I came to grad school through a less than direct
route. I started my life by getting a degree in
mining engineering (Colorado School of Mines) that
allowed me to get a job as an engineer designing
highways in Colorado. I worked in that field for
ten years, earning a Professional Engineer’s
license, before deciding I wanted to do something
more fulfilling. To this end, I earned a degree
in biology and chemistry (Metropolitan State College
of Denver) and then began applying to grad schools.
I chose OSU for graduate school because I liked
the diversity present in the microbiology department.
Not only were there immunologists and physiologists
(and an environmental microbiologist), but also
there was a spectrum in what was researched within
each subfield. I liked Columbus because it has
four seasons, though sometimes they overlap. I
have found that if you're friendly to people in
Columbus they're friendly right back.
My work involves investigating the ability of
indigenous microbial consortia in areas that have
not historically received significant amounts of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure
to metabolize and potentially mineralize PAHs.
The main concentration of the studies is on phenanthrene,
a common three-ring PAH. Sites I have investigated
include the OSU Wetland Research Park and a yard
waste treatment facility. Research has included
work on thermophilic consortia and efforts to isolate
thermophilic phenanthrene degraders.
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