Department of Microbiology, Miami University

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Culture-Based Research

1. Environmental adaptation of the enzyme RubisCO in cold adapted microalgae.
2. Oxidative stress response in psychrophilic microorganisms.
3. Effect of temperature on circadian response in temperate and cold adapted microalgae.
4. Acclimation of microalgae to variable carbon and energy sources under low temperatures.

Field Research

1. Adaptation of microbial communities during the shift from 24 hr daylight to darkness during the polar night transition in ice-covered Antarctic lakes.
2. Diversity of autotrophic microorganisms in chemically stratified Antarctic lakes.
3. Quantitative real-time PCR detection of functional genes in aquatic communities.
4. Diversity and trophic function of microbial eukaryotes in oligotrophic (Antarctic) versus eutrophic (Ohio) lakes.
5. Enrichment and isolation of autotrophic organisms from Antarctic lakes.