Team Protist 2014
PI - RACHAEL MORGAN-KISS
I have been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Miami University, since 2007. I grew up in a small town located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. I received a B.Sc. from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, in 1995 and a Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario, Ontario, in 2000. My Ph.D. dissertation focused on adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus in a psychrophilic green alga isolated from an ice-covered lake in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Following my Ph.D., I took a position as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where I worked on bacterial fatty acid synthase and β-oxidation pathways in the laboratory of John Cronan. I then worked as a research scientist in the laboratory of Thomas Hanson at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware. My work at DBI focused on the photobiology of a thermophilic green sulfur bacterium. My current research program focuses on polar microbiology and specifically on the diversity and function of microbial eukaryotes residing in ice-covered Antarctic lakes. Research projects in my laboratory combine field studies in Antarctica with physiological studies on a large collection of polar photosynthetic and eukaryotic microorganisms.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
UNDERGRADUATES
Mark Hahn, Microbiology (2013 - present) Project: Herbicide Resistance Assay in Chlamydomonas spp.
PAST MEMBERS
Wei Li, PhD , EEEB (2011-2016)
Thesis Title: Functional and Morphological Diversity of Predatory and Mixotrophic Protists in McMurdo Dry Valley Lakes Wei's thesis
Wei is a doctoral student in the Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (EEEB) program at Miami University. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology technology at Sichuan University, China in 2005, and later graduated from the Huaxi Medical Center, Sichuan University with a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. In August 2011, he joined the Morgan-Kiss Lab in department of Microbiology at Miami University to pursue his interest in studying the lake ecosystems in Antarctica. The goal of the undergoing project, which he is participating in, is to investigate the effects of major abiotic environmental factors on the distribution of mixotrophic protists in Antarctic lakes.
Antarctic Field Seasons:
2012
2014
Presentations:
1. Li W., Dolhi J.M., Morris M., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2012) Effects of temperature and light on photosynthetic function on the psychrophilic green alga Chlamydomonas raudensis UWO241. Ohio Branch of American Society of Microbiologists Branch Meeting. The Procter & Gamble Mason Business Center, OH.
2. Li W., Edelman R., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2013) Molecular and morphological characterization of microbial eukaryotes (protists) residing in ice-covered Antarctic lakes. Poster at International Conference on Polar & Alpine Microbiology, Big Sky, MT.
Awards:
Orton K. Stark Scholarship and Leadership Award 2015
Publications:
- Kong W., Li W., Romancova I., Prasil O., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2014) Spatio-temporal patterns of a major photochemistry gene (psbA) in a chemically stratified Antarctic Lake. FEMS Microbial Ecol. Special Issue: Polar and Alpine Microbiology 82:293-802
- Li, W., Podar, M., & Morgan-Kiss, R. M. (2016). Ultrastructural and single-cell-level characterization reveals metabolic versatility in a microbial eukaryote community from an ice-covered Antarctic lake. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 82(12), 3659-3670.Biology, 40(5), 1007-1022.
- Teufel, A. G., Li, W., Kiss, A. J., & Morgan-Kiss, R. M. (2017). Impact of nitrogen and phosphorus on phytoplankton production and bacterial community structure in two stratified Antarctic lakes: a bioassay approach. Polar Biology, 40(5), 1007-1022.
- Li, W., Dolhi-Binder, J., Cariani, Z. E., & Morgan-Kiss, R. M. (2019). Drivers of protistan community autotrophy and heterotrophy in chemically stratified Antarctic lakes. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 82(3), 225-239.
- Cook, G., Teufel, A., Kalra, I., Li, W., Wang, X., Priscu, J., & Morgan-Kiss, R. (2019). The Antarctic psychrophiles Chlamydomonas spp. UWO241 and ICE-MDV exhibit differential restructuring of photosystem I in response to iron. Photosynthesis research, 1-20.
Present Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Montana State University
Amber Teufel, PhD, Microbiology (2011-2016)
Thesis Title: Influence of abiotic drivers (light and nutrients) on photobiology and diversity of Antarctic lake algae. Amber's PhD Thesis
I entered the lab in the Fall of 2011. I hold an associates degree in science from Ashland University and a Bachelors of Science degree from The University of Toledo where I studied Biology and Chemistry and my undergraduate research focused on Maize transcription factors. After coming to Miami University I found an interest for Polar Ecology and joined the lab. My current research focuses on the circadian rhythms of Antarctic Algae in various environments and their responses to various abiotic factors.
Outreach:
Visited East Knox High School, Mount Vernon, Ohio (see Newspaper article) September, 2014
Antarctic Field Seasons:
2012
Presentations:
1. Siebenaler A., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2012) Circadian Response in the Antarctic alga, Chlamydomonas raudensis UWO 241. Ohio Branch of American Society of Microbiologists Branch Meeting. The Procter & Gamble Mason Business Center, OH.
2. Siebenaler A.G., Obryk M., Doran P., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2013) Characterization of Antarctic algae and their response to a diel (day/night) light cycle. Poster at International Conference on Polar & Alpine Microbiology, Big Sky, MT.
3. Teufel A., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2015) Impact of Mimicked Summer Flood Event (Nutrient Amendment) on Microbial Communities Residing in Two Chemically Stratified Antarctic Lakes. ASLO. Granada Spain.
Awards:
Student Poster Award, ASLO Aquatic Science Meeting 2015
Top Oral Presentation, Graduate Research Forum 2014
Student Travel Award, 2015 ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2014
3-Minute Thesis Award, first place 2014
Robbert B. Vester Award for Environmental Research 2013
Susan W. Rockwood Excellence in Teaching and Research Award 2013
Publications:
- Dolhi J., Teufel A., Morgan-Kiss R. (2015) Diversity and spatial distribution of autotrophic communities within and between ice-covered Antarctic lakes (McMurdo Dry Valleys) Limnology & Oceanography. 60: 977-991
- Teufel, A. G., Li, W., Kiss, A. J., & Morgan-Kiss, R. M. (2017). Impact of nitrogen and phosphorus on phytoplankton production and bacterial community structure in two stratified Antarctic lakes: a bioassay approach. Polar Biology, 40(5), 1007-1022.
- Morgan-Kiss, R. M., & Teufel, A. G. (2018). Physiological and Biochemical Adaptations of Psychrophiles. In Extremophiles (pp. 185-208). CRC Press.
- Cook, G., Teufel, A., Kalra, I., Li, W., Wang, X., Priscu, J., & Morgan-Kiss, R. (2019). The Antarctic psychrophiles Chlamydomonas spp. UWO241 and ICE-MDV exhibit differential restructuring of photosystem I in response to iron. Photosynthesis research, 1-20.
Present Position: BFF Microbiologist, Proctor & Gamble
Jenna Dolhi, PhD Microbiology (2008-2014)
Thesis Title: Environmental Impacts on RubisCO: from Green Algal Laboratory Isolates to Antarctic Lake Communities ( Jenna's thesis)
Thesis Title: Environmental Impacts on RubisCO: from Green Algal Laboratory Isolates to Antarctic Lake Communities ( Jenna's thesis)
Jenna's Publications:
1. Kong W. ,Dolhi J., Chiuchiolo A., Priscu J.C., Morgan-Kiss R. (2012) High diversity of the form II RubisCO gene in a perennially ice-covered Antarctic lake. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. Special Issue: Polar and Alpine Microbiology.
2. Dolhi J., Ketchum N., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2012) Use of carbon fixation potential as a measure of metabolic versatility between phototrophic and mixotrophic enrichment cultures isolated from a chemically stratified Antarctic lake. J Visual Exp. 62:e3992.
3. Morgan-Kiss R.M., Dolhi J.D. Microorganisms and Plants: a Photosynthetic Perspective. In: Storey K., Tanino K. [Eds.] Nature at Risk: Temperature in a Changing Climate. CABI 2011; pp. 24-44.
4. Dolhi J.M., Maxwell D.P., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2013) Review: The Antarctic Chlamydomonas raudensis: an emerging model for cold adaptation of photosynthesis. Extremophiles 17:711-722
5. Dolhi J., Teufel A., Morgan-Kiss R. (2015) Diversity and spatial distribution of autotrophic communities within and between ice-covered Antarctic lakes (McMurdo Dry Valleys) Limnology & Oceanography. 60: 977-991
6. Li, W., Dolhi-Binder, J., Cariani, Z. E., & Morgan-Kiss, R. M. (2019). Drivers of protistan community autotrophy and heterotrophy in chemically stratified Antarctic lakes. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 82(3), 225-239.
Jenna's Awards:
NASA Astrobiology Institute early career scientist travel grant 2013
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research travel award 2012
Susan W. Rockwood Excellence in Teaching and Research Award 2011
Orton K. Stark Scholarship and Leadership Award 2011
International Chlamydomonas Association travel award 2010
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Honorable Mention 2010
1. Kong W. ,Dolhi J., Chiuchiolo A., Priscu J.C., Morgan-Kiss R. (2012) High diversity of the form II RubisCO gene in a perennially ice-covered Antarctic lake. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. Special Issue: Polar and Alpine Microbiology.
2. Dolhi J., Ketchum N., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2012) Use of carbon fixation potential as a measure of metabolic versatility between phototrophic and mixotrophic enrichment cultures isolated from a chemically stratified Antarctic lake. J Visual Exp. 62:e3992.
3. Morgan-Kiss R.M., Dolhi J.D. Microorganisms and Plants: a Photosynthetic Perspective. In: Storey K., Tanino K. [Eds.] Nature at Risk: Temperature in a Changing Climate. CABI 2011; pp. 24-44.
4. Dolhi J.M., Maxwell D.P., Morgan-Kiss R.M. (2013) Review: The Antarctic Chlamydomonas raudensis: an emerging model for cold adaptation of photosynthesis. Extremophiles 17:711-722
5. Dolhi J., Teufel A., Morgan-Kiss R. (2015) Diversity and spatial distribution of autotrophic communities within and between ice-covered Antarctic lakes (McMurdo Dry Valleys) Limnology & Oceanography. 60: 977-991
6. Li, W., Dolhi-Binder, J., Cariani, Z. E., & Morgan-Kiss, R. M. (2019). Drivers of protistan community autotrophy and heterotrophy in chemically stratified Antarctic lakes. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 82(3), 225-239.
Jenna's Awards:
NASA Astrobiology Institute early career scientist travel grant 2013
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research travel award 2012
Susan W. Rockwood Excellence in Teaching and Research Award 2011
Orton K. Stark Scholarship and Leadership Award 2011
International Chlamydomonas Association travel award 2010
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Honorable Mention 2010
Sarah Stahl, MSc Microbiology (2012-2014)
Dissertation Title: Photooxidative stress response in mesophilic and psychrophilic strains of Chlamydomonas raudensis: a comparative study (Sarah's Thesis)
Present Position: Microbiologist, NASA Johnson Space Flight Center, Houston, Texas
Dissertation Title: Photooxidative stress response in mesophilic and psychrophilic strains of Chlamydomonas raudensis: a comparative study (Sarah's Thesis)
Present Position: Microbiologist, NASA Johnson Space Flight Center, Houston, Texas
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Weidong Kong, Postdoctoral Fellow
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Sarah Jaffri-Haider, MSc Microbiology (2008 - 2011)
Dissertation Title: Characterization of the photosynthetic apparatus of Chlorella BI sp., an Antarctic mat alga, under varying trophic growth states (Sarah's Thesis)
Present Position: QC Analyst, Edlong Dairy Flavors
Present Position: QC Analyst, Edlong Dairy Flavors
Past Undergraduates
Melissa Morris (Grad school)
Tri Sangabun (Photographer)
Alex Loomis (Medical School, OSU)
Audrey Lloyd (Medical School-Ohio State U)
Nivette Perez-Perez (Grad school)
Nick Ketchum
David Ream (Grad school-Miami U);
Elizabeth Chmela
Shawn Dorsey (Banking Professional-Columbus)
Patrick Feasel (Medical School-U Dayton)
Scott Bielewicz (Clinical Technician-Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)
Edward Rivera (Engineer-Lockheed Martin)
Ashley Weber (Student Advisor-U. Cincinnati)
Donald Holter (Veterinary Medicine-Ross U)
Kevin McLauchlan (Grad school)
Justin Prutz
Melissa Morris (Grad school)
Tri Sangabun (Photographer)
Alex Loomis (Medical School, OSU)
Audrey Lloyd (Medical School-Ohio State U)
Nivette Perez-Perez (Grad school)
Nick Ketchum
David Ream (Grad school-Miami U);
Elizabeth Chmela
Shawn Dorsey (Banking Professional-Columbus)
Patrick Feasel (Medical School-U Dayton)
Scott Bielewicz (Clinical Technician-Cincinnati Children’s Hospital)
Edward Rivera (Engineer-Lockheed Martin)
Ashley Weber (Student Advisor-U. Cincinnati)
Donald Holter (Veterinary Medicine-Ross U)
Kevin McLauchlan (Grad school)
Justin Prutz
