The Zitomer Lab Group
Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
College of Engineering
Marquette University

The Zitomer lab group works to improve biotechnology for waste treatment and renewable energy. Much of our effort involves anaerobic digestion in which specific microorganisms convert wastes and other feedstocks to  biogas that contains methane. The methane can be used as a renewable fuel.  We work closely with Drs. Jim Maki and Krassi Hristova (environmental microbiology/ecology, Biological Sciences), Dr. Craig Struble (bioinformatics, Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science) at Marquette and others. We use molecular tools (PCR, qPCR, DGGE, clone libraries, etc.), bioinformatics and other statistical tools (principal component analysis, etc.) to quantify and compare various microbial community structures and relate these to engineering and environmental parameters (rate of COD removal, process stability) to improve engineered bioprocesses. Past and current projects, professional short-course offerings, publications and patents are listed on the linked pages.