STEPHANIE SMITH
Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry (3rd yr.)
Ph.D. B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UC Santa Cruz, 1997
Research Focus:
The Influence of Particle-Bacterial Interactions on Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Biodegradation by Strain PM-1. This project investigates how the presence of several different particle surfaces influences the rate of MTBE biodegradation by a bacterial organism PM1. The fuel additive MTBE is a wide-spread contaminant in California and other area of the US. This bacterium has previously and successfully been used in remediation projects located in both California and Montana. The focus of this research is to optimizing the growth and environmental conditions to produce a higher efficiency in converting MTBE to less toxic byproducts (CO2 and cell biomass). A second aspect of this project is a study of the Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) that are produced by PM1. This EPS may play a role in the process of MTBE degradation and could also have an impact on the bacterial attachment to porous media surfaces. In addition to traditional chemical assays of EPS, its presence and structure are also being investigated using Atomic Force Microscopy in collaboration with the Liu Lab in the Chemistry Dept. at UC Davis. Characterization of the EPS when PM1 is grown under different environmental conditions will also be used in determining the optimal conditions for this bacterium
Internship or Partner Interaction:
Contaminant Groundwater Transport Modeling, Ginn Research Group, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis. June 01- July 02 Attended lab meetings with this group has allowed me to observe the field of mathematical modeling as it pertains to contaminant transport and biodegradation. This interaction with another group has been extremely beneficial, as it has molded some of my experimental designs. This experience has also encouraged interdisciplinary interactions between myself, an experimentalist and these colleagues whose work is based in theoretical calculations and computer modeling programs.
Personal Statement:
I would like to credit the NEAT-IGERT program for expanding my graduate research project to include additional approaches that explore the bacterium PM1's optimal biodegradation conditions. The rotations and even less formal interactions with other research groups (NEAT-IGERT and non-IGERT) and their techniques have offered valuable insights that stimulated new discoveries and provided great networking and communication-enhancing experiences with fellow scientists. With the financial support from the research funds I learned how to operate the Scanning Electron Microscope here at UC Davis which allowed me to characterize the surface characteristics of my own samples.
There have been many other great benefits I feel are noteworthy in the NEAT-IGERT program that include; the Ethics in Science discussions from one of the NEAT seminars, the professional development from giving multiple presentations coupled with the interdisciplinary interactions that accompanied their preparation, and the exposure to so many diverse and inspiring scientific research projects by the NEAT faculty AND STUDENTS.
