Research

  • Organisms basal to previously know O2 producing cyanobacteria, including Melainabacteria and Aurora
  • The seasonal dynamics of “O2 oasis” created by photosynthesis in Lake Fryxell microbial mats
  • Relationships among microbial mat morphology, microbial communities, and environmental gradients, including nutrient cycling
Exploring Mars with Curiosity (the rover)
  • Ancient environmental and diagenetic conditions in Gale Crater, Mars
  • Habitability of martian environments
Neoarchean microbial communities
  • Pyritic interval associated with a meteorite impact
  • Primary productivity in fenestrate microbialites from South Africa

Sumner’s Publications on Google Scholar