About me
My name is Ichiko Sugiyama, and I am originally from Tokyo, Japan. I am currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Carleton University and a Guest Investigator at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). I am a biogeochemist who investigates modern and ancient metal and nutrient cycles using interdisciplinary approaches. My research examines how solution chemistry and particulates, including minerals, particulate organic carbon, and microbes, govern the cycling of metals and nutrients. I also study how diagenetic processes modify chemical and isotopic signals in sediments and sedimentary rocks, linking modern biogeochemical processes to the geologic record. I apply this expertise across paleobiogeochemistry, oceanography, and industrial applications, including ore and petroleum geochemistry, environmental remediation, and the evaluation of geoengineering strategies for mitigating anthropogenic climate change.
Passion for
Biogeochemistry
Carleton University
Research at
My research at Carleton University, supported by the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF), explores tungsten (W) biogeochemical cycling and its isotopic signatures across a variety of Earth materials. Working with an interdisciplinary team spanning Earth sciences, environmental science, chemistry, biology, mechanical engineering, and philosophy, I investigate biological and abiotic signals of W, examine how W cycles through modern environments, reconstruct its role in ancient oceans, and apply these insights to future sample-return missions aimed at detecting biosignatures in extraterrestrial materials.
the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Research at
My research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, supported by the Ocean Climate Innovation Accelerator (OCIA) grant, investigated the metal demand of marine microbes in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) using novel stable isotope approaches. I participated in the AT50-10 CliOMZ cruise aboard R/V Atlantis, the first iteration of the Biogeoscapes cruise, where we conducted high-resolution sampling using a trace metal rosette (TMR), McLane pumps, in situ sensors, Clio particle sampler (AUV), and sediment traps. Leveraging these datasets, I carried out (1) surface metal-enrichment experiments with Ni, Fe, and Co to assess metal limitation of microbial communities in the ETP, (2) depth-resolved incubation experiments with Fe-57 and Cu-65 to quantify microbial metal demand from the surface to the mesopelagic, and (3) developed field metalloproteomics techniques to determine metal utilization by proteins and enzymes across diverse microorganisms. I also collaborate with scientists at WHOI and MIT on a range of projects focused on metal cycling in corals, Antarctic lakes, and marine environments.
Academic background
PhD at Weizmann
Graduated in 2023
I completed my PhD at the Weizmann Institute of Science, where I investigated the role of metastable iron minerals, ferrihydrite (Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides) and carbonate green rust (Fe(II)-Fe(III) carbonate), in regulating metal and nutrient availabilities in Precambrian oceans. I conducted adsorption, co-precipitation, and mineral aging experiments (up to 4 years) with Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, U, V, Zn and phosphate to characterize uptake behavior and its fate after ‘diagenesis.’ My research provided insights into Precambrian seawater compositions, the diversification and evolution of early life, the preservation and alteration of paleoproxy records, and various modern environmental applications.
MSc at McGill
Graduated in 2015
I completed my MSc at McGill university, where I investigated the potential role of crude oil as an ore-forming fluid. Through the success of this project, and in collaboration with international colleagues, we demonstrated that crude oil can indeed transport metals and potentially contribute to the formation of ore deposits . These findings raised new questions about how we interpret the geologic record, particularly because metal concentrations in shales are commonly used as paleoproxies for reconstructing ancient environmental conditions. This has led to my PhD work.
BSc at McGill
Graduated in 2012
I completed my BSc at McGill University, where I began in the Department of Chemistry before discovering my passion for Earth sciences. During my undergraduate studies, I worked in several laboratories, conducting research in igneous petrology, paleobiogeochemistry, isotope geochemistry, and ore geology. Here, I completed two projects: (1) metal transport by dodecanethiol (undergraduate thesis) and (2) understanding the S cycle and its source during the Marinoan glaciation.