Back Row: Amanda Mitchell Royce Francis, Youngseob Yu, Ron Ripper, Damian Helbling

Front Row: Yan Xu, Shannon Isovitch, Jeanne VanBriesen, Stacia Helbling, Mary Schoen, Amanda Hughes

Undergraduates

1.      Hyo-Jin Kim, “Effect of EDTA against Biofilm Bacteria.” Poster presentation at May 2004 Meeting of the Minds. Supported by the Winters Foundation. Completed August 2004.

2.      Dacia Young, “Bacterial measurement methods.”  CIT freshman supported through Intel Freshman Year Research Experience (IFYRE). Completed project May 2004.

3.      Nur Azlina Abdul Aziz, "Statistical Analysis of Cell Counting Methods."  Junior in BME. Completed project Summer 2004.

4.      Raihan Rozlee, " Statistical distributions for cell enumeration techniques," Junior in BME. Completed project Fall 2004.

5.      Meghan Smith, "Biofilms and exopolymeric substances," Senior in CEE.  Completed project Fall 2004.

6.      Therese Medalle, "EDTA and Biofilm prevention," Senior Research Project.  May 2006.

7.      Alan Eaton, “Bacterial Monitoring in Panther Hollow Watershed,” Summer 2006 Supported by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

8.      Amanda Mitchell, “Bacterial Monitoring in Panther Hollow Watershed,” Summer 2006 Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF).

9.      Elena Goldstein, “Bacterial Monitoring in Panther Hollow Watershed,” Summer 2006 Supported by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

10. Meenah Park, “Bacterial Monitoring in Panther Hollow Watershed,” Summer 2006 Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF).

Master’s Students

1.   Frank Sidari, “Evaluation of chlorine dioxide as a Legionella-specific disinfectant in potable water.” May 2002. Thesis. Supported by the Veterans’ Adminstration Research Fund.  Currently at Malcolm-Pirnie Pittsburgh Office.

2.   Vanessa Brisson, “Synergy Between Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) and Vancomycin Against a Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilm.” August 2003. Thesis. Supported by a National Science Foundation Fellowship.

3.   Yamira Izzara, “Bacterial Contamination in the Allegheny County Watersheds.” May 2003. Project. Self-supported.

4.   Maria Escoriza,” Raman Chemical Imaging Spectroscopy for Evaluation of Biological Agents in Water.” December 2003. Project. Co-advised with David Dzombak (CEE). Supported by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA).

5.   Chris Weber, "Fate and transport of ethylenediamenetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and its effect on eutrophication."  Co-advised by Scott Matthews.  Supported by National Science Foundation CAREER project.  Expected graduation December 2005.  Continuing for PhD in Engineering and Public Policy Spring 2006.

6.   Shannon Isovitsch, "Sensor networks for water distribution system modeling and security."  Self-supported. Completed MS May 2005. Continuing for PhD with support from the National Science Foundation.

7.   Meghan Smith, “Natural growth variance and reproducibility of reactor biofilms,” MS. Biomedical Engineering. Thesis. May 2006.  Currently with Johnson and Johnson, Inc.

8.   Kristen Wright, “Evaluating bacterial monitoring methods in Panther Hollow Lake,”  May 2006. Project. With support from Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Three Rivers Wet Weather, Inc.

Ph.D. Students

1.   Zhiwen Yuan, “The role of oxygenation and intermediate formation in the biodegradation of chelating agents,” May 2004. Supported by the National Science Foundation.  Currently a post-doctoral researcher at Colorodo State University.

2.   Sandra Karcher, “Statistical analysis of PCB biodegradation through intermediates,” May 2005. Co-advised with Mitchell Small (CEE/EPP) Supported by the Packard Foundation.  Now at Data Systems DCM.

3.    Maria Escoriza, “Detection waterborne pathogens using raman chemical imaging and spectroscopy,” May 2006. Co-advised with David Dzombak (CEE). Supported by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA).  Maria presenting a poster at the PITA open house.  Now with Occidental Petroleum Argentina.

4.   Christine Wang, “Application of molecular biology to identify and enumerate microorganisms involved in PCB biodegradation,” August 2006.. Co-advised with Edwin Minkley (formerly CMRI, now Biological Sciences) and William Brown (Biological Sciences). Supported by the Packard Foundation.

5.   Jinghua Xiao, “Thermodynamics of Yield Prediction,” August 2006. Supported by the National Science Foundation. Now with Pinto Engineering Inc. in York, PA, USA.

6.   Stacia Thompson, “Decision support for drinking water distribution system sensors,” expected completion August 2007. Co-advised with Mitchell Small (CEE/EPP) and Paul Fischbeck (EPP/SDS). Supported by Department of Homeland Security Fellowship.

7.   Damian Helbling "Biosensors for the detection of pathogens in drinking water systems," expected completion December 2007. Co-advised with Mitchell Small.  Supported by the National Science Foundation.

8.   Shannon Isovitsch, "Sensor networks for water distribution system modeling and security," expected completion December 2007. Supported by the National Science Foundation.

9.   Royce Francis, “Disinfection by-products in drinking water,” expected completion May 2008. Supported by National Science Foundation Fellowship.

10. Mary Schoen, “Volunteer data collection in watersheds: implications for TMDLs,” expected completion May 2008. Supported by Three Rivers Wet Weather, Inc.

11. Amanda Hughes, “Decision support for PCB remediation in sediments,” expected completion May 2009. Supported by DOD SERDP.

Post-Doctoral Researchers

1.  Youngseob Yu,“Sediment microbial community response to PCBs: effective characterization for decision support.” March 2006-present.  Supported by DOD SERDP.