Jeffra K. Schaefer
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department of Geosciences
M32 Guyot Hall
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544

Phone: (609) 258-7438
E-Mail:

Research

I am interested in understanding the factors controlling methylmercury formation in freshwater and marine environments. Methylmercury is produced in anoxic sediments, soils, and bottom waters primarily by obligate anaerobic bacteria belonging to the delta-Proteobacteria. Little is understood about how mercury enters methylating bacteria and even less about the biochemical mechanism involved. My research involves trying to understand the mechanisms involved in these bacteria using pure cultures of both sulfate and non-sulfate-reducing bacteria in order to better understand the controlling factors in the environment.

CV PDF

JEFFRA K. SCHAEFER

Department of Geosciences, Guyot Hall M32

Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544

(609) 2587438 • jschaefe@princeton.edu

CURRENT RESEARCH FOCUS

• Mercury uptake mechanisms in mercury methylating strains of sulfate-reducing and iron-reducing bacteria.
• Mercury methylation in the marine environments

EDUCATION

Ph.D. 2005. Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University. New Brunswick, NJ. “The Role of Mercury Resistance Genes in the Environment and the Factors Controlling their Expression”. Dr. Tamar Barkay, Advisor.

B.A. 1997. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California. Berkeley, CA

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Research Associate. 2005 – Present. Department of Geosciences, Princeton University. Princeton, NJ. “Mercury Methylation in Anaerobic Bacteria and Field Samples”. Dr. François Morel, Advisor.

Graduate Research Assistant. 2000 – 2005. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University. New Brunswick, NJ.

Biologist. 1994 – 1999. US Geological Survey. Menlo Park, CA.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Lecturer. Spring 2007. Princeton University. Princeton, NJ. “ENV202 Fundamentals of Environmental Studies: Climate, Air Pollution, Toxics, and Water” Lab Course. Dr. Eileen Zerba, Professor.

Teachers Assistant. Fall 2003. Cook College, Rutgers University. New Brunswick, NJ. “Microbial Ecology and Biodiversity Laboratory”. Dr. Tamar Barkay, Advisor. “General Microbiology Laboratory”. Dr. Diane Davis, Professor.

Part-Time Lecturer. Spring 2003. Cook College, Rutgers University. New Brunswick, NJ. “Microbial Ecology and Biodiversity Laboratory”. Dr. Tamar Barkay, Advisor.

OUTREACH EXPERIENCE

Presented a variety of topics on biology in the Oceans Unit of QUEST for Middle School Teachers. 2006. Princeton University.

Presented at the Science and Engineering Expo for Middle School students. 2006. Princeton University. “Life without Oxygen – Photosynthetic Bacteria and the Sulfur Cycle”.

PUBLICATIONS

T. Cardona-Marek, J. K. Schaefer, K. Ellickson, T. Barkay, J. R. Reinfelder. Mercury speciation and transformations in a highly contaminated estuary, Berry’s Creek, New Jersey Meadowlands, U.S.A. Submitted to Environ. Sci. Technol.

S. M. Ní Chadhain*, J. K. Schaefer*, S. Hicks, G. J. Zylstra, and T. Barkay. 2006. Analysis of mercuric reductase (merA) gene diversity in an anaerobic mercury-contaminated sediment enrichment. Environ. Microbiol. 8: 1746-1752.

*Authors contributed equally to this manuscript.

J. K. Schaefer, J. Yagi, J. Reinfelder, T. Cardona, K. M. Ellickson, S. Tel-Or, T. Barkay. 2004. The role of the bacterial organomercury lyase (MerB) in controlling methylmercury accumulation in mercury contaminated natural waters. Environ. Sci. Technol. 38: 4304-4311.

J. K. Schaefer, J. Letowski, and T. Barkay. 2002. mer-mediated resistance and volatilization of Hg(II) under anaerobic conditions. Geomicrobiol. J. 19: 87-102.

J. K. Schaefer, K. D. Goodwin, I. R. McDonald, J. C. Murrell, R. S. Oremland. 2002. Leisingera methylohalidivorans, gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine methylotroph that grows on methyl bromide. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 52: 851-859.

T. Barkay and J. Schaefer. 2001. Metal and radionucleotide bioremediation: issues, considerations and potentials. Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 4: 318 – 323.

R. S. Oremland, P. R. Dowdle, S. Hoeft, J. P. Sharp, J. K. Schaefer, L. G. Miller, J. S. Blum, R. L. Smith, N. S. Bloom, D. Wallschlaeger. 2000. Bacterial Dissimilatory Reduction of Arsenate and Sulfate in Meromictic Mono Lake, California. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 64: 3073-3084.

J. K. Schaefer and R. S. Oremland. 1999. Oxidation of Methyl Halides by the Facultative Methylotroph Strain IMB-1. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 5035-5041.

K. D. Goodwin, J. K. Schaefer, and R. S. Oremland. 1998. Bacterial Oxidation of Dibromomethane and Methyl Bromide in Natural Waters and Enrichment Cultures. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 4629-4636.

A. M. Laverman, J. S. Blum, J. K. Schaefer, E. J. Philips, D. R. Lovley, and R. S. Oremland. 1995. Growth of Strain SES-3 with Arsenate and Other Diverse Electron Acceptors. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61: 3556-3561.

AWARDS

2000 – 2004            New Jersey Farmer’s Scholorship

2002                        ASM Corporate Sponser Student Travel Grant Award