.....Schilling's Lab......Biodeterioration & Biodegradation

home about news & openings teaching

The laboratory is a place where problems are approached in real-time and where answers can be discovered, not just learned. Skills gained in the lab should complement knowledge learned in the classroom to prepare students to solve problems and inovate. Students in my lab will have the chance to design, implement and share projects in an interdisciplinary lab group and among the resource-rich scientific community at the University of Minnesota. Check news & openings if you are interested in working in the lab or contact the PI.

ON-LINE LECTURES ____________________________________________________________________________

Building to Last - A Fence Project - In telling the story of building my fence, I touch on many of the topics covered in my 'Organisms' class 4/5302, and also build the case for using solid wood instead of other, non-renewable materials. (53 min)

Bioremediation - This lecture explores the science and the practice of bioremediation and also serves as an overview of my course, Bioremediation 4/5608. (57 min)

COURSES TAUGHT_____________________________________________________________________________

BBE 4302/5302 (3 Cr) - Organisms Impacting Bio-based Products

This course is offered in Spring and is often called 'Organisms.' The class focuses 50% of time on the organisms responsible for lignocellulose degradation. These include bacteria, fungi, insects, and marine borers. We focus primarily on wood as a lignocellulose-based building material and we spend the majority of time on microbial agents of deterioration/degradation. Prevention, detection and control of these organisms is another 25% of the class, with the last 25% devoted to their potential utilization in biotechnology. The philosophy, goals, grading expectations, and general schedule are outlined in the class syllabus which can be downloaded here (2008 version). The 'Organisms' class will begin incorporating more hands-on training as it matures, and students should be prepared to discuss scientific articles and current events in addition to learning the fundamentals.

ESPM 4608/5608 (2 Cr) - Bioremediation

This course is offered in the Fall. Bioremediation is the use of organisms, often microbes or their enzymes, to detoxify contaminants either in the field (in situ) or in containment facilities (ex situ). This is a rapidly-growing field that also has a long tradition. This Bioremediation course aims to introduce the fundamentals, survey the discipline, and discuss contemporary applications. In the course, we will 1) define 'contaminants', sources and environmental fates, 2) characterize biological organisms, pathways and catalysts utilized in bioremediation, and 3) discuss site inspection practices, bioremediation technologies and application in real-world situations. The class will depend largely on tests, but will incorporate homework and participation in discussion as part of the grade. 2007 syllabus

For more information about these and other classes, visit the class schedule page at the U website.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------