UNLV microbiologist Brian Hedlund never envisioned that his pursuit of scientific frontiers would land him in such hot water. Turns out, there's no place he'd rather be.
"People have been interested in studying high temperature limits for a long time," Hedlund says, "but there has not been a lot of research on the ecology of where microorganisms get their energy from in extreme environments."
The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded Hedlund an Early Career Development Award to do just that. The five-year, $841,632 grant will support Hedlund's research on how microorganisms thrive in the hot springs of Nevada's Great Basin.
The research will allow scientists to better understand the foundations of life in geothermal habitats and will expand our knowledge about the biological diversity of life on Earth. Since photosynthesis doesn't occur above 163 degrees Fahrenheit, organisms that thrive in geothermal waters must gain energy through chemolithoautotrophy, a process that uses energy from inorganic chemical sources instead of light.
Collaborative Approach
To accomplish his research goals, Hedlund has had to employ an interdisciplinary approach, collaborating closely with colleagues from the fields of genomics, geochemistry, and mineralogy. He admits that the collaborations were somewhat uncomfortable at first — particularly stepping outside his highly specialized professional niche — but he quickly saw the benefits of such collaborations.
"To make breakthroughs in science, we have no other choice than to become more collaborative and complex," he says. Hedlund is cautious when speaking about the potential impact of his research, but the possibility for breakthroughs in his work is definitely high.
"There's a decent chance that we could find microorganisms with new energy-harnessing metabolisms that are completely unknown, and that could either shake the foundations or just shift them a little," Hedlund says, somewhat reticently.
Major groups of microorganisms have been discovered somewhat regularly in geothermal environments — such as in Yellowstone and other places around the world — but Hedlund says he has never seen studies that produced higher percentages of unknown major groups than the ones he and his colleagues have found in the Great Basin Hot Springs. His tallies are not yet complete, but he estimates that approximately 90 percent of the microbes in the springs he's studying contain genetic signatures unknown to science.
"An argument could be made that the hot springs that I'm looking at in Nevada are among the least understood habitats on Earth."
Through generations of natural selection within extreme environments, the microbes have developed characteristics that are more varied than those encountered in plants or animals.
Sharing with Students
Hedlund shares his genuine love for the science behind his research with his students. The NSF grant was based in part on the educational component of his research proposal, which he designed to increase interest in the scientific process and inspire future generations of students to pursue careers in the sciences.
As part of the grant, Hedlund will conduct a one-week field course each year in Northern Nevada, during which he hopes to help foster relationships between members of the Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe, UNLV students, and the scientific community through collaborative study of the biological, cultural, and sociopolitical importance of the Great Basin's geothermal resources.
"I've taught close to 1,000 students since coming to UNLV, and watching them go on to do good things is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching for me," he says. "Although it's really hard work at times, it's also a lot of fun. And what could be better than that?"
