Frank E. Löffler, Ph.D. Carlton Wilder Associate Professor Georgia Institute of Technology School of Civil & Environmental Engineering

My laboratory group conducts research in four focal areas: microbial detoxification, bioremediation applications, novel bacteria, and environmental genomics. Microbial detoxification concentrates on bacteria that use chlorinated compounds as terminal electron acceptors in their energy metabolism (chlororespiration), and bacteria that change the valence state of metals and radionuclides. We seek novel isolates, characterize their physiology and growth requirements, and explore proteins catalyzing the key reactions. As bioremediation has critical environmental applications, we develop bacterial consortia and tools for the cleanup of contaminated sites. The novel bacteria we characterize include many interesting isolates, e.g., members of the Dehalococcoides cluster, Anaeromyxobacter species, and a novel group of free-living, pleomorphic spirochetes (FLiPS). In the last thrust area, we take advantage of available genome information for designing innovative nucleic acid-based approaches to detect, monitor and quantify specific populations in the environment (e.g., dechlorinators), elucidate the evolution and dissemination of genes of interest, and describe community structure, dynamics and function.

Education
1994  Ph.D., Microbiology/Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim/Technical University Harburg (Germany)

1990  M.S., Microbiology, University of Hohenheim