Patricia M. Dove

Professor of Geochemistry

5109 Derring Hall

+1.540.231.2444 (Phone)

+1.540.231.3386 (FAX)

4044 Derring Hall (0420)
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Ph.D., Geochemistry, Princeton University, 1991

Biogeochemistry of Earth Processes: bgep

Research of the chemical and physical processes of mineral formation and dissolution is a rich scientific area with many applications to the earth, materials, medical, and engineering disciplines. Dove and her research group study this interface between minerals, waters, and biomolecules in forefront investigations of processes in biomineralization, cementation, chemical weathering, and metal and biomolecule binding.  Their research is focused on determining underlying reaction mechanisms through direct, nanoscale observations of mineral-water interactions with quantitative measurements of kinetics and surface thermodynamic properties.  Most projects involve amorphous and crystalline forms of the silica and the carbonate polymorphs.  Research in Dove’s group is supported by NSF and DOE. 

Presently, the bgep group is pursuing experimental and theoretical investigations of mineral dissolution, growth and nucleation.  In studies of the growth of calcite and its polymorphs, we are learning how microenvironmental and biomolecular factors interplay with physical environment to determine compositional signatures as well as growth rate.  New projects are also underway to investigate the difficult question of how biomolecules control the timing and polymorph of minerals during nucleation- the critical step in the onset of mineralization. Most recently, we are learning how experimental and theoretical insights into the kinetics of mineral growth also provide a mechanism-based explanation for mineral dissolution.  Pivotal to all of these studies are roles of chemical potential and energy barriers to attachment and detachment of ions at structural and compositional defects. 

Publications by the bgep group are found in high profile journals including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Nature, Science, and Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta.  Dove is also the lead editor of Biomineralization, a review volume that is noted for its focus on processes. Dove’s students have received a number of awards including the MSA Best Paper, MRS Gold Award, NSF Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mentions, Sigma Xi Best Masters Thesis, and AGU Outstanding Student Paper Award.  Dove is the recipient of the F.W. Clarke Medal and the Gast Lecturer from the Geochemical Society, and is a two-time winner of DOE Best University Research Awards. 

Teaching 

In addition to an active research program, Dove is a recognized teacher who brings energy to undergraduate and graduate classrooms. She was a Teaching Fellow while at Georgia Tech and is the recipient of the 1995 Amoco CETL Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. Presently, she teaches a large section of GEOS 1024, Resources in the Environment each Fall semester. During the Spring semester she offers GEOS 4364, a senior/graduate level course in Environmental Geochemistry.

Opportunities for Graduate Study

The bgep group currently has an opening for a new Ph.D. student.  Visit the bgep site at www.geochem.geos.vt.edu/bgep/ to learn more or contact dove@vt.edu.