Robert Tabita will lead a team of researchers in a Department of Energy study examining the role microorganisms play in creating different types of energy.   By Jo McCulty

DOE grant to study energy-producing bacteria received by Ohio State

Ohio State's new program to study the mechanisms that control microbial metabolism holds promise for the creation of alternative energy sources.

Scientists will also explore ways to use microbes to remove greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, from the atmosphere as well as how these microorganisms can degrade toxic compounds.

The Department of Energy awarded $2.1 million to seven institutions that will participate in a three-year Microbial Cell Project. Ohio State will lead the consortium and receive about $900,000 of the total grant.

Led by Robert Tabita, an Ohio Eminent Scholar and professor of microbiology and plant biology, researchers here will study how the bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris metabolizes gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen. R. palustris can also produce hydrogen gas and break down chemicals such as sulfur.

"With the depletion of coal and fossil fuels, we need to harness microbes' abilities to help produce usable sources of energy, such as hydrogen and methane,"Tabita said. "Microorganisms play a huge role in creating different types of energy."

R. palustris is found everywhere; it's common in dry and wet environments.

"Some bacteria absorb carbon dioxide, some produce energy, others degrade or oxidize hydrogen or other more complex compounds, and some can convert nitrogen gas to ammonia, a process important to agriculture,"Tabita said. "But R. palustris is the only organism thus far described that can do it all.

"We can also trick R. palustris into producing huge quantities of hydrogen gas, which can be used as an energy source,"he said. The DOE hopes that the Microbial Cell Project will let scientists start writing a comprehensive "owner's manual"for key microbes. Scientists already know the complete gene sequence for R. palustris; they now want to know what the individual parts do and how they're controlled.

"We have the genetic blueprint. Now we can start learning how the organism integrates and controls all parts of the blueprint,"Tabita said.

Apart from causing certain illnesses, bacteria have many worthwhile functions.

"Virtually every natural process that takes place on the earth is driven by microorganisms,"Tabita said. "We wouldn't have plants if we didn't have microbial activity. And if we didn't have plants, we wouldn't have oxygen."

Tabita also directs Ohio State's Plant-Microbe Genomics Facility, where he and his colleagues will conduct much of Ohio State's portion of the Microbial Cell Project.

The facility has the equipment necessary for decoding DNA; that is, researchers can determine which genes a microorganism uses when assimilating or synthesizing particular gases or chemicals.

Ohio State will team with investigators from the University of Iowa, University of British Columbia, UCLA, and the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash.

OAA announces promotion and tenure

The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to present to the University community the names of those colleagues who were promoted in academic rank and/or awarded tenure. Below are the names and the dates on which the promotion or tenure took effect.

Faculty promoted to professor

Mark A. Angelos, Emergency Medicine - July 1; Anil Arya, Accounting and Management Information Systems - Oct. 1; Charles L. Brooks, Veterinary Biosciences - July 1; Lee B. Brown, Philosophy - Oct. 1; Larry C. Brown, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering - July 1;

Robert G. Castile, Pediatrics - July 1; David W. Covey, Dance - Oct. 1; James W. DeWille, Veterinary Biosciences - July 1; Patrick J. Fahey, Family Medicine - July 1; Kirk Freudenburg, Greek and Latin - Oct. 1; Mary A. Fristad, Psychiatry - July 1;

Kock K. Gan, Physics - Oct. 1; J. Ronald Green, History of Art - Oct. 1; Patrick L. Green, Veterinary Biosciences - Oct. 1;

Joseph S. Hogan, Animal Sciences - July 1; George A. Karolyi, Finance - Oct. 1; Sebastian D. Knowles, English - Oct. 1; Robert Lee, Electrical Engineering - Oct. 1; Barbara A. Lehman, School of Teaching and Learning, Mansfield - Oct. 1; Rongxing Li, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science - Oct. 1; David A. Lincove, Libraries - July 1; Nancy K. Lowe, College of Nursing - Oct. 1;

Steven N. MacEachern, Statistics - Oct. 1; John D. Mahan, Pediatrics - July 1; Carolyn J. Merry, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science - Oct. 1; Deborah A. Moddelmog, English - Oct. 1; N. Stanley Nahman Jr., Internal Medicine - July 1; Gerard J. Nuovo, Pathology - July 1; Michael J. Oglesbee, Veterinary Biosciences - Oct. 1; Michael C. Ostrowski, Molecular Genetics - Oct. 1; Hitay Ozbay, Electrical Engineering - Oct. 1;

Dhabaleswar K. Panda, Computer and Information Science - Oct. 1; James C. Papritan, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering - July 1; Jonathan P. Pelz, Physics - Oct. 1; Shahrokh Rahnema, Agricultural Technical Institute - July 1; Patricia B. Reagan, Psychology - Oct. 1; Steven A. Ringel, Electrical Engineering - Oct. 1; Brad H. Rovin, Internal Medicine - July 1;

Ahmet Selamet, Mechanical Engineering - Oct. 1; Mark W. Shanda, Theatre - July 1; Mo-How Herman Shen, Aerospace Engineering and Aviation - Oct. 1; C. K. Shum, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science - Oct. 1; John W. Simpson, School of Architecture - Oct. 1; Brian H. Smith, Entomology - Oct. 1; Michael D. Swartz, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures - Oct. 1; Joseph B. Travers, College of Dentistry - July 1; Terry P. Walker, Physics - Oct. 1; Deliang Wang, Computer and Information Science - Oct. 1; M. Guillaume Wientjes, College of Pharmacy - Oct. 1; Longya Xu, Electrical Engineering - Oct. 1; Fangyeng Zheng, Mathematics - Oct. 1; Allen P. Zimmerman, Agricultural Technical Institute - July 1.

Faculty promoted to professor with tenure

Mary Ellen O'Connell, College of Law - Aug. 16.

Regular clinical faculty promoted to professor

Randy R. Miller, Pediatrics - July 1; Herman A. Tolbert, Psychiatry - July 1.

Faculty promoted to associate professor

Barbara A. Brahm, Extension - July 1; Ruth A. Foote, Extension - July 1; Cynthia R. Hoover, Extension - July 1; Lee J. McEwan, Mathematics, Mansfield - Oct. 1; Judith A. Villard, Extension - July 1; Marguerite Weibel, Libraries - July 1; Gary W. Wilson, Extension - July 1.

Regular clinical faculty promoted to associate professor

Marialice S. Bennett, College of Pharmacy - July 1; Janet L. Bolina, College of Dentistry - July 1; Carolyn C. Brackett, College of Pharmacy - July 1; Daniel M. Cohen, Pediatrics - July 1; Henry Fischbach, College of Dentistry - July 1; Miriam L. Freimer, Neurology - July 1; Steven I. Ganzberg, College of Dentistry - July 1;

Christine A. Halket, College of Dentistry - July 1; Charles L. Hitchcock, Pathology - July 1; Mark A. Knutsen, College of Dentistry - July 1; Beverly A. McClure, College of Dentistry - July 1;

Deborah A. Mendel, College of Dentistry - July 1; R. Bruce Miller, College of Dentistry - July 1; Ann Pakalnis, Pediatrics - July 1; Sam L. Penza, Internal Medicine - July 1; Amanda M. Termuhlen, Pediatrics - July 1; Barbara J. Warren, College of Nursing - Oct. 1.

Faculty promoted to associate professor with tenure

Stephen T. Abedon, Microbiology, Mansfield - Oct. 1; Arved M. Ashby, School of Music - Oct. 1; Daniel K. Avorgbedor, School of Music - Oct. 1; Paul E. Bellair, Sociology - Oct. 1; Mary K. Bendixon-Noe, Teaching and Learning, Newark - Oct. 1; Douglas A. Berman, College of Law - Aug. 16; Michael J. Boehm, Plant Pathology - July 1; Jennifer A. Bogner, Pharmacology - July 1; Kathleen A. Boris-Lawrie, Veterinary Biosciences - Oct. 1; James F. Buckley, English, Mansfield - Oct. 1; William E. Burak Jr., Surgery - July 1;

John Cardina, Horticulture and Crop Science - July 1; Beau Case, Libraries - July 1; Michael K. Chan, Biochemistry - Oct. 1; Ann D. Christy, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering - July 1; Wayne C. Chung, Industrial, Interior, and Visual Communication Design - Oct. 1; Caroline T. Clark, School of Teaching and Learning - Oct. 1; Roger A. Crawfis, Computer and Information Science, Oct. 1; Edward J. D'Arms, Philosophy - Oct. 1; Garee W. Earnest, Extension - July 1; Brian W. Edmiston, School of Teaching and Learning - Oct. 1;

Dave F. Farson, Industrial, Welding and Systems Engineering - Oct. 1; Jonathan J. Fox, Consumer and Textile Sciences - Oct. 1; Mary Jo Fresch, School of Teaching and Learning, Marion - Oct. 1; Thomas P. Gallanis, College of Law - Aug. 16; Jared B. Gardner, English - Oct. 1; Erich Grotewold, Plant Biology - Oct. 1; Erik T. Gunderson, Greek and Latin - Oct. 1; Javier Gutierrez-Rexach, Spanish and Portuguese - Oct. 1; Christopher M. Hadad, Chemistry - Oct. 1; Gregor W. Hens, Germanic Languages and Literatures - Oct. 1; Ivo Herzog, Mathematics, Lima - Oct. 1; Richard E. Hughes, Physics - Oct. 1;

Lisa A. Keister, Sociology - Oct. 1; Rebecca Y. Kim, College of Social Work - Oct. 1; Ethan H. Knapp, English - Oct. 1; Joseph H. Konen, Extension - July 1; Linda M. Kutilek, Extension - July 1; Terry A. Lennie, College of Nursing - Oct. 1; Delwin T. Lindsey, Psychology, Mansfield - Oct. 1; Michael A. Lisa, Physics - Oct. 1; Wenzhi Luo, Mathematics - Oct. 1; James W. McAuley, College of Pharmacy - July 1; Kathryn M. Meurs, Veterinary Clinical Sciences - July 1; Catherine P. Montalto, Consumer and Textile Sciences - Oct. 1; Christine B. Morris, Art Education, Newark - Oct. 1; Dehua Pei, Chemistry - Oct. 1; Townsand Price-Spratlen, Sociology - Oct. 1; William O. Putikka, Physics, Mansfield - Oct. 1;

Nancy R. Reynolds, College of Nursing - Oct. 1; Vincent J. Roscigno, Sociology - Oct. 1; Alan J. Saalfeld, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science - Oct. 1; Scott D. Scheer, Human and Community Resource Development - July 1; Petra Schmalbrock, Radiology - Oct. 1; Marian Shemberg, Libraries - July 1; Brent L. Sohngen, Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics - July 1; John C. Thrasher, Art, Mansfield - Oct. 1; Cynthia L. Uline, School of Educational Policy and Leadership - Oct. 1;

Daniel C. Voltz, Agricultural Technical Institute - Oct. 1; W. James Waldman, Pathology - July 1; Bruce A. Weinberg, Economics - Oct. 1; David A. Willoughby, Agricultural Technical Institute - July 1; William A. Wilmer, Internal Medicine - July 1; Karen G. Wimbush, Agricultural Technical Institute - July 1; Brian L. Winer, Physics - Oct. 1; Andrea D. Wolfe, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology - Oct. 1.

Faculty promoted to assistant professor with tenure

Mary F. Longo, Extension - July 1; Cynthia J. Preston, Libraries - July 1.

Faculty approved for tenure

Jean P. Hubble, Neurology - July 1; Norman B. Schmidt, Psychology - Oct. 1.