News

Sept. 2024

– Our study on bacterial necromass degradation is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology

July 2024

– Jiabao Liang joins the lab as a research technician

– Jeffrey is promoted to Full Professor!

June 2024

– Isabella Naimi joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

Apr. 2024

– Our Microbe Profile review of Cellvibrio japonicus is published in Microbiology

Jan. 2024

– Our mini-review on bacterial hemicellulase-encoding regulatory systems is published in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

Dec. 2023

– Our study of C. japonicus maltocyclodextrin degradation is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Nov. 2023

– Giulia gives an invited talk at the ASM DC Branch Fall Meeting

Oct. 2023

– Our transcriptomics study on C. japonicus starch utilization is published in Microbiology Spectrum

– Jessie wins a DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program Award! [Press Release]

July 2023

– Jessie presents a poster at the Gordon Research Conference on Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes

May 2023

– Jeffrey writes a science outreach article on drug resistance in fungi [The Conversation]

– Kyle graduates with a Masters of Science degree from the Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) Program and stays in the lab for the summer as a technician

Apr. 2023

– Jessie gives an invited talk at the ASM DC Branch Spring Meeting

Mar. 2023

– Baily Kakacek joins the lab as an MS student

-Jeffrey is quoted in a Baltimore Banner article about combating drug-resistant fungi [Baltimore Banner]

Jan. 2023

– Our report on the mannan utilization system of C. japonicus is published in Molecular Microbiology

Oct. 2022

-Kyle Dickerson joins the lab as an Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) student

– Jessie gives invited talks at the ASM DC Branch Fall Meeting and the Carnegie-Hopkins Microbiology Mini-Symposium

Aug. 2022

– Jessie gives an invited talk at the LignoBiotech Conference in Vancouver, Canada

– Jeffrey is awarded an NIH R01 to study how bacterial enzymes degrade fungal cell walls! [Press Release]

July 2022

– Our paper describing the draft genome of S. marcescens PIC3611 is published in Microbiology Resource Announcements

– Jessie gives an invited talk on how bacteria degrade fungal cell wall polysaccharides at the Mycology Society of America annual meeting

– Cecelia defends her thesis!

May 2022

– Cecelia gives an invited virtual talk at the Mid-Atlantic PREP & IMSD Research Symposium

– Tara graduates with a Masters of Science degree from the Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) Program

– Giulia Mascelli joins the lab as a Research Assistant

– Jeffrey wins a CNMS Mid-Career Excellence Award

Apr. 2022

– Alexi and Mickayla present a virtual posters at URCAD

– Cecelia, Jessie, and Jeffrey all give invited talks at the ASM DC Branch Spring Meeting. Thank you to Dr. Kileen Shier and Dr. Karen Bushaw-Newton for the invitations.

Nov. 2021

– Alexi and Mickayla both win ePoster awards at the (virtual) Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)

Oct. 2021

– Tara Barvir joins the lab as an Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) student

– Our invited review article on the integration of carbon and nitrogen metabolism in polysaccharide-degrading bacteria is published in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

Sept. 2021

– Our article describing an agar capture system to measure bacterial growth using insoluble particulate substrates is published in the Journal of Microbiological Methods

June 2021

Jessica Novak joins the lab as a Research Assistant

– Alexi and Mickayla each receive an Undergraduate Research Award (URA)

– Jeffrey gives an invited talk and Cecelia presents a poster at the Wind River (virtual) Conference on Prokaryotic Biology. Thank you to organizers Ronan Carroll and Mandy Oglesby for the invitation.

May 2021

– Our invited review article on bacterial α-diglucoside metabolism is published in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

– Cecelia gives an invited virtual talk at the Mid-Atlantic PREP & IMSD Research Symposium

Apr. 2021

– Alexi and Noor present a virtual poster at URCAD

– Cecelia presents virtual posters at the Society for Industrial Microbiology Renewable Fuels and Chemicals Meeting and also the Women of Whiting STEM Symposium sponsored by Johns Hopkins University

Mar. 2021

– Jeffrey is awarded an NSF DEB grant as part of a collaborative project with Peter Kennedy (UMN), Jonathan Schilling (UMN), and Jennifer Petit-Ridge (LLNL)

– Our paper characterizing chito-oligosaccharide metabolism in C. japonicus is published in Molecular Microbiology

Cecelia’s poster won second place at the UMBC Graduate Association of Biological Sciences annual symposium

Feb. 2021

– Jeffrey is quoted in a Debugger article on bacterial contamination of keyboards [Debugger]

Sept. 2020

– Our paper describing the characterization of the GH37 enzymes from C. japonicus is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Aug. 2020

– In collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Daniel Lobo we published a report on kinetic modeling C. japonicus cellodextrin metabolism in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering

– Noor Alain and Mickayla Bacorn join the lab as undergraduate researchers

July 2020

– Estela defends her thesis!

Apr. 2020

– The Alex Brown Center for Entrepreneurship awards the lab a seed grant to develop replicating plasmids for C. japonicus

– Jeffrey is quoted in a Politifact article on the safety of hand sanitizer [PolitiFact]

– Jeffrey was selected to give an invited seminar at the SIMB Fuels & Chemicals Meeting (conference canceled due to COVID-19)

– Barna presents a virtual poster at URCAD

Mar. 2020

– Jeffrey writes a science outreach article on COVID-19 and hand sanitizer [The Conversation]

– Alexi Misciagna joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

Feb. 2020

– Our paper describing the utility of microplate biomass containment devices is published in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

– Jeffrey presents a poster at the DOE Genomic Sciences Program Annual Meeting

Oct. 2019

– Our paper describing three genomes of C. japonicus strains capable of utilizing alpha-diglucosides is published in Microbiology Resource Announcements

July 2019

– Cecelia gives an invited talk and Estela presents a poster at the Gordon Research Seminar and Jeffrey gives an invited talk at the associated Gordon Research Conference on Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes for Glycan Conversions. Thank you to Dr. Julie Grondin and Dr. Emma Master for the invitations.

June 2019

– Anusha Subedi joins the lab as a post-baccalaureate research intern

May 2019

– Jordan graduates with a Masters of Science degree from the Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) Program

– Barna receives an Undergraduate Research Award (URA)

Mar. 2019

Estela’s poster won first place and Cecelia’s poster won second place at the UMBC Graduate Association of Biological Sciences annual symposium

Feb. 2019

– Jeffrey presents a poster at the DOE Genomic Sciences Program Annual Meeting

Nov. 2018

– Barna Baierna joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

Oct. 2018

– Jordan Pardoe joins the lab as an Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) student

Aug. 2018

– Estela presents a poster at the Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting

– Jeffrey writes a science outreach article on basic research funding [The Conversation]

July 2018

– Jeffrey is promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure!

June 2018

– UMBC Magazine quotes Jeffrey in an article about entrepreneurship [UMBC Magazine]

May 2018

– Jeffrey gives an invited talk at the University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

– Jackson graduates with a Masters of Science degree from the Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) Program

Apr. 2018

– Cassie (now a post-doc at U. Maryland School of Pharmacy) wins the Wolf Dissertation Award

– Estela gives an invited talk and Cecelia presents a poster at the the ASM Washington DC branch Spring Meeting

Mar. 2018

Cecelia Garcia joins the lab as a Research Assistant

Feb. 2018

– Estela presents a poster at the DOE Genomic Sciences Program Annual Meeting

– In collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Harry Brumer we have published a study on the GH5 xyloglucanses from C. japonicus in the journal Biotechnology for Biofuels

Jan. 2018

– Our paper characterizing the GH18 enzymes of C. japonicus is published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry

Dec. 2017

– Jeffrey wins the “Up and Coming Inventor” Award at the UMBC Inventors’ Luncheon

– Our paper on xylan degradation in C. japonicus is published in Molecular Microbiology

Nov. 2017

– Jeffrey hosts Dr. Michael Gray from the University of Alabama – Birmingham for a seminar on bacterial polyphosphate stress regulation

Oct. 2017

– Our second paper on cellodextrin utilization in C. japonicus is published in Environmental Microbiology

– Jackson Narrett joins the lab as an Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) student

Sept. 2017

– Cassie defends her thesis!

Aug. 2017

– Raymond stays in the lab as a research technician

July 2017

– Cassie gives an invited talk and Estela presents a poster at the Gordon Research Seminar on Cellulases and Other Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes

– Estela is awarded a Gordon Research Conference Travel Grant

– Estela passes her Preliminary Exam!

June 2017

– Jeffrey is quoted in a story about bio-prospecting [STAT]

– Jeffrey records an essay on bio-prospecting for NPR affiliate station WAMC [The Academic Minute]

May 2017

– Cassie is given the J. Howard Brown Award at the the ASM Maryland branch Spring Meeting

– Raymond and Jeanice graduate with Masters of Science degrees from the Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) Program

Apr. 2017

– Cassie wins Best Oral Presentation at the the ASM Washington DC branch Spring Meeting

– Jeffrey writes a science outreach article on enzyme bio-prospecting [The Conversation]

Feb. 2017

– Cassie presents a poster at the DOE Genomic Sciences Program Annual Meeting

– Jeffrey gives and invited talk at the University of Minnesota Department of Plant and Microbial Biology

Jan. 2017

– Jeffrey becomes a member of the Editorial Board for Applied and Environmental Microbiology

– Our paper characterizing cellodextrin utilization in C. japonicus is published in Molecular Microbiology

– Cassie gives an invited seminar at the UMBC Biotechnology Symposium

– Anna Skane (Norwegian University of Life Sciences) starts a two-month project as a visiting scientist in the lab

Oct. 2016

– Raymond Cheng & Jeanice Hwang join the lab as Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) students

– Kayla Szymanik joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

– Jeffrey hosts Dr. Jeffrey Lewis from the University of Arkansas for a seminar on stress responses in yeast

– Da’Kuawn’s poster presentation wins 2nd place (Biological Sciences Group HH) at the CNMS Undergraduate Research Symposium

Sept. 2016

– Our article describing 3-D printed biomass containment devices to measure bacterial growth using insoluble substrates is published in the Journal of Microbiological Methods

– Jeffrey is selected for a TEDCO Maryland Innovation Initiative Award! [UMBC News]

Aug. 2016

– Cassie presents a poster and Jeffrey gives an invited talk at the Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting

– UMBC Magazine highlights work from the lab [UMBC Magazine]

June 2016

– Our review article on the polysaccharide degradation systems of Cellvibrio japonicus is published in the World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

– Andrew stays in the lab as a research technician

– Chaya Lachman joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

May 2016

– Cassie presents a poster at the Mid-Atlantic Prep and IMSD Research Symposium

Our collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad produces another paper that is published in the journal Proteomics

– Jeffrey gives an invited  seminar at the Frontiers of the Chemistry-Biology Interface Symposium at Johns Hopkins University. Thank you to Dr. Caren Meyers and Dr. Steven Rokita for the invitation.

– Andrew, Sarah, & Julie graduate with Masters of Science degrees from the Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) Program

– Da’Kuawn receives an Undergraduate Research Award (URA)

Apr. 2016

– Jeffrey gives an invited keynote seminar at the Washington DC branch of the ASM’s Spring Meeting. Thank you to Dr. Chris Elkins for the invitation.

– Sarah and Julie present a poster at the Washington DC branch of the ASM’s Spring Meeting

– Da’Kuawn presents posters at the Georgetown University Undergraduate Research Conference and the UMBC Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD)

Mar. 2016

– Jeffrey gives an invited seminar at the DOE Genomic Sciences Program Annual Meeting

– Da’Kuawn presents a poster at the 17th Annual National Conference for McNair Scholars & Undergraduate Research

Feb. 2016

– A collaborative effort with the laboratory of Dr. Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad is published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry

Jan. 2016

– Jeffrey gives an invited seminar at Georgetown University. Thank you to Dr. Shaun Brinsmade for the invitation.

Dec. 2015

– Jeffrey hosts Dr. Harry Brumer from the University of British Columbia for a seminar on carbohydrate active enzyme characterization

Estela Monge joins the lab as a Research Assistant

Nov. 2015

– Jeffrey gives an invited seminar at the University of Minnesota Biotechnology Institute. Thank you to Dr. Jeff Gralnick for the invitation.

Oct. 2015

– Andrew Blake, Sarah Campbell, & Julie Norton join the lab as Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) students

Aug. 2015

– Cassie and Jeffrey present posters at the Gordon Research Conference on Cellulosomes, Cellulases, & Other Carbohydrate Modifying Enzymes

– Jeffrey gives an invited seminar at the Mid-Atlantic Plant Molecular Biology Society Conference. Thank you to Dr. Hua Lu for the invitation.

June 2015

– Cassie’s first paper as lead author is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology

– Da’Kuawn starts his summer internship at Yale

– Nina stays in the lab as a research technician

– Katya Goryunova joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

May 2015

– Jeffrey is selected for a Department of Energy Early Career Award! [Press Release]

– Dan, Jordan, & Hadassa graduate with Masters of Science degrees from the Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) Program

– Nina receives an “Outstanding Graduating Senior in the Biological Sciences” award from the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences

Apr. 2015

– Nina gives invited talks at Morgan State University and the UMBC Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD)

Nov. 2014

– Da’Kuawn presents a poster at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minorities in Science (ABRCMS)

– Jeffrey hosts Dr. Shaun Brinsmade from Georgetown University for a seminar on global gene regulation in bacteria

Oct. 2014

– Gisele’s poster presentation wins 2nd place (Biological Sciences Group C) at the CNMS Undergraduate Research Symposium

– Our work with the laboratories of Dr. Harry Gilbert and Dr. Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad is published in Molecular Microbiology

Sept. 2014

– Dan Cho, Jordan Baeder, & Hadassa Guttman join the lab as Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) students

– Cassie passes her Preliminary Exam!

– A collaborative effort with the laboratories of Dr. Harry Brumer and Dr. Gideon Davies is published in Molecular Microbiology

Aug. 2014

– Jeffrey gives an invited talk at the Molecular Genetics of Bacteria and Phages Meeting

– Da’Kuawn presents a poster at the UMBC Summer Undergraduate Research Fest (SURF)

June 2014

– Jeffrey gives an invited talk at the Wind River Conference on Prokaryotic Biology

May 2014

– Melvin, Dagmawi, & Ben graduate with Masters of Science degrees from the Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) Program

– Nina receives an Undergraduate Research Award (URA)

– Da’Kuawn Johnson joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

Jan. 2014

– Jeffrey’s new class, BIOL 412 / 612: Microbial Systems and Synthetic Biology, is offered for the first time

Sept. 2013

– Melvin Ezell, Dagmawi Tilahun, & Ben Voeglein join the lab as Applied Molecular Biology (AMB) students

– Cassie receives a Graduate Assistantship in Areas of National Need (GAANN) fellowship

Aug. 2013

Jeffrey presents a poster at the Gordon Research Conference on Cellulosomes, Cellulases, & Other Carbohydrate Modifying Enzymes

Nina Beri joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

May 2013

Jeffrey gives an invited talk at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Lambda Lunch. Thank you to Dr. Susan Gottesman for the invitation.

Apr. 2013

Gisele Toumi joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

Mar. 2013

Cassie Nelson joins the lab as a Research Assistant

Dec. 2012

Jeffrey gives an invited talk at the University of Maryland – Baltimore, Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Thank you to Dr. James Kaper for the invitation.

Nov. 2012

Jeffrey gives invited talks at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) and the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Beltsville. Thank you to Dr. Frank Robb and Dr. Jude Maul for the invitations.

Oct. 2012

Jenna Roussillon joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher

Aug. 2012

Gardner Lab goes live!