An M.S. graduate research position is available in the Boise State University Department of Biology in connection with the project described below.  This position includes a tuition waiver and stipend.

Posting Date: 9-18-07    Application deadline: November 29^th, 2007, however applications submitted after this date will be considered until the position is filled.

Project Description: A master’s level graduate research position is available investigating one of two aspects of nanotechnology: 1. Development of novel nanoparticle-based antimicrobials or 2. Investigation of the environmental toxicology of metal oxide nanoparticles. 

Project Option #1: New mechanisms for providing protection from a variety of microbial pathogens and microorganisms inhabiting industrial processing systems are needed.  Development of novel antimicrobial materials is one way to satisfy this need.  Nanoparticles (NP) with sizes in the 1 – 100 nm range are very attractive materials for manipulation, sensing and detection of biological structures and systems; when reduced to the nanoscale regime, many benign materials develop toxicity.  Our group is investigating the toxicity mechanisms of transition metal oxide NP to microorganisms and primary human immune cells.  The student filling this position will study the antimicrobial properties of nano-scale metal oxides and explore development of NP thin films that could be used to create antimicrobial coatings for a variety of surfaces.  Specifically, the student researcher will be responsible for testing the antimicrobial properties of a suite of metal oxide NP against organisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeriginosa (among others).  Students with interest in medical microbiology and industrial microbiology are encouraged to apply for this project option.

Project Option #2: Exploring the environmental toxicology of metal oxide nanoparticles.  Although the presence of these man made substances in manufacturing is rapidly increasing, and with it the likelihood of unintended releases to the environment, little is known about their potential to affect the functional processes of natural ecosystems.  Microbial communities play significant functional roles in a variety of ecosystems (e.g. cycling nutrients, transforming pollutants, etc.).  These communities can also function as sensitive first responders/indicators of the environmental impacts of a suite of anthropogenic contaminants.  The student exploring this aspect of nanotechnology will employ molecular microbiological methods to study how the structure and function of environmental microbial communities respond to the presence of metal oxide nanoparticles.  Specifically, the student researcher will perform controlled laboratory and field experiments exposing aquatic and soil microbial communities to known concentrations of metal oxide nanoparticles.  Responses of the microbial communities will be determined by measuring alterations in carbon source utilization patterns and changes in community composition via molecular methods (e.g. DNA extraction, PCR, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and DNA sequence analysis). Students with interest in environmental toxicology and microbiology are encouraged to apply for this project option.

Expected start date: Spring Semester 2008

If you are interested contact:

Kevin Feris Ph.D. Assistant Professor                                       email: kevinferis@boisestate.edu

Department of Biology, Boise State University                           Phone: 208-426-5498