Melissa Lenczewski Assistant Professor Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL 60115 815-753-7937 FAX 815-753-1945 melissa@geol.niu.edu EDUCATION: 1997-2001 Ph.D., Geological Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Advisor: Dr. Larry D. McKay Dissertation: Biodegradation of Trichloroethylene in Fractured Shale and Saprolite 1991-1993 Master of Science, Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona Advisor: Dr. Charles P. Gerba Thesis: Comparative Transport of Bacteriophage and Microspheres in an Aquifer under Forced-Gradient Conditions 1987-1991 Bachelor of Science, Microbiology, minor in Chemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson NON-ACADEMIC RESEARCH EMPLOYMENT: 1993-1997 Amway Corp. Analytical Services, Ada, MI, Research Scientist, Microbiology GRANTS: Loubere, P., M. Lenczewski, and E. Perry. 2003.  Acquisition of an isotope ratio mass spectrophotometer for geochemical, biogeochemical, and petrological research  $205,527. Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program Spring 2002. Characterization and distribution of agrochemicals at Nachusa Grassland Research Site. $500.  Noe Velaquez.  Fall 2002.  Sorption of MTBE in Glacial Tills and Outwash Sands. $500. Heidi Kelly. Lenczewski, M. and L. Rigg. 2002. Vegetation and Microbial Community changes from Maquis to Rainforest, New Caledonia. Women’s International Science Collaboration (WISC) Program 2001-2002. $9444. Lenczewski, M. 2002. Sorption and Biodegradation of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) in Glacial Tills of Northern Illinois. Graduate Council Committee on Research and Artistry. $9,510. Lenczewski, M. 2001. Characterization and Distribution of Agrochemicals at the Nachusa Grassland Research Site. Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program. $500. Lenczewski, M. 2001.  Faculty Development Award to attend the workshop “Early Career Faculty in the Geosciences: Teaching, Research, and Managing Your Career” $443. Lenczewski, M. 2001. Biodegradation and sorption to MTBE. Center for Latino and Latin American Studies, Northern Illinois University. $650. Lenczewski, M. 2001. Biodegradation of Trichloroethylene in Fractured Saprolite: Determination of Spatial Distribution of Microbial Communities. Graduate Council Committee on Research and Artistry. $7000. Sherer, R., M. Lenczewski, M. Konen, and H. Beck.  Acquisition of a Low Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscopy (LV SEM) for Multidisciplinary Research and Education.  National Science Foundation. $132,000. Lenczewski, M. 2000. Biodegradation of Trichloroethylene in Fractured Weathered Shale in East Tennessee.  Geological Society of American Graduate Student Research Grant. $2000.  RESEARCH: Northern Illinois University Research on sorption and biodegradation of MTBE and ethanol in fine-grained materials of northern Illinois and Mexico City. Determination of microbial community structure during prairie restoration and linkages with chemical and physical parameters. Determine the influence of microbial communities on the growth and survivorship of Araucaria in ultramafic soils on New Caledonia. Investigation in the spatial distribution of microbial communities relative to lithology, mineralogy, and fracture distribution within a fractured soil and rocks. University of Tennessee Research combines techniques from hydrogeology, microbiology, and molecular biology to address the issue of biodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) in fractured clay-rich materials. Evaluation of natural attenuation of TCE in fractured and weathered shale bedrock at a former disposal site at Oak Ridge Reservation, Oak Ridge, TN. The research includes both field-scale evaluation of natural attenuation of TCE in an existing 50 m long plume and laboratory scale experiments to investigate geochemical and microbial controls on TCE degradation in these materials. The investigation includes long-term injections of dissolved phase TCE into two samples (abiotic and biotic) of undisturbed fractured saprolite from uncontaminated sites at the Oak Ridge Reservation. During the experiment, the effluent from the columns are monitored for TCE, daughter products, inorganic chemicals, and assayed to examine microbial communities by traditional microbiology and molecular techniques. Amway Corporation Research experience includes preservative efficacy testing and sterility testing for cosmetics and cleaning products with emphasis on new methods and method improvements. Developed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) based method to determine the optimal concentration of preservatives in personal and cleaning products Lead scientist in potable water testing for heterotrophic plate count bacteria and total coliform; also perform work related to water treatment systems. University of Arizona: Graduate Research Graduate research focused on experimental investigation of the factors influencing transport of colloids in granular aquifer material. The investigations included a field experiment studying the effects of pH and heterogeneities on the transport of bacteriophage and microspheres at the Borden site, Canada. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Research focused on tracer experiments in fractured porous media. This included investigations in a laboratory soil column and field tracer experiments in fractured till overlying a chalk aquifer in Denmark. University of Arizona: Undergraduate Worked in a certified laboratory under the direction of Dr. Charles Gerba testing for the presence of enteric viruses, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium in water using tissue culture and immunofluorescence techniques. REFEREED PUBLICATIONS: M. Lenczewski, L. McKay, and A. Layton. Biodegradation of TCE in undisturbed columns of fractured saprolite. Ground Water. In Press. M. Lenczewski, P. Jardine, L. McKay, and A. Layton. 2003. Natural Attenuation of Trichloroethylene in Fractured Shale Bedrock. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 64:151-168. L. McKay, J. Fredericia, M. Lenczewski, J. Morthorst, and K. E. S. Klint. 1999. Spatial Variability of Contaminant Transport in a Fractured Till, Avedore Denmark. Nordic Hydrology. 30:333-360. M. Lenczewski and L. Kananen. 1998. Automated Method to Optimize Antimicrobial Preservative Levels in Personal and Home Care Products. Journal of AOAC International. 81:534-539. R. C. Bales, S. Li, T.C.J. Yeh, M. E. Lenczewski, and C. P. Gerba. 1997. Bacteriophage and Microsphere Transport in Saturated Porous Media: Forced-Gradient Experiment at Borden, Ontario. Water Resources Research. 33: 639-648. K. Hinsby, L. D. McKay, P. Jorgensen, M. Lenczewski, and C. Gerba. 1996.Fracture Aperture Values and Contaminant Migration in a Column of Clay Till.  Ground Water. 34:1065-1075. M. Lenczewski, S. T. McGavin, and K. J. VanDyke. 1996. Comparison of Automated and Traditional Minimum Inhibitory Concentration Procedures for Microbiological Cosmetic Preservatives. Journal AOAC International. 79:1294-1299. PUBLICATIONS IN PREPARATION: M. Lenczewski, A. Pitner, L. McKay, and S. Driese. In Prep. Factors Controlling the Spread of DNAPL Contamination in Fractured Saprolite. Journal of Environmental Quality. M. Lenczewski, L. McKay and A. Layton.  In Prep.  Changes in Microbial Communities Associated with Biodegradation of TCE in Fractured Saprolite.  Journal of Soil Biology. R. M. Leal-Baustita and M. Lenczewski. In Prep. Sorption of MTBE in Fine Grain Materials.  Environmental Science and Technology. PUBLISHED BOOK REVIEW: Choice. January 2003.  Review of “Environmental Geology” by J. Erikson Choice. June 2002.  Review of “Humic substances and chemical contaminants” Ed. Clapp. SELECTED ABSTRACTS: M. Lenczewski, L. McKay, and A. Layton. 2002. Anaerobic biodegradation of TCE in laboratory columns of fractured saprolite.  GSA annual meeting, Denver, CO. R. Leal-Bautista and M. Lenczewski. 2002. Sorption of MTBE in clay-rich materials. GSA annual meeting, Denver, CO. S. Van der Hoven and M. Lenczewski. 2002. Environmental geology field camp: Adapting to the changing needs of geosciences education of the professional geologist.  GSA annual meeting, Denver, CO. M. Lenczewski and R. M. Leal-Bautista.  2002. Fate and Transport of MTBE in Clay-Rich Materials. Enviro2002. Melbourne, AU.  M. Lenczewski and R. Leal-Bautista. 2001. Sorption of MTBE in Clay-Rich Materials. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. R. Leal-Bautista and M. Lenczewski. 2001. Sorption of MTBE in Clay-Rich Glacial Tills. Midwest Groundwater Assoc., Madison, WI. M. Lenczewski, L. McKay, and A. Layton. 2001. Biodegradation of TCE in Undisturbed Columns of Fractured Saprolite. American Society for Microbiology, Orlando, FL. M. Lenczewski, L. McKay, and A. Layton. 1999. Trichloroethylene Biodegradation in Large Undistributed Columns of Fractured Weathered Shale in East Tennessee. International Symposium on Subsurface Microbiology. Vail, CO. M. Lenczewski, L. McKay, and A. Layton. 1999. Biodegradation of Trichloroethylene in Fractured Weathered Shale in East Tennessee. American Society for Microbiology. Chicago, IL. M. Lenczewski, L. McKay, and J. Sanseverino. 1999. Biodegradation of TCE in Fractured Shale Saprolite. Ninth Tennessee Water Resources Symposium. Nashville, TN. M. Lenczewski, L. McKay, J. Sanseverino, and C. Knight. 1998. Sorption and Microbiological Factors Controlling the Fate and Transport of TCE in Fractured Shale Saprolite. Conference on Mass Transport in Fractured Aquifers and Aquitards, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. M. Lenczewski, L. Kananen, B. Hubbel, and A. Meszaros. 1997. Evaluation of ESP Automated Industrial Microbial Testing System for Cosmetic and Personal Care Products. American Society for Microbiology. Miami Beach, FL. M. Lenczewski, P. Watt, J. Aamand, L. McKay, and J. Fredericia. 1996. Development of a Groundwater Monitoring Program in Denmark. American Society for Microbiology, New Orleans, LA. B. R. Wilson, M Lenczewski, M. Pelka, J. Naranjo, and C. Gerba. 1995. Evaluation of the use of 1-3 µm Microspheres to Predict Cryptospordium oocysts and Giardia cyst Removal Efficiency During Water Treatment Filtration. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC. M. Lenczewski, K. Hinsby, and L. McKay. 1994. Transport of PRD-1 and MS-2 Bacteriophage through a Fractured Danish Till. American Society for Microbiology, Las Vegas, Nevada. S. Li, R. C. Bales, T-C. J. Yeh, M. E. Lenczewski, and C. P. Gerba. 1993. Forced Gradient Test of Virus Transport in Porous Media. American Geophysical Union, Baltimore, Maryland. L. McKay, K. Hinsby, J. Morthorst, and M. Lenczewski. 1993. Field and Laboratory Tracer Experiments in Fractured Clayey Till in Denmark. Geological Society of America, 1993 Annual Meeting. M. Lenczewski. 1993. Bacteriophage Transport through a Fractured Danish Till. Arizona Universities Student Environmental Conference. Flagstaff, Arizona. M. Lenczewski, K. Hinsby, P. Jorgensen, and L. McKay. 1993. Transport of PRD-1 and MS-2 Bacteriophage Through a Fractured Danish Till. Arizona Branch American Society for Microbiology, Tucson, Arizona. D. Moore, T-C. Yeh, R. Bales, C. Gerba, and M. Lenczewski. 1992. Transport of MS-2 and PRD-1 Viruses in a Three Dimensional Physical Aquifer Model. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, California. M. Lenczewski, S. Li, R. Bales, and C. Gerba. 1992. Comparative Transport of Bacteriophage and Microspheres in an Aquifer Under Forced-Gradient Conditions. Arizona Branch American Society for Microbiology, Flagstaff, Arizona. TEACHING : Introduction of Environmental Geology; Geomicrobiology; Contaminant Hydrogeology; Organic Geochemistry; Environmental Geochemistry; Environmental Field Camp