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Jennifer Mary DeBruyn

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Jennifer DeBruyn
Alma materThe University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Scientific career
Thesis Distribution and dynamics of pyrene-degrading Mycobacteria in freshwater sediments contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Doctoral advisorGary S Sayler

Jennifer DeBruyn is a professor in Biosystems Engineering and Soil Sciences[1] at the University of Tennessee. She is known for her work on biodegradation of agricultural plastics and vertebrate animals (including humans) in natural systems.

Education and career

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DeBruyn received her bachelor's degree from Queens University in Kingston, ON, Canada. She completed her doctoral studies in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee. DeBruyn was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture before joining the Biosystems Engineering & Soil Sciences Department. She is presently a Full Professor.[2]

Research

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DeBruyn's research focuses on microbial degradation of complex materials. Her doctoral work focused on the degradation of contaminants, using the Chattanooga Creek superfund site[3] and Lake Erie[4] as field models. As a faculty member she established research at UTK's "body farm" to begin to tease apart the role of microbes in cadaver degradation.[5] She is also known for her work the UT Extension, including her contributions to their Backyard STEM outreach program.[6]

Outreach work

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DeBruyn has worked to help develop the "Backyard Stem for Tennessee"[7] educational program as part of her appointment with UTK extension. Backyard Stem is a series of state sponsored modules offered through Tennessee 4-H to expose school age children to environmental sciences outside the classroom.

Selected publications

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  • Bandopadhyay S, L Martin-Closas, AM Pelacho, JM DeBruyn. (2018). Biodegradable plastic mulch films: impacts on soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions. Frontiers in Microbiology 9, 349830 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00819[8]
  • Cobaugh KL, SM Schaeffer, JM DeBruyn (2015) Functional and structural succession of soil microbial communities below decomposing human cadavers PloS ONE 10 (6), e0130201 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0130201[9]
  • DeBruyn JM, LT Nixon, MN Fawaz, AM Johnson, M Radosevich (2011) Global biogeography and quantitative seasonal dynamics of Gemmatimonadetes in soil. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 77 (17), 6295-6300 doi:10.1128/AEM.05005-11 [10]

Awards, honors and recognition

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DeBruyn is often sought by the popular press for her work. She has contributed and been interviewed for articles in outlets including the BBC,[11] NPR,[12] Discover Magazine,[13] CNN,[14] Popular Mechanics,[15][16] and CBCs "Quirks and Quarks" [17]

DeBruyn has been recognized by UTIA with the Mid-Career Award for Faculty Excellence.[18]

Personal life

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DeBruyn is a nationally ranked[19] adventure racer with the No Complaints[20] adventure racing team.

References

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  1. ^ "Our People | Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science". 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  2. ^ "DeBruyn Laboratory | Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science". 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  3. ^ DeBruyn, Jennifer M.; Chewning, Christopher S.; Sayler, Gary S. (2007-08-01). "Comparative Quantitative Prevalence of Mycobacteria and Functionally Abundant nidA , nahAc , and nagAc Dioxygenase Genes in Coal Tar Contaminated Sediments". Environmental Science & Technology. 41 (15): 5426–5432. Bibcode:2007EnST...41.5426D. doi:10.1021/es070406c. ISSN 0013-936X. PMID 17822112.
  4. ^ DeBruyn, Jennifer M.; Mead, Thomas J.; Wilhelm, Steven W.; Sayler, Gary S. (2009-05-15). "PAH Biodegradative Genotypes in Lake Erie Sediments: Evidence for Broad Geographical Distribution of Pyrene-Degrading Mycobacteria". Environmental Science & Technology. 43 (10): 3467–3473. Bibcode:2009EnST...43.3467D. doi:10.1021/es803348g. ISSN 0013-936X. PMID 19544841.
  5. ^ Cobaugh, Kelly L.; Schaeffer, Sean M.; DeBruyn, Jennifer M. (2015-06-12). "Functional and Structural Succession of Soil Microbial Communities below Decomposing Human Cadavers". PLOS ONE. 10 (6): e0130201. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1030201C. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0130201. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 4466320. PMID 26067226.
  6. ^ "Backyard STEM for Tennessee 4-H | Backyard STEM". backyardstem.tennessee.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  7. ^ "Backyard STEM for Tennessee 4-H | Backyard STEM". backyardstem.tennessee.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  8. ^ Bandopadhyay, Sreejata; Martin-Closas, Lluis; Pelacho, Ana M.; DeBruyn, Jennifer M. (2018-04-26). "Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions". Frontiers in Microbiology. 9: 819. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.00819. ISSN 1664-302X. PMC 5932902. PMID 29755440.
  9. ^ Cobaugh, Kelly L.; Schaeffer, Sean M.; DeBruyn, Jennifer M. (2015-06-12). Berg, Gabriele (ed.). "Functional and Structural Succession of Soil Microbial Communities below Decomposing Human Cadavers". PLOS ONE. 10 (6): e0130201. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1030201C. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0130201. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 4466320. PMID 26067226.
  10. ^ DeBruyn, Jennifer M.; Nixon, Lauren T.; Fawaz, Mariam N.; Johnson, Amy M.; Radosevich, Mark (September 2011). "Global Biogeography and Quantitative Seasonal Dynamics of Gemmatimonadetes in Soil". Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 77 (17): 6295–6300. Bibcode:2011ApEnM..77.6295D. doi:10.1128/AEM.05005-11. ISSN 0099-2240. PMC 3165389. PMID 21764958.
  11. ^ "Does the UK need a human 'body farm'?". 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  12. ^ NPR (June 7, 2019). "Organic Farming Has A Plastic Problem. One Solution Is Controversial". NPR.
  13. ^ "Life After Death: What Human Burial Options Will Look Like in a Sustainable Future". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  14. ^ Spary, Sara (2020-09-03). "Plants could help authorities find human remains in woodland". CNN. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  15. ^ "After You Die, a Universe Eats Your Body". Popular Mechanics. 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  16. ^ "Your Microbiome Will Outlive You". Popular Mechanics. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  17. ^ Quirks and Quarks. "For Halloween — How your body's microbiome will help recycle you after you die".
  18. ^ kwhita12 (2020-08-21). "Jennifer DeBruyn Presented with AgResearch Mid-Career Faculty Research Excellence Award | Institute News". Retrieved 2024-06-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Current Rankings". United States Adventure Racing Association. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  20. ^ "Endless Mountains Adventure Race". Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
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