Gage Coon grew up in rural Tennessee, surrounded by animals and a hands‑on family. His mechanic father taught him to build and repair, while his mother’s love of gardening and birdwatching nurtured an appreciation for nature that still guides his scientific approach.
Now a third‑year PhD student in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, he studies microbes that drive carbon and sulfur cycles, aiming to harness these processes to mitigate climate change.
His interest began with chemistry in high school, and at the University of Tennessee he joined a microbial biogeochemistry lab, discovering a field that combined chemistry, environment, and climate.
As a first‑generation college student, he learned about PhD programs later and was drawn to the promise of lifelong learning in academia.
During his undergraduate years he joined research cruises, and in 2022 his first voyage to the Atlantic continental slope examined methane seeps and how microbes prevent methane from escaping to the atmosphere.
At MIT, under geobiology professor Tanja Bosak, his work shifted toward applications. One major project uses microbes in anaerobic digesters to cut methane emissions from wastewater. By adding gypsum—a fertilizer by‑product—the microbes convert methane into carbonate, a material for cement, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, while also producing elemental sulfur that can replace oil‑derived sulfur fertilizers.
The approach turns two waste streams, sewage and gypsum, into useful products and reduces greenhouse‑gas output. Laboratory experiments are complete; the team is now moving toward pilot‑scale testing and has engaged companies to scale the technology for large‑city implementation, targeting gigaton‑scale emission cuts.
Another research line investigates how iron‑rich rocks generate molecular hydrogen underground, a potential carbon‑free energy source, and how microbial competition for acetate in coastal wetlands influences global methane emissions. These studies aim to improve climate predictions and inform engineered mitigation strategies.
Coon also mentors undergraduate researchers through MIT’s UROP and collaborations with Tufts, teaching laboratory techniques and experimental geobiology.
Outside the lab he hikes, plays bluegrass guitar, and speed‑solves Rubik’s Cubes, keeping his childhood connection to the natural world alive. Looking ahead he may stay in academia, join government, or help commercialize environmental technologies, but his core goal remains: using microscopic life to benefit the global ecosystem.
Blogger's Review: The article compellingly links personal background with cutting‑edge microbial research, highlighting practical solutions for carbon and sulfur management while emphasizing the broader impact of tiny organisms on planetary health.