Dr. Lisa Gieg
Contact information
Phone number
Office: +1 (403) 210-7207
Location
Office and Lab: Biological SciencesBI-228
Background
Educational Background
B.S. Microbiology, University of Alberta, 1991
Doctor of Philosophy Microbiology, University of Alberta, 1996
ELATES Scholar Leadership, Drexel University, 2018
Research
Areas of Research
Environmental Microbiology, Petroleum Microbiology, Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Metabolism, Bioremediation, Enhanced Energy Recovery, Sulfate Reduction, Methanogenesis, Microbial Corrosion
In the Gieg laboratory, we aim to understand how anaerobic microorganisms metabolize a variety of compounds associated with the energy industry (mainly hydrocarbons) that have either been accidentally released into the environment or are present in natural reservoirs. Recent studies have shown that anaerobic microorganisms use metabolic strategies distinct from those of aerobes in order to biodegrade hydrocarbons, such as activation by fumarate addition, carboxylation, hydroxylation, and methylation. Overall, anaerobic hydrocarbon metabolism is poorly understood.
Using combined tools of cultivation, analytical chemistry, and molecular biology, we seek to:
- elucidate novel anaerobic biodegradation pathways of different classes of hydrocarbons and related compounds under highly reduced conditions (e.g., sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions)
- understand the associated biochemical and enzymatic mechanisms
- identify and isolate key consortia and species involved
- investigate the ecological constraints on anaerobic hydrocarbon metabolism
In determining the fundamental science underlying anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation, we can begin to formulate universal themes of metabolism and apply what we learn to important environmental problems or energy-related systems such as:
- Anaerobic bioremediation at fuel-contaminated sites
- Microbial corrosion of pipelines
- Paraffin biotreatment or prevention
- Oil sands tailings ponds reclamation
- Oil and gas souring
- Enhanced energy recovery via the bioconversion of oil to methane in marginal oilfields
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CMMB 443 | Microbial Physiology | Fall 2026 |
| CMMB 545 | Petroleum Microbiology | Winter 2027 |
Publications
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