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EDUCATION
Ph.D. 2006. Chemical Oceanography, University of Washington, USA
M.S. 2003. Chemical Oceanography, University of Washington, USA
B.S. 1999. Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
APPOINTMENTS
2022 – present Director, National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry facility, WHOI
2022 – present Associate Scientist w/ Tenure, Dept Geology and Geophys., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
2020 – 2022 Associate Professor, School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of South Carolina
2014 – 2019 Assistant Professor, Dept of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of South Carolina
2009 – 2014 Research Staff (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter), ETH Zürich, Swizterland
2007 – 2009 Postdoctoral Researcher, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
1999 – 2006 Graduate Student Researcher, Univ. of Washington.
Summer, 1998 Undergraduate Researcher, Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst.
1997 – 1998 Undergraduate Researcher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS AND HONORS
2018. Breakthrough Star Award, University of South Carolina
2016. Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow, bestowed by National Academy of Sciences and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
2013. Web of science highly cited paper, for Schrenk, Brazelton, and Lang (2013)
2012. Top 25 most cited articles, Geochemica et Cosmochimica Acta, Elsevier, for Lang et al., 2010
2009. InterRidge Postdoctoral Fellowship ($5,000)
2000 – 2003. National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Student Fellowship
1999 – 2002. Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Graduate Student Fellowship
1999. Undergraduate Research Award, MIT Chemistry Department
FIELD EXPERIENCE
2023. Co-Chief Scientist. Building Blocks of Life. 2-month cruise on drillship Joides Resolution to drill hard rock boreholes on the Atlantis Massif.
2022. Marianas Forearc. 27-day cruise with ROV Jason on the R/V Kilo Moana to collect samples from previously drilled IODP boreholes on the Marianas Forearc.
2020. Carbon at Cayman. 24-day cruise with ROV Jason on the R/V Atlantis to collect samples from the Von Damm and Piccard Hydrothermal fields
2018. Chief Scientist. Lost City as an urban center for subseafloor life. 24-day cruise with ROV Jason on the R/V Atlantis to collect fluid and rock samples from the Lost City Hydrothermal Field.
2015. Organic Geochemist. IODP Expedition 357: Atlantis Massif Seafloor Processes: Serpentinization and Life. 47-day sea-bed rock drilling on RRS James Cook
2008. Chief Scientist. Metabolisms of the Deep-sea. Metabolisms of deep-sea microbial communities Deep-ocean sampling via R/V Sproul.
2008 - 2009. Multiple cruises, sampling in the San Francisco Bay and Delta. Participant. R/V Polaris
2005. Visions. Participant. Juan de Fuca ridge via R/V Thompson and ROV JASON
2005. Virtual Lost City. Participant. Lost City hydrothermal field via R/V Ronald H. Brown and the Institute for Exploration's ROV Argus and Hercules
2003. Lost City. Participant. Lost City hydrothermal field via R/V Atlantis and DSV ALVIN
2003. Life in Extreme Environments return cruise. Participant. Main Endeavour Field, Axial Seamount, and the Juan de Fuca flanks via R/V Thompson and ROV JASON
2002. Life in Extreme Environments. Participant. Main Endeavour Field, Axial Seamount, and the Juan de Fuca flanks via R/V Thompson and ROV JASON
2001. New Millennium Observatory. Participant. Axial Seamount via R/V Ronald H. Brown and ROV ROPOS
2000. Tidal Perturbations return cruise. Participant. Main Endeavour Field Main Endeavour Field via R/V Atlantis and DSV ALVIN and ROV JASON
2000. Tidal Perturbations. Participant. Main Endeavour Field via R/V Atlantis with DSV ALVIN and ROV JASON
PUBLICATIONS (Published or in press)
† Denotes graduate student under my supervision
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Hu, S.K., Smith, A., Anderson, R., Sylva, S., Setzer, M., Steadmon, M., Frank, K., Chan, E., Lim, D., German, C., Breier, J.A., Lang, S.Q., Butterfield, D.A., Fortunato, C.S., Seewald, J.A., Huber, J.A. (in press) Globally-distributed microbial eukaryotes exhibit endemism at deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Molecular Ecology.
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Brazelton, W.E., McGonigle, J.M., Motamedi, S., Pendleton, H.L., Twing, K.I., Miller, B.C., Lowe, W.J., Hoffman, A.M., Prator, C.A., Chadwick, G.L., Anderson, R.E., Thomas, E., Butterfield, D.A., Aquino, K.A., Früh-Green, G.L., Schrenk, M.O., and Lang, S.Q. (2022) Metabolic strategies shared by basement residents of the Lost City hydrothermal field. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 88(17): 1-17
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Aquino, K.A., Früh-Green, G., Rickli, J., Bernasconi, S.M., Lang, S.Q., Lilley, M.D., Butterfield, D.A. (2022) Multi-stage evolution of Lost City hydrothermal vent fluids. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 332: 239-262
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Voss, B.M., Eglinton, T.I., Peucker-Ehrenbrink, B., Galy, V., Lang, S.Q., McIntyre, C., Spencer, R.G.M., Bulygina, E., Wang, Z.A., Guay, K.A. (2022) Isotopic evidence for sources of dissolved carbon and the role of respiration in the Fraser River basin, Canada. Biogeochemistry, doi: 10.1007/s10533-022-00945-5
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Pinckney, J.L., Zaunbrecher, S., Lang, S.Q., Wilson, A., Knapp, A. (2022) Seasonality of benthic microalgal community abundance in shallow shelf waters. Continental Shelf Research 244: 104797
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Moore, W.S., Frankle, J.† Benitez-Nelson, C., Früh-Green, G., Lang, S.Q. (2021) Activities of 223Ra and 226Ra in fluids from the Lost City Hydrothermal Field require short fluid residence times. Submitted to JGR-Oceans, 126. E2021JC017886
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Lang, S.Q., Lilley, M.D., Baumberger, T., Früh-Green, G., Walker, S., Brazelton, W., Kelley, D.S., Elend, M., Mau, A.J.† (2021) Extensive decentralized hydrogen export from the Atlantis Massif. Geology 49(7): 851 - 856
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Lang, S.Q. and Benitez-Nelson, B.¥ (2021) Hydrothermal Organic Geochemistry (HOG) sampler for deployment on deep-sea submersibles. Deep-Sea Research Part I 173: 103529
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McCabe, K., Smith, E., Lang, S.Q., Osburn, C., Benitez-Nelson, C. (in press) Particulate and dissolved organic matter in stormwater runoff influences oxygen demand in urbanized headwater catchments. Environmental Science & Technology. 55:952-961
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Lang, S.Q. and Brazelton, W.J. (2020) Habitability of the oceanic alkaline serpentinite subsurface: a case study of the Lost City hydrothermal field. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 378:20180429
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Liu, L., Zou, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Zhang, D., Lang, S.Q., Houk, K.N., and Devaraj, N.K. (2020) Enzyme-free aqueous phospholipid synthesis promotes self-assembly of minimal cell membranes. Nature Chemistry. doi.org/10.1038/s41557-020-00559-0
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Xiao, K., Wilson, A.M., Li, H., Santos, I.R., Tamborski, J., Smith, E., Lang, S.Q., Zheng, C., Luo, X., Correa, R.E. (2020) Reduced blue carbon sequestration through CO2 release and tidal flushing in salt marsh carb burrows. Limnology and Oceanography. doi.org/10.1002/lno.11582
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Nguyen, T.B.†, TopçuoÄŸlu, B.D., Holden, J.F., Lang, S.Q.* (2020) Lower hydrogen flux leads to larger carbon isotopic fractionation of methane and biomarkers during hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Geochemica et Cosmochimica Acta 271: 212-226
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McGonigle, J.M., Lang, S.Q., and Brazelton, W.J. (2020) Genomic evidence for formate metabolism by Chloroflexi as the key to unlocking deep carbon in Lost City microbial ecosystems. Appl Environ Microbiol 86(8):02583-19
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LaRowe, D., Arndt, S., Bradley, J., Estes, E., Hoarfrost, A., Lang, S.Q., Lloyd, K., Mahmoudi, N., Orsi, W., Walter, S., Steen, A., and Zhao, R. (2020) The fate of organic carbon in marine sediments – new insights from recent data and analysis. Earth-Science Reviews 204:103146
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Cannizzo, Z.J., Lang, S.Q., Benitez-Nelson, B.¥, Griffen, B.D. (2020) An artificial habitat increases the reproductive fitness of a range-shifting species within a newly colonized ecosystem. Scientific Reports 10(554) 1-13
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Lang, S.Q. and Brazelton, W.J. (2019) Habitability of the oceanic alkaline serpentinite subsurface: a case study of the Lost City hydrothermal field. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 378:20180429
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Lang, S.Q., Steen, A. D., Osburn, M.R. (2019) Carbon in deep biosphere: forms, biogeochemical cycling, and fates. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry. In B. Orcutt, I. Daniel, R. Dasgupta (Eds.), Deep Carbon: Past to present (pp. 480 – 523). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Doi: 10.1017/ 9781108677950.016
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TopçuoÄŸlu, B.D., Meydan, C., Nguyen, T.B. †, Lang, S.Q., Holden J.F. (2019) Growth Kinetics, Carbon Isotope Fractionation, and Gene Expression in the Hyperthermophile Methanocaldococcus jannaschii during Hydrogen-Limited Growth and Interspecies Hydrogen Transfer. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 85:e00180-19.
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Lechleitner, F.A., Lang, S.Q., Haghipour, N., McIntyre, C., Baldini, J.U.L., Prufer, K., and Eglinton, T.I. (2019) Towards organic carbon isotope records from stalagmites: coupled 13C and 14C analysis using WCO. Radiocarbon 61(3):749-764
Früh-Green, G.L., Orcutt, B.N., Rourméjon, S., Lilley, M.D. Morono, Y., Cotterill, C., Green, S., Escartin, J., John, B.E., McCaig, A.M., Cannat, M., Ménez, B., Schawarzenbach, E.M., Williams, M.J., Morgan, S., Lang, S.Q., Schrenk, M.O., Brazelton, W.J., Akizawa, N., Boschi, C., Dunkel, K.G., Quéméneur, M., Whattman, S.A., Mayhew, L., Harris, M., Bayrakci, G., Behrmann, J.-H., Herrero-Bervera, E., Hesse, K., Liu, H.-Q., Ratnayake, A.S., Twing, K., Weis, D., Zhao, R., Bilenker, L., Magmatism, serpentinization and life: Insights through drilling the Atlantis Massif (IODP Expedition 357). (2018) Lithos DOI: 10.1016/j.lithos.2018.09.012
Preiner, M., Xavier, J.C., Sousa, F.L., Zimorski, V., Neubeck, A., Lang, S.Q., Greenwell, H.C., Kleinermanns, k., Tuysuz, H., McCollom, T.M., Holm, N.G., Martin, W.F. (2018) Serpentinization: Connecting Geochemistry, Ancient Metabolism and Industrial Hydrogenation. Life, 8 (41) DOI: 10.3390/life8040041
Emmons, A.M., Bizimis, M., Lang, S.Q., Stangler, W., Geidel, G., Baalousha, M., Wanamaker, E., and Rothenberg, S.E. (2018) Enrichments of Metals, including Methylmercury, in Sewage Spills in South Carolina, USA. Journal of Environmental Quality. 1-9. DOI: 10.2134/jeq2018.02.0067
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Lang, S.Q., Früh-Green G.L, Bernasconi, S.M., Brazelton, W.J., Schrenk, M.O., and McGonigle, J.M. (2018) Deeply-sourced formate fuels sulfate reducers but not methanogens at Lost City hydrothermal field Scientific Reports 8(755) 1-10.
Hickok, K.†, Nguyen, T.†, Lang, S.Q. (2018) Assessment of apolar lipids in subseafloor rocks and potential contaminants from the Atlantis Massif. Organic Geochemistry 122: 68-77
Emmons, A.M., Bizimis, M., Lang, S.Q., Stangler, W., Geidel, G., Wanamaker, E., Rothenberg, S.E. (in press) Enrichments of Metals, Including Methylmercury, In Sewage Spills in South Carolina, USA. J. Environmental Quality. DOI: 10.2134/jeq2018.02.0067
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Lang, S.Q. (2018) News and Views: Hydrothermal stamp on the ocean. Nature Geoscience 11: 6-20
Pisapia, C. Gérard, E., Gérard, M., Lecourt, L., Lang, S.Q., Pelletier, B., Payri, C., Monnin, C., Guentas, L., Postec, A.,
Quéméneur, M., Erauso, G., Ménez, B. (2017) Mineralization filamentous bacteria from the Prony Bay Hydrothermal Field give new insights to the functioning of serpentinization-based subseafloor ecosystems. Front. Microbiol. 8:57. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00057
Brazelton, W.J., Thornton, C.N., Hyer, A., Twing, K.I., Longino, A.A., Lang, S.Q., Lilley, M.D., Früh-Green, G.L., Schrenk, M.O. (2017) Metagenomic identification of active methanogens and methanotrophs in serpentinite springs of Voltri Massif, Italy. PeerJ 5:e2945 DOI: 10.77117/peerj.2945
Lang, S.Q., McIntyre, C.P., Bernasconi, S.M., Früh-Green, G., Voss, B.M., Eglinton, T.I., and Wacker L. (2016) Rapid 14C Analysis of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Non-Saline Waters. Radiocarbon. 1-11; DOI:10.1017/RDC.2016.17
McIntyre, C.P., Lechleitner, F., Lang, S.Q., Haghiour, N., Fahrni, S., Wacker, L., and Synal H-A. (2016) 14C Contamination testing in natural abundance laboratories: A new preparation method using wet chemical oxidation and some experiences. Radiocarbon. 1-7; DOI: 10.1017/RDC.2016.78
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Wiedemeier, D.B., Lang, S.Q., Gierga, M., Abiven, S., Bernasconi, S.M., Früh-Green, G.L., Hajdas, I., Hanke, U.M., Hilf, M.D.,
McIntyre, C.P., Scheider, M.P.W., Smittenberg, R.H., Wacker, L., Wiesenberg, G.L.B., Schmidt, M.W.I. (2016) Characterization, Quantification and Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis of Pyrogenic Carbon Using Benzene Polycarboxylic Acids (BPCA) J. Vis. Exp. (111) e53922, doi: 10.3791/53922
Kohl, L., Cumming, E., Cox, A., Rietze, A., Morrissey, L., Lang, S.Q., Richter, A., Suzuki, S., Nealson, K.H., Morrill, P.L. (2016) Exploring the metabolic potential of microbial communities in ultra-basic, reducing springs at The Cedars, CA, US: Experimental evidence of microbial methanogenesis and heterotrophic acetogenesis. J. Geophys. Res. Biogeosci. 121: 1203-1220, doi: 10.1002/2015JG003233
Gomez-Saez, G.V., Niggemann, J., Dittmar, T., Pohlabeln, A.M., Lang, S.Q., Noowong, A., Pichler, T., Wörmer, L., and Bühring, S.I. (2016) Molecular evidence for abiotic sulfurization of dissolved organic matter in marine shallow hydrothermal systems. Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta 190: 35-52
Hindsaw, R.S., Lang, S.Q., Bernasconi, S.M., Heaton, T.H.E., Lindsay, M.R., and Boyde, E.S. (2016) Origin and temporal variability of unusually low δ13C-DOC values in two High Arctic catchments. JGR-Biogeosciences. DOI: 10.1002/2015JG003303.
Larson, B. I., Lang, S.Q., Lilley, M.D., Olson, E.J., Lupton, J., Nakamura, K., Buck, N. (2015) Stealth export of hydrogen and methane from a low temperature serpentinization system. Deep-Sea Research Part II. 121: 233-245. DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2015.05.007
Morrill, P.L., Brazelton W.J., Kohl, L., Rietze, A., Miles, S. Kavanagh, H., Schrenk, M.O., Ziegler, S.E., and Lang, S.Q. (2014) Investigations of potential microbial methanogenic and carbon monoxide utilization pathways in ultra-basic reducing springs associated with present-day continental serpentinization: the Tablelands, NL, CAN. Frontiers in Microbiology. 5(613) 1-13
Jaeschke, A., Eickmann, B., Lang, S.Q., Bernasconi, S.M., Strauss, H., Früh-Green, G.L. (2014) Biosignatures in chimney structures and sediment from the Loki’s Castle low-temperature hydrothermal vent field at the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge. Extremeophiles. 18(3): 545-560.
Gierga, M., Schneider, M.P.W., Widemeir, D.B., Lang, S.Q., Smittenberg, R.H., Hajdas, I., Bernasconi, S.M., Schmidt, M.W.I. (2014) Purification of fire-derived molecular markers for microgram-scale isotope analysis (δ13C, Δ14C) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Organic Geochemistry. 70:1-9
Méhay S., Früh-Green G.L., Lang S.Q., Bernasconi S.M., Brazelton W.J., Schaeffer P., and Adam P., (2013) “Record of archaeal activity at the Lost City Hydrothermal Field” Geobiology. 11:570-592
Schwarzenbach E.M., Lang S.Q., Früh-Green G.L., Lilley M.D., Bernasconi S.M., and Méhay S. (2013) “Sources and cycling of carbon in a continental, serpentinite-hosted alkaline springs in the Voltri Massif, Italy” Lithos. 177:226-244.
Lang S.Q., Früh-Green G.L., Bernasconi S.M, and Wacker L. (2013). Isotopic (δ13C, Δ14C) Analysis of Organic Acids in Seawater Using Wet Chemical Oxidation. L&O: Methods. 11:161-175
Schrenk M.O., Brazelton W.J., and Lang S.Q. (2013) “Serpeninitzation, Carbon, and Deep Life.” Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry.75(1): 575-606 [Web of Science highly cited paper]
Lang S.Q., Früh-Green G.L., Bernasconi S.M., and Butterfield D.A (2013). Sources of organic nitrogen at the serpentinite-hosted Lost City hydrothermal field. Geobiology. 11:154-169. DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12026
Lang. S.Q., Früh-Green G.L., Kelley D.S., Lilley M.D., Proskurowski G., and Reeves E.P. (2012) Letter to the Editor: H2/CH4 ratios cannot reliably distinguish abiotic vs. biotic methane in natural hydrothermal systems. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA.E3210-E3210. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1213138109.
Lang S.Q., Früh-Green G.L., Bernasconi S.M., Lilley M.D., Proskurowski G., Méhay S., and Butterfield D.A. (2012) Microbial utilization of abiogenic carbon and hydrogen in a serpentinite-hosted system. Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta. 92:82-99.
Lang S.Q., Bernasconi S.M., and Früh-Green G.L. (2012) Stable Isotope Analysis of Organic Carbon in Small (μg) Samples and Dissolved Organic Matter Using a GasBench Preparation Device. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 26(1):9-16.
Lang S. Q., Butterfield D. A., Schulte, M. S., Kelley D.S., and Lilley M. D. (2010) Elevated Concentrations of Formate, Acetate and Dissolved Organic Carbon Found at the Lost City Hydrothermal Field. Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta 74:941-952. [GCA top 25 most cited papers of 2010]
Lang S.Q., Lilley M.D., and Hedges J.I. (2007) A method to measure the isotopic (C-13) composition of dissolved organic carbon using a high temperature combustion instrument. Mar. Chem.10:318 – 326.
Lang S.Q., Butterfield D.A., Lilley M.D., Johnson H.P., and Hedges J.I. (2006) Dissolved Organic Carbon in Ridge-Flank and Ridge-Axis Environments. Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta 70(15): 3830-3842.
Peterson M.L., Lang S.Q., Aufdenkampe A.K., and Hedges J.I. (2003) “Dissolved organic carbon measurements using a modified high-temperature combustion analyzer” Mar. Chem. Volume 81 (1-2): 89-104.
Johnson, H. P., Baross J., Bjorkland T., Brazelton W., Huber J., Pruis M., Lang S. Q., McCrosky F., Mehta M., Butterfield D., Bowen A., Howland J., Martin W., Roe K., Channing C., Kalk P., Kammerer C., Light R., Miller V., McCarthy M., Moore B., Sharma M., and Voit J. (2003) “Probing for life in the ocean crust with the LEXEN program” Eos, Trans. AGU., 84:109-112.
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TEACHING
Chemical Oceanography MSCI/GEOL 782 (2019)
-Required class for graduate marine science students; ~15 students/semester
Earth Systems Through Time GEOL 305 (S2019, 2017, 2016, 2014)
-Undergraduate class for majors in Geological Sciences; ~20-30 students/semester
Cultural Geology GEOL 110 (2020, 2019, 2017, 2015)
-Undergraduate non-major class; ~300-400 students/semester
Stable Isotope Geochemistry GEOL/MSCI 715 (2017, 2015)
-graduate class for geology and marine science students
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SERVICE ACTIVITIES
National Service
Board Member, Advisory and Planning Board of National Ocean Sciences Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (NOSAMS)
Meeting organizer:
Co-Chair, Southeastern Biogeochemistry Symposium 2019
Session co-organizer, Goldschmidt Conference 2014, “Serpentinization Processes: Mantle to Microbe, Past and Present”
Proposal Panel Service: Panel Chair, NASA Habitable Worlds Program; Panelist, NSF Chemical Oceanography
Proposal reviewer: NASA, National Science Foundation (Chemical Oceanography, Marine Geology & Geophysics, Geobiology and Low temperature geochemistry), Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, American Chemical Society, C-DEBI
Manuscript reviewer: Nature Geosciences, PNAS, Geology, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Analytical Chemistry, Radiocarbon, G-cubed, Deep Sea Research, Limnology and Oceanography, Marine Chemistry, Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, Journal of Geophysical Research, Analytica Chimica Acta, Continental Shelf Research, Chemical Geology, Estuary Science, Nature Communications, Scientific Reports, Geophysical Research Letters, Organic Geochemistry, ISME, Environmental Microbiology
University Service
University Service:
College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Committee (2020-present)
Faculty Senator (2017-2020)
Departmental Service:
Geology and Geophysics (G&G) Program Representative on the SEOE Advisory Committee (2019 – present)
Responsibilities include overseeing the G&G Program courses, curriculum, and hiring plans
Search Committee (5 to date): SEOE director in 2020; Marine Microbial Ecologist; SEOE director in 2018; Geochronology;
Chemical Oceanographer
Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Students Committee (2020- present)
Geology and Geophysics Graduate Studies Committee (2014-2020)
Faculty Mentor (1 Assistant Professor)
Student advisory committees (8 M.S., 3 Ph.D.)
Presentations to prospective students and families (3-6 per year)
Round Table Participant: Faculty jobs for GEOL students
EOS Peer Review Committee
Public Service and Outreach:
Talk to Explorers Club, Greater Piedmont Chapter
TV appearance, Canadian Television Network’s This Morning
Featured interview, Audible.com “A Grown-up Guide to Oceans”
Panelist, Climate change theater action, Presbyterian College
Laboratory tours, “Girls go for I.T.”, summer camp for middle school girls