology, chemistry, geosciences and environmental engineering disciplines and involve research experiences for undergraduates. I am interested in environmental and forensic geochemistry and the quantification of biogeochemical processes in watersheds, aquifers, and in the urban environment. Applications include bioremediation, environmental biomonitoring, fate and transport of contaminants (toxic metals) in watershed and aquifer systems, isotopic dating and mapping of contaminants within sediments and soils, and sustainable urban agriculture. Specific focus of current projects:

• Toxic trace metal uptake and translocation in oaks: Implications for biomonitoring
• Project Play Safe: Analyzing soils and playground structures for heavy metals in City of Boston tot lots using FP-XRF methods
• Isotopically mapping multiple Pb sources in urban watersheds
• Unraveling the industrial history of the Neponset River Watershed for targeted sediment sampling with a focus on heavy metals
• Arsenic sequestration mechanisms in wetlands
• Arsenic contamination in groundwater in Bangladesh
• Evaluation of remediation schemes for the removal of lead from drinking water
• Geochemical fingerprinting of catastrophic events

Recent publications (undergraduate co-authors starred)

Swartz C. H., Keon-Blute N., Badruzzaman A. B. M., Ashraf Ali M., Brabander D. J., Jay J., Islam S., Hemond H. F., and Harvey C. F. A geochemical analysis of the depth-dependent behavior of arsenic mobility in Bangladesh aquifers. In review: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.

Brabander D. J., Stanley R. H. R. *, and Hemond H. F. (2003) Isotopically mapping multiple Pb sources on an urban watershed using a rapid assessment method. To be re-submitted to: Environ. Sci. and Technol.

Oktay, S.D., D.J. Brabander, J.P. Smith, J. Kada, T. Bullen, and C.R. Olsen (2003) WTC Geochemical Fingerprint Recorded in New York Harbor Sediments, EOS Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, V.84, No.3 21-28. (pdf)

Harvey C. F., Swartz C. H., Badruzzaman A. B. M., Keon-Blute N., Yu W., Ashraf Ali M., Jay J., Beckie R., Niedan V., Brabander D. J., Oates P.M., Ashfaque K. N., Islam S., Hemond H. F., Ahmed M. F. (2003) Response to Technical Comments “Arsenic Mobility and Groundwater Extraction in Bangladeshi.” Science 300:584d. (pdf)

Rogers C. E., Brabander D. J., Barbour M. T., and Hemond H. F. (2002) Use of physical, chemical, and biological indices to assess impacts of contaminants and physical habitat alteration in urban streams. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21 (6)1156-1167. (pdf)

Harvey C. F., Swartz C. H., Badruzzaman A. B. M., Keon-Blute N., Yu W., Ashraf Ali M., Jay J., Beckie R., Niedan V., Brabander D. J., Oates P.M., Ashfaque K. N., Islam S., Hemond H. F., Ahmed M. F. (2002) Arsenic Mobility and Groundwater Extraction in Bangladeshi Aquifer. Science 298:1602-1606. (pdf)

Edmands J. D.*, Brabander D. J., and Coleman D. S. (2001) Uptake and mobility of uranium in black oaks: Implications for biomonitoring depleted uranium-contaminated groundwater. Chemosphere 44: 791-797. (pdf)

Keon N., Swartz C. H., Brabander D. J., Harvey C., and Hemond H. F. (2001) Validation of an arsenic sequential extraction method for evaluating mobility in sediments. Environ. Sci. and Technol. 35: 2778-2784. (pdf)

Farver J. R. and Brabander D. J. (2001) Magma ascent rates from mineral reaction rims and extension to volcanic hazards. Journal of Geoscience Education 49: 33-38.

Brabander D. J., Keon N., Stanley R. H. R.* and Hemond H. F. (1999) Intra-ring variability of Cr, As, Cd, and Pb in red oak revealed by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS): Implications for environmental biomonitoring. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 96: 25:14635-14640. (pdf)

Brabander D. J. and Giletti B. (1995) Strontium diffusion kinetics in amphiboles and significance to thermal history determinations. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 59: 2223-2238. (pdf)
Brabander D. J., Hervig R. L., and Jenkins D. M. (1995) Experimental determination of F-OH interdiffusion in tremolite and significance to fluorine-zoned amphiboles. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 59: 3549-3560. (pdf)

Technical Reports

Keon N., Brabander D., Hemond H., Sutton S., Newville M. (2002) Cattail root plaque retention of arsenic. Appeared in APS Forefront (published by Argonne National Laboratory).(pdf)
Stanley R. H. R.*, Keon N., Brabander D. J., Hemond H. (1998) A survey of heavy metal levels in soils associated with flooding of the Aberjona River, Winchester, MA. Report submitted to the Winchester Board of Health.

Recent (since 1996) abstracts for conference proceedings

Moroski C. A. *, Herbst A. *, Beattie R. B., Brabander D. J. (2003) Pb concentrations in drinking water on campus: analysis and remediation. Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section 35 (3) p 74.

Brabander D. J., Beattie R. B., Stevenson R. D., Shailer M., and Chen R. F. (2003) Participatory activities for core ocean science and environmental science concepts: An example and call to action. ASLO Annual Meeting Salt Lake City, p. 30.
Chen R. F., Dong H., Lukas G., Stevenson R. D., Brabander D. J., and Beattie R. (2003) An innovative web-based survey for establishing core-learning goals for all ocean and environmental science students. ASLO Annual Meeting Salt Lake City, p.36

Brabander D. J., Oktay S. D., Smith J. P., Kada J., Bullen T., Olsen C. (2002) Geochemical Fingerprinting of the World Trade Center Attack in New York Harbor Sediments EOS. Trans. AGU, 83 (47) Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS22B-0278
Smith J. P., Oktay S. D., Brabander D. J., Olsen C., Kada J. (2002) Temporal Movement of the Geochemical "Fingerprint" of the World Trade Center Terrorist Attack in New York Harbor Sediments EOS. Trans. AGU, 83 (47) Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS22B-0279
Oktay S. D., Smith J. P., Brabander D. J., Kada J., Olsen C. (2002) Spatial Distributions of Iodine-131 and the Geochemical "Fingerprint" from the World Trade Center Terrorist Attack in New York Harbor Sediments EOS. Trans. AGU, 83 (47) Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS22B-0280

Keon, N. E., Swartz, C. H., Brabander, D. J., Myneni, S. C. B., Sutton, S., Hemond, H. F. (2002) A combined XAS and chemical extraction investigation of arsenic distribution in sediment phases and in cattail roots. American Chemical Society Proceedings (Spring), Division of Geochemistry.
Chen R. F. and Brabander D. J. (2002) Inquiry based learning and assessment in general education science courses. EOS. Trans. AGU, 83 (4) Ocean Sciences Meet. Suppl. Abstract OS211-02, p. 115.
Smith J. P., Oktay S. D., Kada J., Brabander D. J., Olsen C. R. (2002) Short-term sediment dynamics in the lover Hudson River Estuary: Identifying the impact of the World Trade Center terrorist attack. EOS. Trans. AGU, 83 (4) Ocean Sciences Meet. Suppl. Abstract OS225-07, p. 189.

Bulleri M. E., Coleman D. S., and Brabander D. J. (2001) Combined IDTIMS and LAM-ICP-MS dendrochemical study of a depleted uranium and heavy metal contaminated bog near Concord, Massachusetts. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, V. 33 (6) p. A-119.
Harvey C. F., Swartz C. H., Ali A., Yu W., Beckie R., Niedan V., Hug S., Keon N., Islam S., Brabander D., Rahman M., Rahman H., Hemond H., and Ahmed F. (2001) A geochemical and hydrological analysis of arsenic mobilization at a field site in Bangladesh. EOS Transactions, AGU.

Brabander D. J. , Stanley R. H. R. *, and Hemond H. F. (2000) Reconstructing historical and contemporary lead sources in an urban watershed: A rapid assessment method and example from the Aberjona Watershed, MA, USA. EOS Transactions, AGU, 81, no. 48, p. F479.
Bulleri M. E., Coleman D. S., and Brabander D. J. (2000) LAM-ICP-MS assessment of the uptake and mobility of trace metals in black oak. Transactions, AGU, 81, no. 48, p. F221.
Keon N. E., Swartz C. H., Brabander D. J., Myneni S. C. B., Hemond H. F. (2000) Evaluation of arsenic mobility in sediments using a validated extraction method. Transactions, AGU, 81, no. 48, p. F526.
Swartz C. H. et al. (2000) The arsenic crisis in Bangladesh: A geochemical analysis. Transactions, AGU, 81, no. 48, p. F550.

Brabander D., Keon N., Hemond H. F. (1999) Biogeochemical controls on the sequestration of contaminants in urban wetlands. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 31, no. 7, p. 494.
Edmands J. D. *, Brabander D. J., and Coleman D. S. (1999) Uptake and mobility of uranium in black oaks: Implications for biomonitoring depleted uranium-contaminated groundwater. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 31, no. 7, p. 190.
Gawel J. E., Brabander D. J., Morel F. M. M., and Hemond H. F. (1999) Using Bioindicators to Monitor Past and Present Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater Near Two Superfund Sites in Woburn, Massachusetts. EOS Transactions, AGU, 80, no. 17, p. S147.

Brabander D. J. , Keon N., Stanley R. H. R. *, and Hemond H. F. (1998) In situ mapping of trace metal uptake and radial translocation in Quercus rubra. EOS, Transactions, AGU, 79, no. 45, p. F956.

Brabander D. J. and Hemond H. F. (1998) Seasonal variability of toxic metals in red oak xylem tissue revealed with secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). Geochemical Perspectives on Environmental Processes: New theoretical and analytical approaches to sources, transport, and bioavailability of trace elements. Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Brabander D. J. , Keon N., Stanley R. H. R. *, and Hemond H. F. (1998) Seasonal variability of toxic metals in red oak xylem tissue: Implications for environmental monitoring. EOS, Transactions, AGU, 79, no. 17, p. S136.

Keon N., Brabander D. J. , Stanley R. H. R. *, and Hemond H. F. (1998) Sequestration of toxic metals in an urban wetland. EOS, Transactions, AGU, 79, no. 17, p. S137.

Brabander D. J. and Giletti B. J. (1996) Rotated Rb-Sr Whole Rock Isochrons Revisited: An Example from the Lyndhurst Pluton, Frontenac Terrain, Ontario, Canada EOS, Transactions, AGU, 77, no. 46, p. F821.

Brabander D. J., Wenner J. M. and Ford D. J. (1996) The practical introduction of group assessment vehicles into the upper-level Earth Sciences curriculum. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, V 28 (7) p. A-165.