
Areas of expertise
About
My scholarly interest involves both research and teaching. On the research side, I am interested in the ecology of human and animal pathogens in soil and water systems as well as the response of soil microbial communities to agricultural management practices. More specifically I am interested in investigating the role of environmental factors on the fate and persistence of human and animal pathogens in soils and their transmission to fresh produce and surface waters. I also study the role of microbial diversity in the functioning of soil by looking at functional genes associated with N cycling. My expertise is in traditional soil science and molecular microbiology techniques, with lab and field based experiences. I have a strong interest in teaching soil science courses and my teaching expertise mainly comes from experience from being a lecturer and teaching assistant in graduate schools.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Soil Science and Agronomy, General
Utah State University, UT, United States (2005)
Master of Science, Soil Science and Agronomy, General
University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom (2000)
Bachelor of Science, Soil Science and Agronomy, General
Asmara University, Eritrea (1998)
Awards and Honors
- UGA Provost Travel Funds Award (2010)
- Venture Fund Travel (2009)
Scholarly Works
- Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria are more responsive than archaea to nitrogen source in an agricultural soil, SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY, (2016).
- Degradation of multiwall carbon nanotubes by bacteria, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, (2013).
- Evaluating Removal of Steroid Estrogens by a Model Alga as a Possible Sustainability Benefit of Hypothetical Integrated Algae Cultivation and Wastewater Treatment Systems, ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, (2014).
- Nitrification exhibits Haldane kinetics in an agricultural soil treated with ammonium sulfate or dairy-waste compost, FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, (2010).
- Ligninase-Mediated Removal of Natural and Synthetic Estrogens from Water: II. Reactions of 17β-Estradiol, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, (2010).
Contact
Mailing Address
1109 Experiment Street
Redding Building 276
Griffin, GA 30223
Shipping Address
1109 Experiment Street
Redding Building 276
Griffin, GA 30223


