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01/17/08

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RUOTING PEI

2752 Campuswalk Ave #26E ◆ Durham, NC 27705  ◆(919) 360-2283 ◆ rp40@duke.edu

 

PROFILE

Highly motivated postdoctoral research scientist in the field of environmental microbiology and biotechnology with strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively lead and integrate information from various disciplines in a collaborative environment.

 

EXPERIENCE

2006 – Present  DUKE UNIVERSITY, Durham, NC

                         Postdoctoral Research Associate

                      ·         Studied toxicity of Mycotoxin present in indoor environment

·         Investigated deiodinase catalyzed biotransformation of brominated flame retardants in fish and human cell lines and the implications for neurotoxicity in children

·         Investigated different environmental conditions that affect the genetic adaptation by Horizontal Genetic Transfer (HGT)

2003 – 2006     COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, Fort Collins, CO                            

                      Graduate Research Assistant

·         Developed methods to study Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) as common contaminants

·         Identified and quantified ARG as emerging contaminants in the environment (major contribution to Advisor’s NSF Career Rewards and President Early career rewards in 2006)

·         Elucidated response ARG to biological treatment processes, and provided treatment solutions to prevent the spreading of ARG

·         Monitored and characterized the microbial community in a biodegradation system for MTBE and BETX

2000 – 2003      UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, Amherst, MA                              

                         Graduate Research Assistant

·         Evaluated application of source-specific indicators in watershed management and source water protection

·         Developed a quantitative severity index score system to quantify the impacts of land use on the level of microbial indicators in the water

1998 – 2000      DESIGN INSTITUTE OF CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORP., Urumqi, Xinjiang, China

      Environmental Engineer

·         Designed the dissolved air flotation units for treating the wastewater from petroleum refinery

 

SELECTED SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES

Molecular Biology

·         Real-time quantitative PCR and cloning

·         Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)

·         Single-strand conformation polymorphism(SSCP)

·         RNA extraction, in vitro transcription, and RT-PCR

·         DNA extraction and purification

 

·         Primer and probe design

·         Phospholipid analysis

·         Enzyme-Linked immunoSorbent assay (ELISA)

Cell Biology                                           

·         Culture of cells including hepatocyte cells, human hypotriploid cell line and murine Raw 267.4 cell

·         MTT assay

 

Water Quality Microbial Indicator Monitory

·         Traditional microbial indicator: Coliform enumeration and confirmation (Membrane filtration and MPN)

·         Source-specific microbial indicator: Rhodococcus coprophilus and Sorbitol-fermenting Bifiodobacteria enumeration and confirmation

·         Virus indicator: Coliphage enumeration and preliminary DNA/RNA typing; AODC

·         Other indicators: Total plate count, and Clostridium perfringens enumerations

Water Quality Monitory

·         TOC, DOC, Conductivity, UV254, Turbidity, TDS, TSS, DO, TS, COD etc

 

Instrumentation:

 

·         HPLC and GC

 

·         Flow cytometry

 

·         Confocal fluorescence microscopy

 

Computer and Statistics

·         ArcGIS

 

·         Microsoft Office

 

·         AutoCAD

 

·         SPSS, SAS

 

·         Phylogenetic analysis

 

·         UNIX

 

·         Webpage Design


EDUCATION

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, Fort Collins, CO

Ph.D., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.  December 2006.  Dissertation: Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) as Environmental Contaminants: Occurrence in Cache La-Poudre River Watershed and Response to Biological Treatment

 

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, Amherst, MA

M.S., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.  September 2003.  Thesis: Statistical Analysis of Water Quality, Microbial Indicators and Land Use for Watershed Management

 

TIANJIN UNIVERSITY, Tianjin, China

B.S., Department of Civil Engineering, June 1998. Cum Laude Thesis: Design of Kun District Water Treatment Plant in North China

 

SELECTED MEDIA NEWS REPORT ON MY PROJECTS

  1. Pollution in Solution Scientific American Jan 2007. Vol. 296, Iss. 1, p22-23.
  2. Genes as Pollutants: Tracking Drug-Resistant DNA in the Environment Science News. Washington: Sep 9, 2006. Vol. 170, Iss. 11; pg. 163-165
  3. DNA Found in Drinking Water Could Aid Germs- Researchers Found Antibiotic Resistant Genes in relatively pristine water. Special to LiveScience 7:20 p.m. ET, Mon., Oct. 23, 2006
  4. Antibiotic Resistance Genes As Emerging Environmental Pollutants EmaxHealth.com
  5. Water-Polluting DNA, even in Drinking Water, Assists Germs in Resisting Medicines! Greendiary.com, Oct 24 2006
  6. Resistant Genes Found in Colorado Water Mutating Microbes Raise Health Flags, CSU Researchers Say  Rocky Mountain News, Friday, October 27, 2006
  7. Professor Finds New Technique Civil engineering bulletin Monday, 01.07.2008, 04:52pm (GMT)
  8. Drugs, In Our Drinking Water http://awisealternativ.com, August 26th, 2007
  9. Antibiotics Used for Growth in Food Animals Making Their Way Into Waterways Newswise.com article 507755
  10. Tracing the path of Antibiotics. The Research Angle. College of Engineering, Colorado State University. April, 2006.

 

PUBLICATION PENDING

1.      Miller, S.; Pei, R.; Gunsch, C.K.; Stapleton, H.M. PBDE Biotransformation in Human Liver Cells, In Preparation, Nature.

2.      Pei, R.; Ikuma, K.; Gunsch, C.K. Horizontal Gene Transfer Occurrences in a Mixed Microbial Community, In Preparation, Environ. Microbiol.

3.      Pei, R.; Gunsch, C.K. Prevalence of TricotheceneMycotoxins in Indoor Environments in North Carolina, In Preparation, Environ. Sci, Technol.

4.      Ikuma, K.; Pei, R.; Gunsch, C.K. Effects of Substrate Type on Toluene Biodegradation Following a Horizontal Gene Transfer Event in Escherichia coli DH5α, In Preparation, Environ. Sci, Technol.

 

PUBLICATION

1.      Pei, R.; Cha, J-M.; Carlson, K.H.; Pruden, A. Biological Treatment of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) in Dairy Lagoon Water. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007, 41, 5108-5113.

2.      Pruden, A.; Pei, R.; Storteboom, H.; Carlson, K.H. Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) as Emerging Contaminants: Studies in Northeastern Colorado. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007, 40, 7445-7450.

3.      Pei, R.; Kim, S.C.; Carlson, K.H.; Pruden, A. Effect of River Landscape on the Sediment Concentrations of Antibiotics and Corresponding Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG). Water Res. 2006, 40, 2427-2435.

4.      Rees, P.L.S.; Long, S.C.; Baker, R. D.; Bordeau, H; Pei, R.; Barten, P.K Development of Event-Based Pathogen Monitoring Strategies for Watersheds. Technical Report. American Water Works Association Research Foundation, 2006, Denver, CO.

5.      Pei, R.; Huxford, K.; Pruden, A. Quantifying Antibiotic Resistance in the Sediments of a Mixed-Landscape River Water Environment Federation Technical Conference and Exhibition 2005 October 29–Nov.2, Washington D.C.

6.      Long, S.; Mahar, E.J.; Pei, R.; Arango, C.; Shafer, E.; Schoenberg, T.H. Development of Source-specific Indicator Organisms for Drinking Water AWWA Research Foundation 2002, Denver, CO.

7.      Long, S.C.; Pei, R.; Mahar, E.J.; Plummer, J.D. Watershed Level Evaluation of Three Source-Tracking Microbial Indicators In Proceedings of the Water Quality Technology Conference 2002, Seattle, WA.

 

PEER REVIEWED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS AND ORAL PRESENTATIONS

1.      Pei, R.; Gunsch, C.K. Effects Horizontal Gene Transfer Occurrences in a Mixed Microbial Community. The 108th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. 2008 June 1-5, Boston, MA.

2.      Ikuma. K.; Pei, R.; Gunsch, C.K. Effects of Substrate Type on Toluene Biodegradation Following a Horizontal Gene Transfer Event in Escherichia coli DH5α.  2008 Annual Meeting of IBE.  March 6–9, 2008, Chapel Hill, NC.

3.      Pei. R.; Wang, S.; Gunsch, C.K. Effects of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds on Activated Sludge Microorganisms”.  The 107th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. 2007, May 21-26, Toronto, Canada.

4.      Pei, R.; Pruden, A.; Kim, S-C; Carlson, K.H. Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) Studies in the Poudre River and Northern Colorado.  26th Annual American Geophysical Union Hydrology Days, 2006, March 20-22, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

5.      Pei R.; Kim, S.C.; Carlson, K.H.; Pruden, A. Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) in the Watershed. USDA-CSREES National Water Conference. 2006, February 5–9, San Antonio, TX.

6.      Pei, R.; Huxford, K.; Pruden, A. Quantifying Antibiotic Resistance in the Sediments of a Mixed-Landscape River.  Water Environment Federation Technical Conference and Exhibition, 2005, October 29–Nov. 2, Washington D.C.

7.      Pei, R.; Pruden, A. Quantifying Antibiotic Resistance in the Sediments of a Mixed Landscape River WEF/AWWA Student Conference, 2005, May 18, University of Wyoming , Laramie , WY.

8.      Pei R; Pruden, A. Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) as Emerging Environmental Contaminants World Water and Environmental Resources Congress 2006. 2006, May 21–25, Omaha, NE.

9.      Pruden, A.; Pei, R. Microbial Community Dynamics of BTEX Inhibition of MTBE and TBA Biodegradation. 10th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology 2004, August 22-27, Cancun , Mexico.

10.  Pei, R.; Anurita; Pruden, A. Microbial Community Dynamics During BTEX Inhibition of MTBE and TBA Biodegradation. WEF/AWWA Student Conference. 2004, May 18, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.

11.  Pei, R.; Anurita; Pruden, A. Microbial Community Dynamics of MTBE and BTEX Degradation. Hydrology Days, 2004, March 10-12, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

 

SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE

1.      Lee Pearson, Undergraduate Pratt Fellow, Environmental Engineering Student, (January 2007-Current), Project: “Investigating the Prevalence of Sterigmatocystin and Tricothecene Mycotoxins in Indoor Environments in North Carolina using ELISAs”

2.      Annie Chen, Howard Hughes Scholar, (Summer 2007), Project: “Factors affect Horizontal Genetic Transfer”.

3.      Nicholas Millar, Undergraduate Environmental Engineering Student, (September 2006- May 2007), Project: “Effect of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds on Microbial Growth”.

 

HONORS & AWARDS

1.      Second runner-up of the 2006 Best Paper Awards of Environmental Science & Technology A-paper magazine.

2.      Graduate research assistantship at Colorado State University (2003-2006)

3.      Graduate research assistantship at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (2000 -2003)

4.      Excellent Study Performance award of Petrochemical Engineering College, Tianjin University 1997

5.      Excellent Student of Construction College - Tianjin University, 1997

6.      Honored Bachelor Degree Thesis - Tianjin University, 1998

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

·         American Society of Microbiology

·         American Water Works Association

 

REFERENCES

 

References available upon request

 

  
     

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