People
Sinéad M. Ní Chadhain, PI
B.S. Biology, Magna cum laude, minors in French and Philosophy, University of Scranton
Ph.D. Marine Studies, concentration in Marine Biology & Biochemistry, University of Delaware
Postdoc, Rutgers University, Department of Microbiology & Biochemistry
Graduate Students:
Daniel Servos, MS Candidate in Environmental Toxicology (co-advised with Kaushik Venkiteshwaran). Daniel plans to clone and over-express the NrtA nitrate binding protein and explore its use as a specific Nitrate/Nitrite bio-adsorbent system.
Penny Demetriades, PhD Candidate in Marine Sciences (co-advised with Brandi Kiel Reese). Penny is working on Microbial Source Tracking in Mobile Bay utilizing both quantitative PCR and eDNA sequencing to identify sources of fecal contamination in Mobile Bay.
LAB ALUMNI:
Graduate students:
Emilie Berge, MS Environmental Toxicology 2022, B.S. Biology, University of South Alabama, 2020.
Emilie characterized a collection of naphthalene degrading Acinetobacter isolates. This involved sequencing their genomes, analyzing their surface properties, and measuring PAH degradation.
Falon Humphries, MS Biology (non-thesis) 2022, B.S. Biology, Springhill College. Falon used microbial source tracking tools to assess water quality in the Fish River in Baldwin County, AL. She is now on the faculty at Bishop State Community College.
One of Falon’s study sites in Baldwin County
Marcus Jackson, MS Biology (non-thesis) 2021, B.S. Biology, University of South Alabama, 2017. Marcus worked on method development for microbial source tracking (using molecular tools to quantify and identify sources of fecal contamination in water bodies).
Kaine O’Neal, MS Biology 2019, B.S. Biology, University of South Alabama, 2015. (Identification and characterization of triclosan resistant bacteria).
Kaine’s research was supported in part by a grant from the USA Center for Environmental Resiliency. Kaine was runner up in USA’s 3rd Annual 3MT® Competition and won the Peoples’ Choice Award during the 23rd Annual Spring Research Forum. His oral presentation at the 2016 Bays and Bayous conference earned second place. Kaine is currently on the faculty at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Kaine & Dr. Harrison, former dean of the graduate school
Amy Schwarber, M.S. Environmental Toxicology, 2018. B.S. Biology, Bellarmine University, 2015. (Abundance of antibiotic resistant enterococci in relation to two wastewater treatment plants).
Amy is currently working at the US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research & Development.
Loreen Bynum, M.S. Biology, 2017. B.S. Psychology, University of South Alabama. (Isolation & identification of naproxen degrading bacteria).
Loreen at ASM in 2017. She won an ASM travel award to attend the meeting. Loreen is currently working at the Institute for Microbial and Biochemical Technology Research unit of the USDA Forestry Products Lab.
Robert Chang, M.S. Biology, 2013. (Effect of nutrients and dispersant on oil degradation by salt marsh microbial communities).
Bobby’s work was supported by funding from GoMRI. Bobby went on to a DO program at the University of New England after graduation.
Undergraduate students:
Daniel Servos (BS Biology, 2023). Daniel identified the naphthalene degradation genes in the genome of Pseudomonas str. NP204.
Anna Foster (BS Biology, 2021). Anna studied the genetics of naphthalene degrading bacteria. Her presentation at the fall 2021 meeting of the southeastern branch of ASM won third place.
Christian Ballenger (BS Biology, 2021). Christian studied the genetics of naphthalene degrading bacteria isolated in our lab. He presented his work at the spring 2021 meeting of the southeastern branch of ASM.
A.J. Rodgers (BS Biology, 2021). AJ worked on antibiotic production by soil bacteria. He’s now serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Caroline Jordan (BS Biology, 2020, honors graduate). Caroline wrote her honors thesis on antibiotic production by soil bacteria. Caroline also took my two research-based courses where she studied PAH biodegradation.
Lisa Leatherwood (BS Biology, 2019). Lisa studied the genetics of naphthalene degrading bacteria isolated in our lab. Lisa and Caroline presented this work at the spring 2020 meeting of the southeastern branch of ASM, just before we locked down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sam Brown (BS Biology, 2019). Sam characterized the surface properties of naphthalene degrading bacteria. Outside lab he was a member of the South Alabama track and field team.
Brittany Ferguson (BS Biology, PhD in biomedical sciences @ USA) & Brittany Schon (BS Biology). The Brittanys isolated a collection of pharmaceutical degrading bacteria.
Robert Dillard (BS Biology, 2011, DO program at William Carey University). Robert worked on pharmaceutical degrading bacteria. He won the Rawls award for outstanding biology senior.
Deanna Jones
Serena Nimityongskul (BS Biology, MD @ USA) & Leslie Cazeaux (BS Biology & MEd @ USA; currently teaching at Murphy High School, Mobile, AL) Leslie and Serena examined the microbial communities in pithcher plants from the Splinter Hill bog.
Bradley Finley
Harshil Sawant
Catherine Morgan
Leah Baum
Corey Duke (MD program at UAB)
Katherine Savell (PhD program @ UAB)
Linda Sanderman
Carley Pekelder
Camille Reynolds (BS Biology, DO Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine)
Leah Hixon (DVM @ University of Georgia)
Bethany Stone (BS Biology, Ph.D. program @ Tulane University)
Meaghan Russell
Ashlyn Knight