He is involved in developing microbial fuel cells as power systems in both the developed and developing world. He is also known for designing state-of-the-art bioreactors to grow the so-called "unculturable" microbes, including anaerobic methane oxidizing archaea and sulfur-reducing bacteria. He received his B.S.c from UCLA, his Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara, and did postdoctoral work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.