Interview Prep: Dr. Niederman

Dr. Niederman

For an upcoming assignment we are interviewing scientists about their work. In my last year of University I had to confront the research requirement and finally got hold of Dr. Niederman, a professor in the microbio and biochem department. I had been emailing several different labs for months and remembered that my friend had been working with Dr. Niederman. I showed my interests, and got set up in the lab in the first week of the semester, although I had to change my schedule to also include his solar energy class. It took a lot for me to get out of my comfort zone to apply but he has been very helpful and accommodating, along with the other undergrads working alongside him.

Chemical pathway of the photosystems
of purple photosynthetic bacteria

Dr. Niederman’s research is primarily concerned with the application of purple photosynthetic bacteria to generate electric currents and biofuels. In addition to the papers I was given to read for lab, the solar energy class is a good parallel to the research we’re doing. This past week we were given papers to read for lecture that describe in detail the theory/ideas behind using bacteria to convert sunlight to energy. To summarize, there are two applicable uses for photosynthetic bacteria, attaching their light harvesting complex proteins to a battery cell, or using the hydrogen produced as a byproduct during photosynthesis as a fuel source.

Although I have learned a lot so far, many of the other students I am working with have been in lab for two years already so there is a still a lot to figure out, both in terms of material and lab techniques. I hope to ask Dr. Niederman about the things I am still unsure about as well as try to get to know him better

Graphic depicting hydrogen produced being used as a fuel source

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