If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things. --Rene Descartes
PhD Candidate
Advisor: Dr. Joseph Suflita
Department of Botany and Microbiology
Institute for Energy and the Environment
Research interests:
- The importance of anaerobic microbiology in the destruction of hydrocarbons, particularly the oxygen-independent activation mechanisms (fumarate addition, carboxylation, etc.)
- Preferential hydrocarbon decay within complex petroleum mixtures by microorganisms
- Estimation of rates of hydrocarbon decay and its applicability to similar contaminated sites
- Molecular probes for functional genes associated with anaerobic hydrocarbon decay
- The oxidation of low molecular weight hydrocarbons (C1-C4) under anaerobic conditions
- Metabolic intermediates associated with anaerobic methane oxidation
- Microbially Influenced Corrosion
My research interests are rooted in anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation. The only known mechanism responsible for the destruction of hydrocarbon compounds is microbial decay. Studying these mechanisms can help elucidate previously unknown metabolic pathways. Our lab specializes in the identification of metabolites associated with anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation, particularly those evolved from the mechanism of fumarate addtion. Investigating microbial hydrocarbon metabolism spans both the fundamental and applied aspects of science.
Funding
The Retec Group, Inc.
The National Science Foundation (NSF)
USGS
Departmental Links:
Dr. Joseph Suflita
Cody's Microbiology Grad Student Blog -- Find out what's going on this week around the Department!
Department of Botany and Microbiology
Sarkey's Energy Center (Institute for Energy and the Environment)