Achievement

Kristen Brileya, a third year IGERT Trainee, recently participated in an IGERT International Internship experience in Vienna, Austria. While in Vienna Kristen worked in the Department of Microbial Ecology, University of Wien, for six weeks with Dr. Markus Schmid and was able to participate in the International FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) course. Kristen's research involves the syntrophic interaction of a sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, and a methanogen, Methanococcus maripaludis, with a focus on physiological responses to various stresses. While in Vienna Kristen received training in the visualization of bacterial and archaeal populations in a syntrophic methanogenic biofilm via fluorescence in situ hybridization. This training has helped Kristen understand the microbial communities involved in methane cycling, as methane is both a valuable source of energy and a notoriously potent greenhouse gas.