| Claudia Gunsch, Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Energy Initiative
Dr. Claudia Gunsch began her academic career at Purdue University
where she earned her B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1998. She then
matriculated to Clemson University where she earned her M.S. in
2000 and immediately entered the doctoral program at the University
of Texas at Austin.
Gunsch comes to Duke with a wide range of research experiences
in microbial engineering systems. Gunsch’s research has primarily
focused on pollutant degradation as applied to groundwater and air
pollution treatment. During the early stages of her graduate studies,
her work focused on chlorinated compound degradation by bacteria
in groundwater. During her doctoral work, she investigated the fungal
degradation of aromatic compounds in biofiltration. As part of her
innovative research, she incorporates quantitative molecular biological
techniques into her research to link macroscale vapor-phase bioreactor
performance to phenomena occurring at the microscale in the biofilm.
At Duke, Gunsch plans to continue her research with projects that
further link biotechnology to environmental engineering applications.
Some of the projects which she is incorporating into her research
program include: 1) identifying genetic adaptation mechanisms resulting from anthropogenic contaminant exposure, 2) developing biosensors capable of pathogen
and contaminant detection in water and air, 3) studying the impact of emerging contaminants on aquatic microbial ecology and 4) the development of novel techniques for controlling pathogen proliferation. In addition to her research interests,
she teaches basic and advanced classes in environmental
engineering such as such as environmental molecular biotechnology,
environmental microbiology and biological processes in environmental engineering.
- Contact Info:
Teaching (Spring 2024):
- CEE 690.05, ADVANCED TOPICS IN CEE
Synopsis
- Fitzpatrk 1411, M 01:25 PM-03:55 PM
Teaching (Fall 2024):
- CEE 690.05, ADVANCED TOPICS IN CEE
Synopsis
- Hudson 218, M 01:25 PM-03:55 PM
- Education:
PhD | University of Texas | 2004 |
MS | Clemson University | 2000 |
BS | Purdue University | 1998 |
- Specialties:
-
Microbial Engineering, biological remediation
Environmental Impacts Environmental Engineering
- Research Interests:
Identifying genetic adaptation mechanisms resulting from anthropogenic contaminant exposure; developing biosensors capable of pathogen and contaminant detection in water and air; studying the impact of emerging contaminants on aquatic microbial ecology; and the development of novel techniques for controlling pathogen proliferation
- Recent Publications
- S. Wang, R. Holzem and C.K. Gunsch, Effects of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds on a Mixed Microbial Community Originating from a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant,
Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 42 no. 4
(2008),
pp. 1091-1095 [html]
- C.K. Gunsch, K.A. Kinney, P.J. Szaniszlo and C.P. Whitman, Relative gene expression quantification in a fungal gas-phase biofilter.,
Bioengineering and Biotechnology, vol. 98 no. 1
(2007),
pp. 101-111 [abs]
- C.K. Gunsch, K.A. Kinney, P.J. Szaniszlo and C.P. Whitman, Quantification of homogentisate-1,2-dioxygenase expression in a fungus degrading ethylbenzene.,
Journal of Microbiological Methods, vol. 67 no. 2
(2006),
pp. 257-265. [abs]
- Gunsch, Claudia K. and Cheng, Qiang and Kinney, Kerry A. and Szaniszlo, Paul J. and Whitman, Christian P., Identification of a homogentisate-1,2-dioxygenase gene in the fungus Exophiala lecanii-corni: Analysis and implications,
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol. 68 no. 3
(2005),
pp. 405 - 411 [s00253-005-1899-0] [abs]
- Verce, Matthew F. and Gunsch, Claudia K. and Danko, Anthony S. and Freedman, David L., Cometabolism of cis-1,2-dichloroethene by aerobic cultures grown on vinyl chloride as the primary substrate,
Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 36 no. 10
(2002),
pp. 2171 - 2177 [es011220v] [abs]
Honors and Awards
- University of Texas Graduate Engineering Council Travel Award
(2001, 2002 and 2003)
- University of Texas THRUST 2000 Fellowship (2000-2004)
- University of Texas Bruton Fellowship (2000-2004)
- University of Texas Environmental Engineering Departmental
Fellowship (2001)
- National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship (1999-2004)
- 1999 EPA STAR Masters Student Graduate Fellowship (Declined,
Accepted the NSF Fellowship)
- Clemson University Environmental Engineering and Science Departmental
Fellowship (1999)
- Clemson University Alumni Fellowship (1998)
- General Motors Scholarship (1998)
- Purdue Engineering Student Council Scholarship (1996 and 1997)
- Society of Women in Engineering Scholarship (1995)
Professional and Service Activities
- Chi Epsilon
- Phi Sigma Pi
- Phi Eta Sigma
- Alpha Lambda Delta
- American Society of Microbiology (1999-Current)
- American Chemical Society (1999-Current)
- Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors
(1999-Current)
- American Society for Engineering Education (2001-Current)
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