Puja Jasrotia
Ph.D. student
B.S. 1997. Delhi University, New Delhi, India
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.
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Email: pujajasrotia@gmail.com
Andy Canion
Ph.D. student
B.S. Biology. 2004. University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
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.
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Email: canion@ocean.fsu.edu
Claire Smith
Ph.D. Student
Research Interests: My previous research involved the hydroboration of carbon nanotubes. This project utilized ultraviolet to facilitate the reaction between borane containing compounds and the extremely stable nanotubes. At FSU I plan on working on the upcoming project to use algae to create biofuels from existing biomass.
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Email: clsmith387@gmail.com
