Our People
Dr. Joel Kostka
Professor
Education: Ph.D. Marine Science. 1993. University of Delaware, Newark, DE
M.S. Marine Biology. 1988. College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
B.S. Biology. 1985. Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
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Email: jkostka@ocean.fsu.edu
Research Interests: Biogeochemistry; Microbial Ecology; Environmental Microbiology; Geomicrobiology
Dr. Stefan J. Green
Research Faculty
Education: Ph.D. Microbiology. 2004. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
M.S. Environmental Health Engineering. 1998. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
B.A. Earth and Environmental Sciences. 1995. Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
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Email: green@ocean.fsu.edu
Research Interests: I am a molecular microbial ecologist and have studied communities of microorganisms in a wide range of environments, including hypersaline microbial mats, plant roots, alkaline waters, clean rooms and contaminated sediments and waters. My primary interest is to explore and understand the effect of shifting environmental conditions on the distribution, abundance and activity of microorganisms. These shifting conditions can be natural and artificial: in studies of microbial mats I studied the shifting distribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria (and other organisms) during a diurnal cycle, and the abundance and distribution of methanogens, sulfate-reducing bacteria and cyanobacteria in mats maintained under lowered salinity and sulfate conditions. Currently, as part of a Department of Energy project with Dr. Joel Kostka, I am studying microbial communities at a uranium-contaminated site in Oak Ridge, TN. As part of our efforts to explore subsurface microbial communities involved in uranium reduction, we are also studying microbial community dynamics in an engineered subsection of the site that undergoes periodic reduction (via addition of organic carbon) and oxidation (via addition of nitrate or by natural processes). The complexity of the subsurface requires a large number of samples to be processed and analyzed, and part of my work is to develop higher throughput analytical techniques for microbial community characterization.
Dr. Om Prakash Sharma
Post Doc
Education: Ph.D. Microbiology. 2007. University of Delhi, Delhi, India
M.S. Microbiology. 2000. Dr. R.M.L. University, Faizabad, India
B.S. Botany, Zoology, Chemistry. 1995. Dr. R.M.L. University, Faizabad, India
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Email: prakash@ocean.fsu.edu
Research Interests:
Thomas Gihring
Ph.D. candidate
Education: M.S. Geology. 2001. The University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
B.S. Geology. 1998. The University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
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Email: gihring@ocean.fsu.edu
Research Interests: Although the importance of nitrogen in estuaries has been recognized, we are only beginning to understand how marine nitrogen cycling processes are regulated. The critical nitrogen cycling reactions (which include organic matter mineralization, nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and nitrogen gas production by denitrification and anammox) are all carried out by microorganisms. Within coastal environments, microbes living in sediments are particularly important for controlling the forms and distribution of nitrogen. For my research, I investigate rates and mechanisms of nitrogen cycling in sediments, focusing on measuring rates of nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and anammox using the latest biogeochemical techniques. I also employ nucleic acid based methods for studying the ecology of nitrogen cycling microorganisms. Study sites include the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve in Florida, sand flats of the North Sea, and Arctic fjords.
Puja Jasrotia
Ph.D. student
Education: M.S. Soil and Water Science. 2005. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
B.S. 1997. Delhi University, New Delhi, India
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Email: pujajasrotia@gmail.com
Research Interests: Microorganisms are critical components of ecosystem level processes and metabolize via cycling of organic and inorganic compounds. I am interested in linking microbial diversity and activity to the availability and diversity of energy sources in different ecosystems. In my Masters research, I studied diversity and nitrogenase gene expression in microbial mats across a nutrient gradient in freshwater marsh ecosystem. For my dissertation research, I plan to characterize structure-function relation of denitrifiers in the deep terrestrial subsurface sediments of Uranium contaminated site in Oak Ridge, TN. As part of remediation process, I will also study shifts in community dynamics and rates with substrate manipulations at watershed scale. Since the presence goal of DOE is to focus more towards natural attenuation, it is crucial to elucidate the metabolic pathway of nitrate metabolism in these sediments.
Andy Canion
Ph.D. student
Education: M.S. Marine Science. 2008. University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
B.S. Biology. 2004. University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
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Email: canion@ocean.fsu.edu
Research Interests: I am interested in the relationship between microbial community composition and organic matter cycling in coastal environments. For my research, I plan to focus on the role of permeable sediments (sands) as biocatalytical "filters" that remineralize organic matter. Understanding these filters and identifying the microbes involved is crucial to understanding the fate of anthropogenic nitrogen inputs as well as the global carbon cycle.
Dilojan Senanayake
Ph.D. student
Education: M.S. Chemistry. 1996. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
B.A. Chemistry, General Science. 1993. Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
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Email: senanayake@ocean.fsu.edu
Research Interests:
Will Overholt
Undergraduate student
Education:
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Email:
Research Interests:
Denise M. Akob
Ph.D. (former student)
Education: M.S. Oceanography. Florida State Univesity, Tallahassee, FL
B.S. Biology. 2002. St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's City, MD
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Email: akob@ocean.fsu.edu
Research Interests: Biogeochemistry; Microbial Ecology; Environmental Microbiology; Bioremediation

 
 
 
 
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