EDUCATION

1993-1997 B.S. in Biology from Wheeling Jesuit University
Wheeling, West Virginia

1997-2000 M.S. in Biology from Cleveland State University
Cleveland, Ohio

1999-2003 Ph.D. in Biology from The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Advisors: Harriett E. Smith-Somerville & Margaret D. Johnson, Department of Biological Sciences

Title: Phytate Utilization by Tetrahymena
Description: I researched the effects of phosphate loading by phytate contamination on heterotrophic protists. The model protists, rapidly growing Tetrahymena thermophila and the slower growing Tetrahymena vorax can utilize different amounts of phytate. The route(s) of uptake are being assessed, the potential phytases assayed, isolated and characterized.

EXPERIENCE:

2003-present Postdoctoral Scientist, Institute of Biological Chemistry at Washington State University in the laboratory of Michael L. Kahn

1998 Field research at the Caparo Biodiversity Reserve, Venezuela
Research: A biodiversity assessment of plant communities before and after timber clear cutting in a tropical dry forest.Teaching Assistant

1996-1997 General Biology II lab
Ecology lab

1997-1999 Human Biology lab
Ecology
Introductory Biology I lab
Introductory Biology II lab

1999- 2003 Introductory Biology I lab
Introductory Biology II lab
Introductory Biology II lab (nonmajors)
Cell Biology

Tutor
1995-1997 Wheeling Jesuit University- Writing Center
2001 University of Alabama- Athletic department

HONORS

2001 $2,000 Tanglewood research grant
Title: Phytate Metabolism and Transport in the Model Heterotrophic Protist Tetrahymena.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

2000- Present Society of Protozoologists

PUBLICATIONS

Ziemkiewicz, H.T., M.D. Johnson, and H.E. Smith-Somerville. 2002. Phytate as the sole phosphate source for growth of Tetrahymena. J. Eukaryotic Microbiology. 49: 428-431

Smith-Somerville, H.E., H.T. Ziemkiewicz and P.E. Ryals. 2003. Protozoan Nutrition and Metabolism in Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Nature Publishing Group: London, England. In Press.

PRESENTATIONS

1997 Senior Research Seminar: The effects of pH on the growth of Colpoda sp. Wheeling Jesuit University

1998 Advanced Field Research Seminar: Island Biogeography and Reserve Biodiversity. Cleveland State University

2003 Phytase Activity in Tetrahymena. The Society of Protozoologists in Gleneden Beach, Oregon, June 15-20, 2003.