Brian Kinkle

Biography

Recent advances in molecular biology have provided us with powerful tools that can be used to examine the ecology of microorganisms in natural environments such as soil or water. My laboratory is currently employing techniques such as epifluorescence microscopy, using fluorescent antibodies and ribosomal RNA probes for the detection and enumeration of specific bacteria in natural systems, and in situ DNA hybridization using degradative and heavy metal-resistance gene probes for detection and enumeration of specific bacterial genotypes. We also use ribosomal RNA gene sequencing for applications in microbial phylogeny and ecology.

Research Interest

My general research interests lie in the overlapping areas of microbial ecology and environmental microbiology. Specific areas of active research include the community analysis and ecological genetics of xenobiotic-degrading and metal-transforming microorganisms in soil (in collaboration with Jodi Shann, Department of Biological Sciences), chemoautotrophic bacteria in groundwater communities (in collaboration with Tom Kane, Department of Biological Sciences), and azo dye-degrading bacteria in bioreactors (in collaboration with Paul Bishop, Department of Environmental Engineering).