Skip to Main Content

The University of Tennessee

Center for Environmental Biotechnology

Frequently Used Tools:




Center for Environmental Biotechnology

The Center for Environmental Biotechnology (CEB) was established in 1986 to foster a multidisciplinary approach for training the next generation of environmental scientists in solving environmental problems through biotechnology and distinguishing itself as a world leader in developing the interdisciplinary research field of Environmental Biotechnology. The CEB has evolved over the years by incorporation of state-of-the-art technology into its research programs and directing research towards emerging environmental and societal needs. The CEB maintains a core of faculty, non-tenure research faculty, and postdoctoral scientists dedicated to UT’s goal of becoming a top 25 research institution, promoting economic development in Tennessee, and incorporating teaching, training, outreach, and diversity throughout their research programs. We provide expertise across a broad spectrum of science and engineering disciplines and are heavily invested in maintaining multidisciplinary research activities. Core research areas include bioenvironmental systems and environmental omics (genomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and gene expression), biomicroelectronics, nanobiotechnology, biomedical and health care imaging technologies, biosensor and bioreporter development, environmental toxicology and water quality, bioenergy and biofuels, and education and outreach.

Student Opportunities

The Center for Environmental Biotechnology hosts M.S. and Ph.D. degree seeking graduate students from multiple disciplines including (but not limited to) Microbiology, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Prospective graduate students (i) must apply for graduate admissions to a relevant academic department and (ii) notify the CEB of their intent to conduct their research at CEB. The CEB additionally hosts numerous undergraduate student interns and high school students in order to promote scientific and technological learning and the application of learned concepts to real-world situations.

Information on the Graduate School can be found at http://gradschool.utk.edu/default.shtml. Please visit the UTK website for information on academic departments. Information on undergraduate internships can be found at http://research.utk.edu/undergrad/. Information for high school students and/or their instructors interested in hands-on laboratory experiences can be found at http://www.artsci.utk.edu/outreach/index.asp.

News and Events

Congratulations to Jill Wilson for receiving a Top Undergraduate Research Award at this year’s EUReCA exhibition for her project ‘Assessment of exposure to environmental estrogens in male largemouth bass in east Tennessee reservoirs’ (http://research.utk.edu/eureca/winners_11.shtml).

The CEB welcomes a talented group of undergraduates into our research labs for the Spring 2012 semester:

  • Lee Barham
  • Clara Beasley
  • Kristina Bonds
  • Jessica Caudill
  • Eric Holweg
  • Jasity Murphy
  • Sarah Price
  • Alexandra Rogers
  • Hunter Tipton
  • James Webb
 

Improving Lives by Making Cells Glow (courtesy of the UT Media Relations Center)

Recent News

Dr. Susan Pfiffner is working with Dow Chemical and ORNL on a Department of Energy award to improve the white roofs' ability to reflect solar rays, reducing cooling costs for commercial buildings.

 

Recent Publications

Lopes, N., S. A. Hawkins, P. Jegier, F. M. Menn, G. S. Sayler, and S. Ripp. 2012. Detection of dichloromethane with a bioluminescent (lux) bacterial bioreporter. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 39:45-53.

Chauhan, A., A. C. Layton, D. Williams, A. E. Smartt, S. Ripp, T. V. Karpinets, S. D. Brown, and G. S. Sayler 2011. Draft genome sequence of the polycylic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading, genetically engineered bioluminscent bioreporter Pseudomonas fluorescens HK44. Journal of Bacteriology doi:10.1128/JB.05530-11. (article)

Close, D. M., R. Hahn, S. Patterson, S. Baek, S. Ripp, and G. S. Sayler. 2011. Comparison of human optimized bacterial luciferase, firefly luciferase, and green fluorescent protein for continuous imaging of cell culture and animal models. Journal of Biomedical Optics 16, 047003; doi:10.1117/1.3564910.

Cheng, M. D., S. M. Pfiffner, W. A. Miller, and P. Berdahl. 2011. Chemical and microbial effects of atmospheric particles on the perfromance of steep-slope roofing materials. Building and Environment 46:999-1010.

Henry, T. B., E. J. Petersen, and R. N. Compton. 2011. Aqueous fullerene aggregates (nC60) generate minimal reactive oxygen species and are of low toxicity in fish: a revision of previous reports. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 22:533-537.

Smartt, A. E., and S. Ripp. 2011. Bacteriophage reporter technology for sensing and detecting microbial targets. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 400:991-1007.

Bergamasco, A. M., M. Eldridge, J. Sanseverino, F. F. Sodre, C. C. Montagner, I. C. Pescara, W. F. Jardim, and G. A. Umbuzeiro. 2011. Bioluminescent yeast estrogen assay (BLYES) as a sensitive tool to monitor surface and drinking water for estrogenicity. Journal of Environmental Monitoring 13:3288-3293.

 

Contact Information


The Center for Environmental Biotechnology
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
676 Dabney Hall
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1605

For more information concerning CEB, please contact us by e-mail (cebweb@utk.edu) or by phone (865-974-8080).