Pseudomonas putida project:
- Sheena Henry (Chem 2013): Did extensive AFM work with live P. putida grown with and without anthracene.
- Ryan Taylor (Chem 2013): Explored growth rates of multiple P. putida strains on both anthracene and naphthalene, characterizing degradation by GC-MS and by production of cell surface-associated compounds.
- Erica Stevens (EGS 2011): Optimized factors influencing bacterial growth on anthracene and fluoranthene.
- Danielle Kloster (Chem): Collected beautiful AFM images of P. putida biofilms grown in the presence and absence of anthracene on substrates of varying hydrophobicities.
- Tom Meli (Anthropology alum, returning research volunteer) Did the first AFM imaging of P. putida biofilms.
- Tonya Pasternack (Bio 2010): Extracted surface-associated compounds from P. putida and characterized their biosurfactant abilities.
- Kerri Degroat (EGS 2008): Started the P. putida project – got all the bacteria up, running, and eating anthracene, and characterized extracted surface compound using direct exposure probe mass spectrometry.
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus project:
- Vicky Zhou (Spackenkill H.S. 2015): Examined films of B. bacteriovorus with AFM to determine morphological transitions over time.
- Nadia Ouedraogo and Ronald Aucapina (both Bio 2016): Coated tipless cantilevers with E. coli and performed force curves on various abiotic and biofilm surfaces.
- Catherine Mahoney (Biochem 2016): Worked with PeiPei, then later began work on coating tipless cantilevers with E. coli.
- Sophia Lane (Chem 2014): Continued Michael’s and Keai’s work to get publication-quality data for predatory and host-independent B. bacteriovorus.
- PeiPei Li (Chem 2016): Collected liquid AFM data on predatory B. bacteriovorus.
- Keai Jiang (EGS 2012): Optimized the fixation and imaging parameters for probing live predatory B. bacteriovorus using atomic force microscopy.
- Michael Wengen (Chem 2011): Did extensive AFM analysis of live host-independent B. bacteriovorus fixed by various methods and using different chemically functionalized AFM tips.
- Sombridho Bhaduri (Bio 2012, Chem minor): Examined the chemical signals causing B. bacteriovorus to “flip” from predatory to host-independent.
- Michael Marone (Bio 2011, Chem minor): Examined the chemical signals causing B. bacteriovorus to “flip” from predatory to host-independent.
- Kimberly Lundberg: Chemically characterized a compound produced by host-independent B. bacteriovorus
Esopus Creek disinfection byproducts project:
- Ivan Titaley (Chemistry, Berea College 2013, New Paltz REU 2012)
- Tim Johnson (Environmental Science, Alfred U. 2013, New Paltz REU 2012)
- Andrew Jacobs (Chemistry, Alfred U. 2012, New Paltz REU 2011)
- Michelle Weber (Chemistry, U. of the Cumberlands 2012, New Paltz REU 2011)
- Toby Maxwell (Chemistry, SUNY Geneseo 2011, New Paltz REU 2010)
- Akira Shimizu (Chemistry, U. Pitt 2013, New Paltz REU 2011)
Other cool stuff:
- Marc Bellanich (EGS 2014): Examination of the Antibacterial Properties of Dragonfly Wings
- Kelly Gluchowski (EGS 2014): Continued Laurel’s work with uptake of heavy metals by fungi
- Jessica Ridgeway (EGS 2012): Photocatalytic degradation of E.coli by means of calcined TiO2 and solar powered LEDs
- Theresa Savarese (EGS 2012): Using the Beyond Benign Green Chemistry Database to evaluate the sustainability of Organic Chemistry Lab activities
- Colin Carey (EGS 2012): GC-MS analysis of pesticide overspray contamination in an organic orchard
- Laurel Okorofsky (Bio 2011): Soil bioremediation using native fungi
- Joe Kozlowski (MAT Chem 2011): Using AFM to measure effects of changing the base to curing agent ratio on elastomer properties
- Christine Maday (EGS 2011): A GC/MS-based comparison of biodiesels synthesized from algae oil
- Kate Lawrence (EGS 2010): The effects of road proximity on rural wetland water quality
