Assistant Professor, Dept. of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
Part of the Environmental Studies Program
Part of the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
Research Interests:
The Angenent Lab members incorporate molecular biology techniques, such as PCR assays and hybridization assays, to solve environmental engineering problems. We are working on the interface between biology and engineering. The research can be grouped in three areas: bioprocessing, bioaerosols, and bioindicators.
In the area of bioprocessing our goal is to optimize anaerobic fermentation processes to grow microorganisms that can convert wastes into bioenergy, such as biogas (methane), bioelectricity, and biochemicals. We convert wastewater to electricity by bacteria in microbial fuel cells and have developed a novel reactor configuration that is promising for full-scale electricity production. However, further improvement in power output is necessary, and thus we are pursuing research with pure cultures that can help us unravel the metabolic mechanisms of electron transport from bacteria to the electrodes in a microbial fuel cell. To do this, we will use functional and comparative genomics and metabolomics.
In the research area of bioaerosols, we characterize unknown bacteria and viruses in indoor air with 16S rRNA gene sequencing technologies and with DNA chips, respectively. We have also tested a novel air purifier to remove viruses from air by employing conventional plaque and qPCR methods. Work on the removal and inactivation of airborne viral particles is of importance to human health. Airborne viruses can be present due to "natural" causes or after a deliberate release in an act of bioterrorism.
Finally, we use bacteriophages and bacteria as bioindicators of pollution.
