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 CERTIFICATION AND HONORS: 2000 University of Tennessee, Citation for Extraordinary Professional Promise 2000 Sigma Xi Best Student Presentation 1999-2000 Waste Management Research and Education Institute Fellowship 1999 University of Tennessee, Department of Geological Science, Exceptional Professional Promise Award 1998 University of Tennessee, Department of Geological Science, Best student presentation. 1996 Registered Microbiologist. American Society for Microbiology. 1995 Amway Corp., Nomination for R&D Creativity Award. 1993 Arizona Universities Student Environment Conference, Best student paper presentation. 1992 American Society for Microbiology Travel Grant, Best graduate student presentation at the Arizona Branch annual meeting. GRANTS: Lenczewski, M., M. Konen, and P. Vary. 2001. Prairie Restoration Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities at the Illinois Nachusa Grassland Research Site. NSF Microbial Observatories. Pending. 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. Awarded. $132,000 Lenczewski, M. 2000. Biodegradation of Trichloroethylene in Fractured Weathered Shale in East Tennessee. Geological Society of American Graduate Student Research Grant.   RESEARCH: Northern Illinois University Research on sorption of MTBE and BTEX on fractured glacial tills of northern Illinois. Investigation in the spatial distribution of microbial communities relative to lithology, mineralogy, and fracture distribution within a fractured soil and rocks. Microbial community analysis of microorganisms associated with prairie grass soils 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. Submitted to Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. M. Lenczewski, P. Jardine, L. McKay, and A. Layton. Natural Attenuation of Trichloroethylene in Fractured Shale Bedrock. Submitted to Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 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 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. M. Lenczewski, P. Jardine, L. McKay, and A. Layton. Natural Attenuation of Trichloroethylene in Fractured Shale Bedrock. Submitted to Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. SELECTED ABSTRACTS: 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 EXPERIENCE: Courses at Northern Illinois University: Introduction of Environmental Geology Teaching Assistant at University of Tennessee: Introductory Physical Geology Lab and Environmental Geology Lab, Field Methods in Hydrogeology and Field Camp-Hydrogeology Section