My research interests are broad, and I combine concepts from Geography, Biology and Chemistry to understand carbon cycle in the cryosphere. My research has concentrated in two broad areas. Firstly, I study microbes in the cryosphere. Against all expectations glaciers harbour a highly active microbial community. Bacteria, viruses and microscopic plants thrive in conditions that might be analogous to other planets and to early Earth. Second, I am also interested in a range of climate (e.g., UV radiation and acid rain) and human impacts (e.g., mining, sewage, pesticides) on freshwaters.