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

Comments

Large Population of Adélie Penguins Discovered

A recent article highlighted in Nature Journey documents a new find in the Antarctic, a huge population of Ad é lie penguins on the Danger Islands . This population numbers in around 1.5 million individuals, that were previously not known to researchers. This hotspot for penguins was found with the assistance of aerial drones to access parts of the Antarctic Peninsula that were previously inaccessible by boat. This finding gives proof of concept to this method of data acquisition, and leads researchers to look in more remote places for tracking species more closely. Contrary to the general trend associated with climate change reducing Antarctic ice mass, this population of penguins has been largely unaffected; they will however, be considered in ongoing efforts of conservation due to their large significance in the region. Throughout the continent, Ad é lie penguin populations have decreased as much as 70 due to rising air temp and decreased ice packing’s effect on prey availabi...

Using Snow Coat as an Example of Climate Change and Adaptive Traits

Least Weasels as drawn by skilled illustrator In a recent study in Science Journal, climate researchers L. Scott Mills, et al, are using seasonal coat changes as an example to demonstrate the need for adaptive rescue strategies for saving species from human initiated climate change. Many species in snow covered areas have adapted to seasonal snow by possessing white coats in the winter and then shedding them for brown coats when snow is less prevalent, this trait is known as winter coat polymorphism. The study tracked the coloration of four species of hares, three weasles, and arctic wolves in relation to their geographical location and annual snow cover. Using over 2500 samples from over 60 countries the researchers determined ranges for the species sampled where there are white only, brown only, and both white and brown. This research is important for conservationists to recognize the effect adaption has on fitness in changing climates. It recognizes in discreet ways how ...

Bathing Apes before Hype Beasts

This week’s post comes after a very stressful week for me; exams, papers, and scrambling to get ready for graduation. At the end of Thursday I ended up going home for Alec’s birthday (my little brother who just turned 14), the weekend, by contrast was very relaxing. Alec is much different than me or my older brother, probably because of the large age gap, he is obsessed with brand name clothes and shoes and the like. While having dinner on Saturday, we began to ridicule him for looking up and dreaming about $2000 Nikes, Supreme gear and Bathing Ape, so while looking for a topic for this blog, the latter brand took my interest, Above is a video about Japan’s famous “bathing apes”; the macaques. The video starts off describing the history of how a group of macaques started using naturally occurring hotsprings in the colder northern region of japan. The macaques began using these hotsprings in human establishments, so to keep both groups happy, locals built a site just for the macaque...

Unwind The Helix

Search This Blog