Chemistry and Materials Science Seminar: Microbe-Plastic Interactions

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Chemistry and Materials Science Seminar
Microbe-Plastic Interactions: Biodegradation and Bioproduction

Dr. Erica Majumder
Assistant Professor

Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Abstract:
Plastics are a ubiquitous, useful material but have also become a prevalent contaminant in air, soils and water. This talk will describe ways in which environmental microorganisms are interacting with plastics and what that implies for the surrounding system and environmental health. The second part will focus on bioprocess development to replace conventional plastics with microbially-produced bioplastics from agricultural residues.

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Majumder earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Drury University. She then pursued her PhD in Bioinorganic chemistry with Bob Blankenship at Washington University in St. Louis focusing on structure and function of cyclic electron transport chain proteins in filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs. Erica went on to postdoctoral work first with Judy Wall at the University of Missouri looking at the role of electron transfer and sulfate reducing bacteria in uranium bioremediation and later with Gary Siuzdak in applying metabolomics to understand environmental microorganisms. Dr. Majumder is now an assistant professor in the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her lab focuses on determining and utilizing metabolism of environmental microorganisms for sustainability and waste management applications.

Intended Audience:
Undergraduates, graduates, experts. Those with interest in the topic.

To request an interpreter, please visit myaccess.rit.edu


Contact
Nathan Eddingsaas
Event Snapshot
When and Where
October 17, 2023
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
Room/Location: 2305
Who

This is an RIT Only Event

Interpreter Requested?

No

Topics
research