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Blaire Steven

Sampling Algae at Rock Lake Wyoming

I am currently a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Ward’s lab.  My interests lie in the areas of microbial ecology, biogeography, and how microorganisms interact with their surrounding environment.  I am involved in the unique planctomycete cell structure, bacterial/algal interactions and pediatric IBD projects being conducted in the lab.  
 

Brief CV

2003-2007: PhD, McGill University      
   Supervisor: Dr. Lyle Whyte
   Thesis title: Microbial Diversity and Activity in Permafrost from the    Canadian High Arctic
   
Research Activities
•    Developing methods for the aseptic retrieval of permafrost cores
•    Characterization of microbial communities using molecular and culturing techniques
•    Develop protocols for measuring activity and growth of microorganisms at sub-zero temperatures
•    Identification and characterization of novel microbial isolates

2001- 2003:  Masters Degree, McGill University           
Supervisor: Dr. Brian Driscoll
Thesis title: Regulation and Expression of the mdh-sucCDAB Operon in Sinorhizobium meliloti
   
Research Activities
•    Use a combination of genetic and biochemical techniques to characterize the regulation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in S. meliloti
•    Generate mutants of TCA cycle genes 
•    Purify and characterize the enzyme Malate dehydrogenase


2000-2001: B.Sc. in Cellular Molecular Microbial Biology (Honors research project) University of Calgary
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Hynes
Thesis Title: Genes Regulated by the Alternative Sigma Factor, Sigma 54, in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae
   
Research Activities
•    Generate a transposon mutant library and screen the library for genes regulated by sigma 54
•    Characterize sigma 54 regulated genes


Advanced Training Courses

  • August 2008: Life in Extreme Conditions.  One-week workshop hosted by MEDILS in Split, Croatia. (Awarded full expenses by NASA Astrobiology Institute, NAI)
  • January 2008: International Graduate Training Course in Antarctic Biology. One-month training course at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Awarded by: National Science Foundation (Awarded full expenses from NSF).
  • April 2007: NASA Planetary Biology Internship (8 week internship in the lab of Dr. Boston at New Mexico Tech.) Administered by: Marine Biological Laboratory (Awarded full expenses plus stipend by NAI).

 

Peer Reviewed Publications (outside Ward lab)

  • Niederberger TD, Steven B, Charvet S, Barbier B, and Whyte LG. Virgibacillus arcticus sp. nov. a moderately halophilic endospore-forming bacterium from permafrost in the Canadian high Arctic. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. (Accepted Dec. 2008).
  • Steven B, Pollard WH, Greer CW and Whyte LG. 2008. Microbial diversity and activity through a permafrost/ground ice core profile from the Canadian high Arctic.  Environmental Microbiology. 10: 3388-3403.
  • Steven B, Qun Chen M, Greer CW, Whyte LG, and Niederberger TD. 2008. Tumebacillus permanentifrigoris gen. nov., sp. nov., an aerobic, spore-forming bacterium isolated from Canadian high Arctic permafrost. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 58: 1497-1501.
  • Steven B, Niederberger TD, Bottos EM, Dyen MR, Whyte LG. 2007. Development of a sensitive radiorespiration method to detect microbial activity at subzero temperatures. Journal of Microbiological Methods 71:275-280.
  • Steven B, Briggs G, McKay CP, Pollard WH, Greer CW, and Whyte LG. 2007. Characterization of the microbial diversity in a permafrost sample from the Canadian high Arctic using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 59:513-523.
  • Juck DF, Whissell G, Steven B, Pollard W, McKay CP, Greer CW and Whyte LG.  2005.  Utilization of fluorescent microspheres and a GFP-marked strain for detecting microbial contamination in permafrost sediment and ground ice drill core samples from the Canadian High Arctic.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 71:1035-1041.
  • Dymov SI, Meek DJJ, Steven B, and Driscoll BT. 2004.  Insertion of transposon Tn5tac1 in the Sinorhizobium meliloti malate dehydrogenase (mdh) gene results in conditional polar effects on downstream TCA cycle genes.  Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 17:1318-1327.


Reviews and Book Chapters

  • Steven B, Niederberger TD, and Whyte LG. 2009. Bacterial and Archaeal diversity in permafrost. In: Permafrost Soils. Ed. (R. Margasin). Springer Verlag pp. 59-72.
  • Steven B, Léveillé R, Pollard WH, and Whyte LG. 2006. Microbial ecology and biodiversity in permafrost.  Extremophiles. 10:259-267

contact: blairesteven@gmail.com