April 4, 2006
Research News
Study
of Martian Meteorite Reveals Markings Similar to Bacteria-Etched Rocks
on Earth (OSU News Service, 3/23/06) - A new study of a meteorite
that originated from Mars has revealed a series of microscopic tunnels
that are similar in size, shape and distribution to tracks left on Earth
rocks by feeding bacteria. And though researchers were unable to extract
DNA from the Martian rocks, the finding nonetheless adds intrigue to the
search for life beyond Earth. Results of the study were published in the
latest edition of the journal Astrobiology. This story was run
by various news outlets, including MSNBC and Mars Today.
Read
more...
"Push-pull" tests - an innovative
ways to study underground microbes (SBI Research Feature,
4/3/06) - Engineers at OSU are developing an inexpensive way to test for
and monitor the capabilities of underground microbial communities. Called
“push-pull” tests, the technique involves injecting a test
solution into a groundwater well and then withdrawing the test solution
and groundwater mixture. Comparisons of the “pushed” and “pulled”
solutions provide information about the microorganisms living underground
and the functions they carry out. Read more...
Do you have an idea for a research project to feature here? Let us know
at sbi@oregonstate.edu.
Funding Opportunities for Students
SBI Summer 2006 Undergraduate Internships
- SBI will offer paid internships for undergraduates to work on research
projects related to the subsurface biosphere. The goal of these internships
is to provide undergraduates with rewarding research experiences at OSU
that will stimulate their interest in the subsurface biosphere and encourage
them to pursue graduate studies. The program will focus on, but is not
limited to, under-represented minority and women students. The
application deadline is April 15. FMI: http://sbi.oregonstate.edu/education/interns.htm.
University Club Foundation Fellowship
- The Graduate School invites nominations for this competition, which
recognizes and encourages scholarship, leadership, and potential societal
contributions by outstanding graduate students from each of Oregon’s
major public universities. Annual awards of up to four graduate fellowships
at $5,000 each will be granted. Nominees must be full-time grad students
Fall 2006 with at least one year remaining in their advanced degree program.
Nominations are solicited from academic department chairs and heads, and/or
deans. Departments are asked to submit one nomination each to
the Graduate School by Friday, April 14, 2006. FMI: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/grad_school/current/universityclub.html.
Funding Opportunities for Faculty
DOE Office
of Biological and Environmental Research of the Office of Science - Environmental
Remediation Sciences Program (ERSP) - The goal of the ERSP is to support
innovative, fundamental research investigating coupled chemical,
biological and physical processes affecting the transport of DOE-relevant
contaminants within the subsurface at DOE sites leading to new
or improved subsurface remediation techniques and a sound foundation for
remedial action decisions important to long-term site stewardship. Proposals
should address hypothesis-driven research to define biologically-mediated
and/or hydrogeochemical processes influencing the form and mobility of
DOE contaminants and provide the basis for development of new remediation
concepts or strategies for long term stewardship. Specific Science Elements
of interest to this solicitation include: 1) Subsurface Biogeochemistry;
2) Subsurface Microbial Ecology and Community Dynamics; 3) Innovative
Field-scale Remediation and Long-Term Stewardship Research; 4) Novel Measurement
and Monitoring Concepts, and; 5) Exploratory Research. Deadlines:
Preproposals - April 14, 2006; Full proposals - June 15, 2006.
NSF
Geosciences - Hydrologic Sciences
- This program focuses on terrestrial processes that comprise the hydrologic
cycle including evapotranspiration, precipitation, infiltration, overland
and streamflow, subsurface percolation and the transport of
solutes, nutrients, and particles by these fluxes. This program encourages
studies probing the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of water and chemical
fluxes and storages from local to global scales – including residence
times, interfacial fluxes, pathways among system compartments, and research
in geolimnology and hydrologic impacts on microbial communities.
HS also supports research in aqueous geochemistry directly connected to
hydrologic processes and the physical, chemical, and biological
processes taking place as water bodies change. Since the study
of hydrologic processes requires expertise from many basic sciences and
mathematics, HS encourages interdisciplinary proposals and joint review
with related programs. Deadline: June 1, 2006.
For a list of other external grant
opportunities related to the subsurface biosphere, click here...
Upcoming Events
Thursday, April 6, 4:00PM.
Geochemical controls on microbial Fe(III) oxide reduction: kinetics
versus thermodynamics (IGERT Earth's Subsurface Biosphere Seminar
Series). Speaker: Dr. Eric Roden, Professor of Geomicrobiology, Biogeochemistry
and Microbial Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, Department of Geology
and Geophysics. Held on campus at Burt 193. FMI: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/igert/seminars.html
and http://www.geology.wisc.edu/~eroden/.
If you would like to meet with Dr. Roden or join him for lunch or dinner
on Thursday, please contact Rebecca Poulson (rpoulson@coas.oregonstate.edu).
Thursday, April 20th, 4:00PM.
- Vailulu'u Seamount: Life and Death at an Active Submarine Volcano
(IGERT Earth's Subsurface Biosphere Seminar Series). Speaker: Dr. Hubert
Staudigel, Research Geologist, Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Held
on campus at Burt 193. FMI: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/igert/seminars.html
and http://sio.ucsd.edu/rab/act_detail.cfm?state=%26%28%2EK%2FT%2C%23%5B%0A.
Link to a calendar
of other related events...
This newsletter is distributed by OSU's Subsurface Biosphere Initiative
- an interdisciplinary consortium of faculty and students who share interests
in underground ecosystems. The newsletter is distributed through the SBI
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Questions, comments and newsletter topics may be sent to the sbi@oregonstate.edu.
Newsletters are also available on the Web at http://sbi.oregonstate.edu/newsletter/.
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