Michael Hyman
Professor, Director of Microbiology Graduate Programs
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
Thomas Hall 4545
Bio
The research in this laboratory focuses on the enzymology, pathways and physiology of microorganisms that degrade environmental contaminants. The organisms we study are primarily hydrocarbon-oxidizing strains that degrade compounds such as trichloroethylene (TCE), methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and 1,4-dioxane (14D). The approaches used in this laboratory range from the isolation and characterization of novel strains through to genomic and proteomic analyses of individual strains and microbial communities. Many of these approaches make use of stable isotopes. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms utilized by naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade contaminants and to use this information to help develop appropriate treatment strategies that maximize the activities of these microorganisms in contaminated environments.
Education
B.S. Botany University College, University of London, UK 1980
Ph.D. Biochemistry University of Bristol, UK 1985
MBA Oregan State University 2001
Area(s) of Expertise
Bioremediation, Microbial Physiology, Enzymology, Environmental Microbiology
Publications
- Aerobic cometabolic biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane and its associated Co-contaminants , Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health (2023)
- Alcohol-Dependent Cometabolic Degradation of Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons and 1,4-Dioxane by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain ATCC 21198 , ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE (2023)
- Archaeal communities discovered in the phytotelmata of Nepenthes alata Blco. samples obtained from Mt. Makiling, Philippines as revealed by high-throughput molecular sequencing analysis , International Journal of Agricultural Technology (2023)
- Diyne inactivators and activity-based fluorescent labeling of phenol hydroxylase in Pseudomonas sp. CF600 , FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS (2023)
- Identifying the enzyme responsible for initiating aerobic acetylene metabolism in Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 33258 , JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY (2023)
- Pilot-scale biofiltration of 1,4-dioxane at drinking water-relevant concentrations , WATER RESEARCH (2023)
- Single-well push-pull tests evaluating isobutane as a primary substrate for promoting in situ cometabolic biotransformation reactions , BIODEGRADATION (2022)
- Draft Genome Sequences of Four Aerobic Isobutane-Metabolizing Bacteria , MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS (2021)
- Long-term cometabolic transformation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane and 1,4-dioxane by Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 21198 grown on alcohols slowly produced by orthosilicates , JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY (2021)
- Co-encapsulation of slow release compounds and Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC 21198 in gellan gum beads to promote the long-term aerobic cometabolic transformation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane, cis-1,2-dichloroethene and 1,4-dioxane , Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts (2020)