University of Oklahoma
Department of Botany and Microbiology
770 Van Vleet Oval
Norman, OK 73019
(405) 325-3771
vparisi at ou dot edu

CURRENT POSITION
Doctoral Student in Microbiology, Area of specialization: Environmental Microbiology
Microbiologist, U.S. Geological Survey


EDUCATION
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 2004-present
Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, 1999-2001
B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology


AWARDS and HONORS
Cross Graduate Scholarship, 2006
University Fellowship, 2004-present
Board of Directors Grant, 1999-2001
National Academic Squad, 1997-1998


RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Graduate Student (Ph.D.)
Department of Botany and Microbiology and Institute for Energy and the Environment, University of Oklahoma, 2004-present
Research advisor: Dr. Joseph Suflita
- Signature metabolite analysis of the hydrocarbon-impacted subsurface
- Initial studies on the feasibility of natural attenuation in light of regulatory concerns
at a former refinery site
- Large scale investigations of preferential anaerobic hydrocarbon decay
- Analysis of favorable terminal electron-accepting processes at the site based upon the geochemical indicators
- Analysis of anaerobic microorganisms responsible for preferential hydrocarbon utilization

Research Assistant, Animal Sciences Department, The Ohio State University, 2001-2004
Research advisors: Dr. Mark Morrison and Dr. Zhongtang Yu
- Comparative genomics and proteomics of rumen bacteria by representational difference analysis (RDA) and 2-D gel electrophoresis
- Investigation of location of cellulosome-like structure in Ruminococcus albus strain 8
- Cultivation and molecular based analyses of gastrointestinal microbial populations in swine and chickens under dietary restrictions
- Genus specific analyses of fractionated digesta from the sheep rumen

Undergraduate Research, Biology Department, Wittenberg University, 2000-2001
Research advisor: Dr. Margaret Goodman
- Isolation and analysis of Ceuthophilus stygius and Hadenoecus cumberlandicus mini- satellite DNA
- Searched for conserved regions of DNA within geographically isolated populations.


FIELD EXPERIENCE

- University of Southern California and the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies International Geobiology Course, sponsored by NSF and the Agouron Institute, June - July 2006
- The Norman Landfill, 2007-present
- The Alaskan North Slope oil fields, January 2008


RESEARCH INTERESTS

- The importance of anaerobic microbiology in the destruction of hydrocarbons, particularly by the mechanism of
fumarate addition
- 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

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE
General microbiology: selective media preparation, cell harvesting, isolation, anaerobic cultivation and maintenance

Genomic and Proteomic: DNA-extraction, RNA isolation, PCR, reverse transcriptase-PCR, Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, labeling of genomic probes (non-radioisotope), subtractive hybridization, southern blot, cloning, library construction, sequence annotation and analysis, protein isolation and purification, detergent extractions, enzyme assays, two-dimensional gel-electrophoresis, western blot

Analytical: Ion-chromatography, gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, HPLC

Other: Organic extractions, organic syntheses, identification of derivatized compounds


TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant: Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory, University of Oklahoma, 2004.
-Lectured and instructed students in general microbiology techniques

Supervisory/Instruction: Technique instruction and assistance, University of Oklahoma, 2006, The Ohio State University, 2002-2004.
-Supervision and instruction of undergraduate students working in the laboratory, including independent study supervision

Substitute Teacher: General science instruction, Kettering Fairmont Junior High and High School, Kettering, Ohio, 2001.


COMMITTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Committees: The Donald C. Cox Honorary Lecturer Series, University of Oklahoma, 2005-2007.
- Committee Chair, 2006-2007
- Involved in the selection of a prominent microbiologist in the field to visit the University of Oklahoma and engage
graduate students through lecture and discussion

Organizations:
- The American Society for Microbiology, 2002-present
- The Oklahoma Academy, 2004-2006


PUBLICATIONS IN PREPARATION OR SUBMITTED:

Parisi, VA, Brubaker GR, Zenker, MJ, Prince RC, Gieg, LM and Suflita, JM. Field metabolic profiling compared to laboratory assessments of anaerobic intrinsic remediation of hydrocarbons at a petroleum-contaminated site. (Submitted)


PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS:

Parisi, V.A., L.M. Gieg, R.C. Prince, and J.M. Suflita. Metabolite profiling to characterize the functioning of microbial communities in a petroleum contaminated subsurface ecosystem. EC-US Task Force on Biotechnological Research Environmental Biotechnology Working Group. Workshop on Metabolomics and Environmental Biotechnology. Palma de Mallorca, June 16-17, 2008.

Kathleen E. Duncan, Joseph M. Suflita, Lisa M. Gieg, Victoria A. Parisi, Ralph Tanner, Paul Lawson. (2007) Biocorrosion of oil piplines on the North Slope of Alaska. Who are the players and what are they doing? NACE Central Area Conference, Tulsa OK

Salas E, Parisi VA, Durbin AM, Berelson WM, Hanselmann KW, Glud RN. Microbial diversity and geochemistry of a cyanobacterial mat from Catalina Harbor, CA. SACNAS National Conference. p139. 2006. 

V. A. Parisi, G. R. Brubaker, M. J. Zenker, R. C. Prince, L. M. Gieg, and J. M. Suflita. Anaerobic biodegradation of residual hydrocarbons at a former refinery site. (2006) International Symposium for Microbial Ecology (ISME), Vienna, Austria

Parisi, V., M. Zenker, M., G., Brubaker, L. Gieg and J.M. Suflita. (2005) “Monitored Natural Attenuation Study Reveals Hydrocarbon Decay Linked to Sulfate Reduction.” Texas-Missouri Branch ASM Fall Meeting.

Zenker, M., G.R. Brubaker, V.A. Parisi, L.M. Gieg and J. M. Suflita. (2005) “Evidence for Hydrocarbon Destruction Linked to Sulfate Reduction at a Former Petroleum Refinery.” 12th Annual International Petroleum Environmental Conference, Houston, TX.

Larue, R., Z. Yu, V.A. Parisi, A.R. Egan, and M. Morrison. (2004) “Novel microbial diversity adherent to plant biomass in the herbivore gastrointestinal tract, as revealed by ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis and rrs gene sequencing.” Environ Microbiol. Apr;7(4):530-43.

Morrison, M., K. E. Nelson, D. Antonopoulos, B. Cheng, E. Devillard, D. B. Goodheart, H-S. Jun, V. A. Parisi, J-S. Park, S. M. Qi, C. Reveneau, I. K. O. Cann, S. Daugherty, C. W. Forsberg, I. Hance, R. I. Mackie, W. C. Nelson, J. B. Russell, B. A. White, and D. B. Wilson. (2003) “Functional and Comparative Genomics of Cellulolytic Bacteria.” In: (K. Ohmiya et al.) Proceedings of Mie Bioforum on Genetics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Cellulose Degradation.

Morrison, M., K. E. Nelson, D. Antonopoulos, B. Cheng, E. Devillard, D. E. Goodheart, H-S Jun, V. A. Parisi, J-S Park, S. M. Qi, C. Reveneau, I. K. O. Cann, S. Daugherty, C. W. Forsberg, I. Hance, R. I. Mackie, W. C. Nelson, J. B. Russell, B. A. White, and D. B. Wilson. (2003) “New and Emerging Approaches to Improve Herbivore Nutrition: Rumen Microbiology in the Genomics Era.” pp. 309-320 In: (L. t’Mannetje, L. Ramirez-Aviles, C. Sandoval-Castro, and J.C. Ku-Vera, Eds.) Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores. Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan.

The Ruminococcus albus strain 8 genome sequencing project. M. Morrison , K. Nelson, I. Cann, C. Forsberg, R. I. Mackie, J. B. Russell, B. A. White, D. B., D. Antonopoulos, V. Parisi, C. Reveneau, S. Mulligan, K. Tran, H. Carty, H. Khouri, W. Nelson, S. Daugherty, C. Fraser. (2003) New Orleans, ASM/TIGR conference on microbial genomes.

Yu, Z., Parisi, V., and Morrison, M. (2002). Molecular Microbiology study for swine. Cargill Feed Applications, 18pp. Proprietary Research Report.

Yu, Z., Parisi, V., and Morrison, M. (2002). Molecular Microbiology study for poultry.
Cargill Feed Applications. 19 pp. Proprietary Research Report.



REVIEWER
Environmental Science and Technology