The Ecology of Microorganisms: Dr. Matt Hoch

Stream Biofilm Physiology and Diversity:
In stream ecosystems the flow of energy and nutrient cycling are predominantly controlled by a layer of microbes living on the surfaces of rocks and logs, called the biofilm community. How these communities, and hence the stream ecosystem as a whole, are impacted by excess sediment loading events is poorly understood. Specific parameters of microbial physiological function and population diversity may be used to assess impact of sedimentation on biofilm communities. This project is integrated into an on-going study of sediment and nutrient loading in the East Branch Codorus Creek.

Iron Oxidizing Community Diversity:
Much is known about iron oxidizing bacteria in acid environments, such as those associated with acid mine drainage, yet little is known about those bacteria capable of oxidizing iron at more neutral pH values. Communities of these circumneutral iron oxidizing bacteria are common in the coniferous temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest. The variability in population diversity of these populations is unknown. Samples of such communities and respective enrichment cultures from sites on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, were collected during summer 2003 to address this issue.

Assessing Availability of Nitrogen in Aquatic Bacteria:
Planktonic aquatic bacteria are important in the carbon and nutrient cycles of lakes and oceans. Recent studies have shown that the availability of nitrogen relative to that of easily consumed organic carbon, has a critical control on the physiology, growth, and ecological function of aquatic bacteria in planktonic communities. Activity assays and gene expression of enzymes pivotal to cellular nitrogen and carbon balance may be used to explore nitrogen availability in a variety of freshwater and/or marine environments.

Contact: Dr. Matt Hoch
mph13@psu.edu
717-771-4016

Biology: Dr. Robert Farrell

Ryan Rupert, a junior in the science program at Penn State York, has been working with Dr. Farrell this semester exploring variations in microbial communities in a local pond and adjacent feeder stream (Mill Creek). This is particularly interesting and important work because Mill Creek is the site of a former fabric dyeing factory. The expulsion of chemical pollutants from the factory may have had a long-term negative impact on the environment. This on-going research is continuation of a project that was initiated in the summer of 2002. Dr. Carol Dorworth has participated in this investigation also.

Chemistry: Dr. Ernest Harrison

A student is working with Dr. Harrison on a chemistry project investigating the effects of light (sunlamp) on a particular class of organic molecules.

Chemistry: Dr. Leanne Miller

Madelaine Cho is working with Dr. Miller on a project to develop a novel series of renaturation additives that provide substantially improved refolding yields of proteins at high concentrations (>1 mg/mL) from their denatured state. The approach involves synthesizing a number of monoalkyl ammonium salts with varying alkyl chain lengths and counter ions. The ability to fine-tune the counter ions and alkyl chain makes it possible to prepare a range of salts, some of which will have a tendency to denature proteins and others that will have the ability to stabilize protein structure.

Chemistry: Dr. Phillip Oles

One student is working on triphenylimidazl chemistry, studying the synthesis of two triphenylimidazl dimers. Efforts will focus on purification and characterization of these dimers.

Communication Arts and Sciences: Dr. Deborah Eicher-Catt

A student is working with Dr. Eicher-Catt on research with non-custodial mothers' communication patterns and assisting with the newly formed Collaborative Research Partnership comprised of York faculty from Human Development and Family Studies, Education, Bi-lingual Education, and Communication Arts and Sciences.

Communication Arts and Sciences: Dr. Jane Sutton

Dr. Sutton and a student are working on a project called Cherokee Women Orators. The main orator is Nanye'hi who became the chief of the Cherokees in the 1750's. She lived for almost a century and gave many speeches, many in Washington. The project consists of two parts. The first is to comb through treaties and other archival material to find Nanye'hi's speeches or fragments of them and produce an annotated bibliography. Second, to explain and analyze the structure of the speech itself. Research questions might include: What myths are used? How are the myths used? How are arguments constructed? What role do myths play in the construction of arguments?

Engineering: Dr. Charles Gaston

James Mattern is working under Dr. Gaston's supervision to create applications for engineering using LabView. LabView is a graphical programming language that handles real or simulated analog and digital inputs and outputs, and has a very broad range of options for manipulating and displaying data. It is widely used in industry.

Physics: Dr. Abul Hasan

Patrick Walters is taking a special topics class in physics with Dr. Hasan. They are working on Monte Carlo simulation of proton, antiproton annihilation leading to three pions production. This is essentially simulating Fermilab data that was taken from experiment E760 for neutral final products in proton, antiproton annihilation.

Physics: Kip Trout

Amanda Clark has been working with Mr. Trout since the summer investigating the thermal conduction process in an ideal gas in a reference frame moving at relativistic velocities. Ultimately they are trying to determine how the cooking time of food cooked in a relativistic reference frame will differ from the cooking time of the same food in a reference frame that is at rest when both times are measured from the rest frame. The approach to the problem is to model the gas using a revised kinetic theory of gas model that accounts for relativistic effects.

Psychology: Dr. Mark Casteel

Tahney Ward has read three articles on the research topic being pursued by Dr. Casteel. She will then assist Dr. Casteel in collecting data. This will involve her actually supervising the experimental session one-on-one with the participants.