Current Research

Thomas L. Kieft
Biology Department Chairman
Professor of Biology
New Mexico Tech
801 Leroy Pl., Socorro, NM 87801
Phone: (575) 835-5321
FAX: (575) 835-5668
E-mail: tkieft@nmt.edu
I'm an environmental microbiologist with interests in the ecology and biogeochemistry of microbes in extreme or unusual environments. 

I have studied the microbiology of deep groundwater environments for 20+ years.  Sampling has involved deep drilling and also access to the subsurface biosphere via deep mines. 

I'm currently working on NSF-funded projects investigating the deep biosphere in South African gold mines (http://deepbio.princeton.edu/samp/sindex.htm) and planning for geomicrobiological research at the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) in the Black Hills of South Dakota  (http://www.dusel.org/).   



Specific Research Interests



 

 



General Research Interests








NMT Biology Undergrad taking water sample in a South Africa mine
Microbiology of subsurface terrestrial environments
Soil microbiology
Physiology and ecology of water-stressed microbes
Groundwater microbiology
Microbiology of extreme environments
 
Microbial ecology
Environmental microbiology
Biogeochemistry
Bioremediation
General microbiology
Molecular ecology
Published by the Biology Department, Jones Annex, NM Tech, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM, 87801 (575) 835-5612
NMT Biology Undergrad in a South African mine 2011
Undergraduate student working deep within a South African mine.