# CAREER: Unraveling the Role of Bivalent Metals on Fungal Manganese Oxide Biomineralization Mechanisms

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Oklahoma State University (OK) · $592,324

## Abstract

Metals are essential for the development and advancement of our society, but their presence in natural environments is a double-edged sword- acting as vital nutrients at low concentrations but becoming toxic at elevated levels. The concentrations of many metals in soils, sediments, and aquatic environments are controlled by biogeochemical processes involving manganese (Mn) oxides. While microbial activities promoting Mn oxide formation in bacteria are well understood, the role of metals - particularly in fungi-mediated biomineralization – remains unclear. Despite fungi’s high abundance and metabolic activity, major knowledge gaps exist in our understanding of how they affect Mn oxide formation and how metals in return affect fungal biomineralization processes. This project seeks to unravel the interactions between common bivalent metals, fungi, and biominerals, providing insights into bioremediation strategies and environmental metal cycling. In addition to its scientific contribution, the research will incorporate educational components to address issues of student recruitment and retention in interdisciplinary fields within geoscience. A comprehensive set of outreach activities will be developed to engage the public and students at multiple levels, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary geoscience research and its relevance to our environment.

Biogenic Mn oxides play an important role in metal cycling but the mechanisms of how metals affect fungal biomineralizat

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2439752
- **Awardee organization:** Oklahoma State University (OK)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NNYDFK5FTSX9
- **PI:** Tingying Xu
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
- **Estimated total:** $592,324
- **Funds obligated:** $343,865
- **Transaction type:** Continuing Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2030

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2439752

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2439752, CAREER: Unraveling the Role of Bivalent Metals on Fungal Manganese Oxide Biomineralization Mechanisms. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2439752. Licensed CC0.

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