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Jen Fisher Division
of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
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Education
Previous Employment
Research Interests
I am generally interested in the limits of microbial life, in terms of both environment and metabolism. My previous work has focused on identification and isolation of microbes in “extreme” environments such as a hypsersaline, alkaline lake and hot springs that are thought to be current analogs for conditions on the early Earth. By understanding current microbial processes in these locales, we can begin to reconstruct the co-evolution of microbial life on earth and the biogeochemical cycles of elements as we know them in the present. I am particularly interested in the redox transformations of toxic elements such as arsenic and selenium and have characterized novel microbial processes relating to the cycling of these elements. Current Projects Nuclear testing and waste disposal sites contain radioactive materials and often other toxic constituents that may pose a threat to local water sources (e.g., rivers, aquifers, etc.) intended for municipal use. Bacteria that colonize these environments are poorly studied, but may play a significant role in the mobilization or sequestration of these elements. Our current work examines samples from the Nevada Test Site (NV) and the Hanford Site (WA). The goal of our research is twofold: 1) to find novel, radiation-resistant microbes that may one day be utilized for the bioremediation of nuclear waste and 2) to understand the role of these microbes in their environment to better model their effects on the transport of radionuclides.
Personal Interests Vegan cooking, microbrews, outdoor adventures, photography Selected Publications
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