Edward J Brown
Professor

McCollum Science Hall
ed.brown@uni.edu
Phone: (319) 273-2645

• Ph.D. 1975 Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison (minor in Water
  Chemistry and Soil Science)
• M.S. 1973 Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• B.S. 1970 Microbiology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

Research

Bacteriology, aquatic and terrestrial microbiology, phytoplankton growth, phosphorus chemistry, biogeochemistry of sulfide and iron oxide minerals, bioremediation, environmental health

I am currently involved with research projects related to the environmental microbiology and environmental chemistry of the highly polluted lakes and streams in the midwest. Students in our environmental science lab are devising methods to determine the source of fecal contamination to Iowa lakes and streams. They are also studying microbial processes which help prevent phosphorus from polluting lakes and streams.

Selected publications

Uzoigwe, J.C., Eric H. O’Brien and Edward J. Brown. 2007. Using nutrient utilization patterns to determine the source of Escherichia coli found in surface water.  African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 1:7-13.

Iqbal, M., E. Brown and M. Clayton.  2006. Distribution of phosphorus in a biologically restricted lake in Iowa, USA. J. Hydrology 326:349-366.

Meyer, K.J., C.M. Appletoft, A.K. Schwemm, J. C. Uzoigwe and E.J. Brown. 2005. Determining the source of fecal contamination in recreational waters. Feature Article in J. Environmental Health 68:25-30.      

Mercer, D.R., S, Sheeley and E. Brown. 2005. Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) development

within microhabitats of an Iowa wetland.  J. Medical Entomology 42(4):685-693.

Schwemm, A., R. Pasker, M. Clayton and E. Brown.  2006. Fate and transport of phosphate through the Beaver Valley Wetlands in the Cedar River watershed. J. Undergraduate research 5:21-28.

Clayton, M.E., S. Liegeois and E. J. Brown. 2004. Phosphorus sequestration in lake sediment with iron mine tailings.  Soil and Sediment Contamination. 13:421-431.

Depken. D.E., C.L. Zeman, E. Kabat Lensch and E.J. Brown. 2002. The advanced technology environmental education center summer fellows institute. Journal of Environmental Education, 3:13-21.

 
Rouzic, L.J. T. Mascarenhas and E.J. Brown. 2000. The biodegradation potential of vegetable-based hydraulic fluid using a miniaturized test method. Resources and Environmental Biology, 3:49-59.
 

Baez, B.F., A. Jedlicka and E. J. Brown. 1997. After NAFTA: Institutional ways to create environmental assessment services and technological development in Mexico.  Frontera Norte 9:23-31.

Braddock, J.F., J.E. Lindstrom, T.R. Yeager, B.T. Rasley and E.J. Brown. 1996. Patterns of microbial activity in oiled and unoiled sediments in Prince William Sound.  American Fisheries Society Symposium 18:94-108.

Braddock, J.F., J.E. Lindstrom and E.J. Brown. 1995.  Distributions of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms of Prince William Sound, Alaska following the Exxon Valdez oil spill.  Marine Pollution Bulletin 30:125-132.

Braddock, J.F. and E.J. Brown. 1994. Competition between the yeast, Rhodotorula rubra, and the green alga, Selenastrum capriconutum Printz, for steady-state and pulsed phosphorus supplies. FEMS Microbiolgy Ecology 14:111-120.

Stillman, N.W. and E.J. Brown. 1992. Bioremediation Enzymatic Composition. U.S. Patent #5,160,525.

Brown, E.J., S.M. Resnick, C. Rebstock, H.V. Luong, J. Lindstrom. 1991. UAF Radiorespirometric Protocol for Assessing Hydrocarbon Mineralization Potential in Environmental Samples. Biodegradation. 2:25-31.

Lindstrom, J.E., R.C. Prince, J.R. Clark, M. Grossman, J.F. Braddock, T. Yeager, G. Winter and E.J. Brown. 1991. Microbial Populations and Hydrocarbon Biodegradation Potentials and in Fertilized Shoreline Sediments Affected by the EXXON Valdez Oil Spill. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:2514-2522.

Brown, E.J. and J.F. Braddock. 1990. Sheen screen, a miniaturized Most-Probable-Number method for enumeration of oil degrading microorganisms. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56:3895-3896.

Plonski, B.A., H.V. Luong, and E.J. Brown. 1990. Arsenic sorption by Chitosan and Chitin deacetylase production by Mucor rouxii. Biorecovery 1:239-253.

Lindstrom, J. and E.J. Brown. 1989. Supplemental carbon use by microorganisms degrading toxic organic compounds and the concept of specific affinity. Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials. 6:195-200.

Hong, S., H.V. Luong, and E.J. Brown. 1988. Biological benefication of an Alaskan ore. N. Eng. 20:11-14.

Brown, E.J., J.J. Pignatello, M.M. Martinson, and R.L. Crawford. 1986. Degradation of pentachlorophenol by a Flavobacterium sp. and by epilithic microbial populations. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 52:92-97.

Molot, L.A. and E.J. Brown. 1986. A method for determining the temporal response of microbial phosphate transport affinity. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 52:524-531.

Luong, H.V., J.F. Braddock, and E.J. Brown. 1985. Microbial leaching of arsenic from low sulfide gold mine material. Geomicrobiol. J. 4:73-86.

Braddock, J.F., H.V. Luong, and E.J. Brown. 1984. Growth kinetics of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans isolated from arsenic mine drainage. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 48:48-55.

Brown, E.J., H.V. Luong, and J.M. Forshaug. 1982. The occurrence of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and arsenic in subarctic streams affected by gold mine drainage. Arctic. 35:417-421.

Brown, E.J., D.K. Button, and D.S. Lang. 1981. Competition between heterotrophic and autotrophic microplankton for dissolved nutrients. Microb. Ecol. 7:199-206.

Lang, D.S. and E.J. Brown. 1981. Phosphorus-limited growth of a green alga and a blue-green alga. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 42:1002-1009.

Brown, E.J. and D.K. Button. 1979. Chemical speciation of arsenic. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 21:37-42.

Brown, E.J. and D.K. Button. 1979. Phosphate-limited growth kinetics of a green alga. J. Phycol. 15:305-311.

Brown, E.J. and R.F. Harris. 1978. Algal Transient phosphate uptake kinetics and the cell quota concept. Limnol. Oceanogr. 23:35-40.

Brown, E.J., R.F. Harris, and J.F. Koonce. 1978. Kinetics of phosphate uptake by aquatic microorganisms. Deviations from a simple Michaelis-Menten equation. Limnol. Oceanogr. 23:26-34.

GRADUATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS:

Ph.D.

Lewis Molot                     Oceanography, 1982

Joan Braddock                Oceanography, 1989

M.S.

Doug Lang                      Oceanography, 1981

Joan Forshaug                 Microbiology, 1983

Barbara Plonski               Oceanography, 1985

Dave Dixson                    Environmental Quality Science, 1987

John Lindstrom                Environmental Quality Science, 1988

Seongho Hong*        Mineral Engineering, 1988

Tim Wingerter                  Environmental Quality Science, 1989

Brian Rasley                   Chemistry, 1989

Mike Brockman               Oceanography, 1991

Carl Rebstock*                Oceanography Science, 1997

Chris Horan              Environmental Science, 1995

Emily Monroe                          Environmental Science, 1996

Zachary Richter                      Environmental Science, 1997

Marty Braud*                         Environmental Science, 1998

Terumi Mascarenhas               Environmental Science, 1999

Lionel Rouzic                          Environmental Science, 1999

Tim Reis           Environmental Science  2001

Irina Vyazunova*            Environmental Science,  2001

Alissa Schultz*      Environmental Science,  2001

Eric O’Brien      Environmental Science,  2004

Jacinta Uzoiqwe        Environmental Science,  2004

Patrick Johnston Environmental Science, (current)

Elodie Pasco     Environmental Science,  2005

Claudia Espinosa Environmental Science, (current)

Olga Volkova     Environmental Science, (current)

Recently taught courses

Microbiology for nurses (840:033)

Microbiology for majors (840:151)

Graduate courses in environmental science and Capstone (820:140)

Other courses