CAREER: Microbes and phosphorus: integrating engineering principles, ecology, and student learning to study eutrophication of freshwater lakes

威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校凯瑟琳·D·麦克马洪命题编号：0644949 CAREER：微生物与磷：将工程学原理、生态学和学生学习结合起来研究淡水湖富营养化的智力价值。人们普遍认为，微生物(主要是藻类和细菌)通过在水柱和沉积物中的作用来控制湖泊中的磷循环。然而，关于微生物磷循环的生化机制，以及不同分类群对特定磷转化的贡献，人们知之甚少。最近对富营养化湖泊中淡水细菌群落动态的研究表明，群落组成随着时间的推移而发生显著变化，并且这种变化与营养物质有效性的变化有关。更好地了解所涉及的基本机制，以及这些机制如何随群落组成而变化，最终将有助于提高预测湖泊管理做法对水质的影响的能力。PI将与华盛顿大学湖泊研究中心和中国科学院南京地理与湖泊研究所的科学家建立牢固的联系。反过来，我将利用正在进行的努力，为湖泊建立无线传感器网络，并促进国际合作，这两者都将为学生培训提供巨大的机会。湖泊水质是威斯康星州绝大多数居民感兴趣的问题。威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校及其出色的现有外展基础设施将帮助我开发和评估外展材料，旨在提高对湖泊水质和环境工程与科学学科的认识，面向多个年龄段。NSF资助的研究、教学和学习整合中心的工作人员将与我和我的研究生合作，通过为期一周的探究式教学单元吸引中学生参与，旨在向他们介绍环境工程和科学。PI还将有一个独特的机会，通过大学前卓越学习充实机会计划，接触少数族裔和弱势高中生。在为本科生开设的环境工程入门课程中，PI已经表现出强烈的教学作为研究的承诺，并将继续参与这一进程，以促进有效的教学和学习，同时努力激励下一代环境工程师。

McMahon, Katherine D. University of Wisconsin-MadisonProposal Number: 0644949CAREER: Microbes and phosphorus: integrating engineering principles, ecology, and student learning to study eutrophication of freshwater lakesIntellectual Merit. It is generally accepted that microbes (primarily algae and bacteria) control P-cycling in lakes, through their actions in both the water column and sediments. However, very little is known about the biochemical mechanisms involved in microbial P-cycling, or about the contribution of different taxonomic groups to specific P transformations. Recent studies of freshwater bacterial community dynamics in eutrophic lakes suggest that community composition varies significantly over time, and that this variation is correlated with changes in nutrient availability. A better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms involved, and how these may vary with community composition, will ultimately lead to an improved ability to predict the effects of lake management practices on water quality. The PI will be building strong connections to scientists at the UW Center for Limnology and at Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In turn, I will leverage ongoing efforts to build wireless sensor networks for lakes, and to foster international collaborations, both of which will provide tremendous opportunities for student training.Broader Impacts. Lake water quality is a problem that appeals to a vast majority of Wisconsin residents. UW-Madison and its outstanding existing outreach infrastructure will help me to develop and assess outreach materials designed to promote an awareness of lake water quality and the Environmental Engineering and Science discipline, targeting multiple age groups. Staff in the NSF-Funded Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning will work with me and my graduate students to engage middle school students through a one-week inquiry-based instructional unit designed to introduce them to Environmental Engineering and Science. The PI will also have a unique opportunity to reach minority and disadvantaged high school students, through the Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence. The PI has already demonstrated a strong commitment to teaching as research," in introductory Environmental Engineering course for undergraduates, and will continue to engage in this process in order to promote effective teaching and learning while striving to inspire the next generation of Environmental Engineers.