Craig D. Phelps                                                                Phone  (848) 932-5713

                                                                                                            Email  phelps@envsci.rutgers.edu

 

 

 

 

EDUCATION________________________________________________________________

 

Ph.D.       Environmental Science, May 1998

   Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, N.J.

 

M.S.        Environmental Science, 1994

   Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, N.J.

 

B.S.         Animal Science, 1988

   Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

 

 

 

ACADEMIC POSITIONS_______________________________________________________

 

Associate Teaching Professor,   Department of Environmental Sciences,   July 2017 – present.

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

 

Assistant Teaching Professor,   Department of Environmental Sciences,   July 2015 – present.

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

 

Instructor,   Department of Environmental Sciences,   Sep. 2007 – June 2015.

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

 

Laboratory Researcher,   Department of Environmental Sciences,   Nov. 1999 – Aug. 2007.

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

 

Postdoctoral Associate,   Biotech. Center for Agriculture and the Environment,   May 1998 - Oct. '99.

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. Dr. Gerben Zylstra, P.I.

 

Adjunct Instructor,   Middlesex County College,   Sept. 1997 – May 1999 (four semesters)

 

Graduate Assistant,   Biotech. Center for Agriculture and the Environment,   August 1992 - May 1998

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

 

 

 

TEACHING_________________________________________________________________

 

COURSES TAUGHT

 

Introduction to Environmental Science (11:375:101)

-        Fall ’04 – present

-        Primary teaching responsibility (70%) for one section with 280 students (Fall/Spr.).

-        Teach two online sections (Spr./Sum.)

-        Course Coordinator

o   Includes management of registration, websites, textbooks and other instructional materials for three lecture sections and up to ten online sections each semester.

o   Development of instructional materials.

o   Coordination with three other faculty instructors and guest lecturers.

o   Includes supervision of several Part-Time Lecturers.

o   Course enrolls over 1,000 students per year.

 

Environmental Microbiology Lab (11:375:312 + 16:375:512)

-        Fall ’01 – present

-        Teach and coordinate three lab sections.

o   Includes supervising an Instructor or Part-time Lecturer, T.A. and work-study students as well as working closely with the laboratory manager.

o   Development of novel instructional materials

 

Microbial Ecology and Diversity/Lab (11:680:491/492)

-        Spr. ’14,’15+’17             Lead Field trips

-        Fall ’02+’03                   Guest Lectures

 

Biological Principals of Environmental Science (11:375:201)

-        Fall ’03             Team Taught (33%)

 

Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education

-        Microbiology for the Non-Biologist                     Coordinator and Lecturer, 2008 – present.

-        Activated Sludge                                               Laboratory Instructor, 2008 - present

-        Introduction to Sustainability Management         Lecturer, 2013 - present

 

Middlesex County College

-        Taught "General Microbiology" including laboratory, and "Applied Microbiology".

o Spring '99               Applied Microbiology (Bio 224) including lab

o Fall '98                   General Microbiology (Bio 221) including lab

o Spring '98               General Microbiology (Bio 221) laboratory only

o Fall '97                   General Microbiology (Bio 221) co-taught.

 

 

AWARDS

 

SEBS Teaching Excellence Award.  2012.

 

 

SERVICE___________________________________________________________________

 

School

 

SEBS First Year Student Advisor.  2005 – present.

-        Advise 15-40 incoming first-year SEBS students through course and major selection.

 

Organized and supported travel for Undergraduate and Graduate students to present research at regional NEMPET Meeting.

2017:  Spencer Roth (grad)

2016:  Julia Campbell (grad), and Jessica Choi (grad)

2015:  Ashley Grosche (grad), and Daniel Hollerbach

      2014:  Julia Campbell (grad), Raffia Ahmed, Robert Kruk, and Matt Rudnick

      2013:  Sean Carey and Bahram Manavi

      2012:  Sarat Kannepali (grad), Katherine Della Terza, and Bavani Subramaniam

 

Immersive Synchronous Lecture Initiative.  2016-17.

-        Selected to participate in University initiative to reduce student travel by teaching popular courses across campuses using video-linked lecture halls.

 

Member, TA/GA Personnel Grievance Committee (replacement pool).  Sept. 2015 – present.

 

Member, Ad Hoc SEBS Teaching Excellence Award Committee.  2013-15.

 

Member, SEBS Core Curriculum Committee.  2011-12.

 

Coordinator of On-Line Education Initiative.  2007 – present.

-        responsible for providing support to faculty and staff who are interested in developing new online or hybrid courses and instructional materials.

 

 

department

 

Member, Peer Evaluation Committee (FCP).   2016+2017.

 

Member, Curriculum Committee.  2012 - present.

 

Member, Recruitment and Outreach Committee.  2010 - present.

 

Secretary of the Faculty.   Sept. 2015 – Oct. 2016.

 

 

Public outreach

 

“Magical Mud, Microbes and Methane” – NJ350 Blog – Nov. 2014

Doug Eveleigh, Theodore Chase Jr., Craig Phelps, and Lily Young

http://officialnj350.com/magical-mud-microbes-and-methane/

 

“Rutgers Environmental Science Students Volunteer at Local “Freecycle” Event” – SEBS Newsroom

http://sebsnjaesnews.rutgers.edu/2014/11/rutgers-environmental-science-students-volunteer-at-local-freecycle-event/

 

Presenter.  STEM Educator Series. “Soil Microbial Ecology”.  Jan. 22nd, 2014

 

“Biocomplexity and Microorganisms: Lessons in Technology for Grades 5-8.” Lamkie, J. and C.D. Phelps.  http://www.engineeringplanet.rutgers.edu/lessons.php

 

Presenter.  RutgersScience Saturday.  May 15th, 2010.

 

Judge.  The North Jersey Regional Science Fair.  2008 – present

 

 

Professional Affiliations

 

Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy.  1993 - present.

President: 2015 – present.

Co-Host and Organizer:  2005 – present.

      Scientific Session Coordinator: 2003 – present.

      Corresponding Secretary: 2000 – present.

 

American Society of Microbiologists.  1994 - present.

 

New Jersey Science Teachers Association.  2003 – present.

 

Microbial Educators Network (Delaware/Lehigh Valley Region).  2003 – present.

 

 

 

Professional activities

 

American Society of Microbiologists – Conference on Undergraduate Education (Presenter).  2017.

 

American Society of Microbiologists – Conference on Undergraduate Education (Presenter).  2016.

 

Contributed letter of support for tenure candidate at Olin College of Engineering.  2015.

 

American Society of Microbiologists – Conference on Undergraduate Education (Attendee).  2013.

 

USEPA Workshop on Monitored Natural Attenuation of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons at Manufactured Gas Plant Sites, Dallas TX.  (Participant).  May 27-29, 2009.

 

14th Annual Northeast Regional Teaching Workshop (Attendee).  2005.

 

34th Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference (Session Moderator).  2002.

 

Gordon Research Conference (Environmental Sciences: Water).  2000.

 

Gordon Research Conference (Applied and Environmental Microbiology).  1999+2003.

 

Peer review:

“Aquatic Microbial Ecology”

“Biodegradation”

“Chemical Engineering Communications”

“Environmental Science and Technology”

“FEMS – Microbiology Ecology”

"Journal of Environmental Engineering"

“Journal of Hazardous Materials”

“PLOS One”

Canada Foundation for Innovation

 

Textbook review:

      McGraw-Hill Higher Education

W.H. Freeman and Co.

John Wiley & Sons

 

 

SCHOLARSHIP______________________________________________________________

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

* Graduate Student under my direct or indirect supervision

 

1.      Phelps, C.D.  A Simple Soil Assay to Demonstrate Enzyme Regulation. J. Microbiol. Biol. Educ. (in preparation)

 

2.      Phelps, C.D.  Winogradsky’s Battery: A Lab Model for Demonstrating the Role of Electron Potential in Metabolism. J. Microbiol. Biol. Educ. (in preparation)

 

3.      *Oka, A.R., C.D. Phelps, X, Zhu, D.L. Saber, and L.Y. Young.  2011. Dual Biomarkers of Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Degradation in Historically Contaminated Groundwater.  Environ. Sci. Technol, 45 (8): 3407–3414.

 

4.      *Callaghan, A.C., M. *Tierney, C.D. Phelps and L.Y. Young.  2009.  Characterization of a Denitrifying Consortium: Evidence of Carboxylation during Hexadecane Degradation. Appl. Environ. Micro. 75(5): 1339–1344.

 

5.      *Oka, A.R., C.D. Phelps, L.M. McGuinness, A. Mumford, L.Y. Young, and L.J. Kerkhof.  2008.  Identification of critical members in a sulfidogenic benzene-degrading consortium by DNA stable isotope probing.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol.  74(20):6476-6480.

 

6.      Rhine, E.D., C.D. Phelps and L.Y. Young.  2006.  Anaerobic arsenite oxidation by novel denitrifying isolates.  Environ. Microbiol.  8(5):899-908.

 

7.      Rhine, E.D., E. García-Domínguez, C.D. Phelps and L.Y. Young.  2005.  Environmental microbes can speciate and cycle arsenic.  Environ. Sci. and Technol.  39:9569-9573.

 

8.      *Gallagher, E., L. McGuinness, C.D. Phelps, L.Y. Young and L.J. Kerkhof.  2005.  13C-Carrier DNA shortens the incubation time needed to detect benzoate-utilizing denitrifying bacteria by stable-isotope probing.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol.  71(9):5192-5196.

 

9.      Young, L.Y. and C.D. Phelps.  2005.  Metabolic biomarkers for monitoring in situ anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation.  Environmental Health Perspectives.  113(1):62-67.

 

10.   So, C.M., C.D. Phelps and L.Y. Young.  2003.  Anaerobic transformation of alkanes to fatty acids: Initial reactions by the sulfate-reducer strain HXD3 using stable isotope labeled compounds.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol.  69(7):3892-3900.

 

11.   Phelps, C.D., J. Battistelli, and L.Y. Young.  2002.  Metabolic biomarkers for monitoring anaerobic naphthalene biodegradation in situ.  Environ. Microbiol.  4(9):532-537.

 

12.   Phelps, C.D., X. Zhang, and L.Y. Young.  2001.  Detection of benzoate from anaerobic benzene metabolism by a sulfidogenic consortium.  Environ. Microbiol.  3(9):600-603.

 

13.   Sullivan, E.R., X. Zhang, C.D. Phelps and L.Y. Young.  2001.  Anaerobic mineralization of stable isotope labeled 2-methylnaphthalene.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol.  67(9):4353-4357.

 

14.   Phelps, C.D. and L.Y. Young.  2000. Anaerobic biodegradation of gasoline components:  A review.  Advances in Agronomy, Vol. 70  pp. 329-358.

 

15.   Phelps, C.D., and L.Y. Young.  1999.  Anaerobic biodegradation of BTEX and gasoline in various aquatic sediments.  Biodegradation.  10(1): 15-25.

 

16.   Boyle, A.W., C.D. Phelps and L.Y. Young.  1999.  Isolation of a Desulfovibrio strain from estuarine sediments which can grow on lactate coupled to the reductive dehalogenation of 2,4,6-Tribromophenol.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol.  65(3): 1133-1140.

 

17.   Phelps, C.D., L. Kerkhof and L.Y. Young.  1998.  Molecular characterization of a sulfate-reducing consortium which mineralizes benzene.  FEMS Microbiology Ecology  27(3):269-279.

 

18.   Phelps, C.D., X. Zhang, C.-M. So and L.Y. Young.  1998.  Petroleum components can be biodegraded in anoxic environments.  Proceedings: 1998 Pacific Basin Conference on Hazardous Waste.  April 22-24,  Honolulu, HI, USA  pages 128-140.

 

19.   Phelps, C.D. and L.Y. Young.  1997. Microbial metabolism of the plant phenolic compounds ferulic and syringic acids under three anaerobic conditions.  Microbial Ecology  33(3): 206-215.

 

20.   Phelps, C.D., J. Kazumi and L.Y. Young.  1996. Anaerobic degradation of benzene in BTX mixtures dependent on sulfate-reduction.  FEMS Microbiology Letters  145(3): 433-437.

 

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Platform Presentations:

 

 

1.      Phelps, C.D.  2017.  Winogradsky’s Battery: Visualizing Electron Potential in a Sediment Column. Microbrew Presentation. American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators. Denver, Colorado.

 

2.      Phelps, C.D.  2016.  Using a Simple Soil Assay to Demonstrate Regulation of Enzyme Production. Microbrew Presentation. American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators. North Bethesda, Maryland.

 

3.      Phelps, C.D. and A. Oka.  2009.  Metabolic and Molecular Biomarkers of In Situ Biodegradation.  Ann. Conference of Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY.

 

4.      Phelps, C.D.  2006.  A Simple Soil Assay to Demonstrate Enzyme Regulation.  Ann. Conference of Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY.

 

5.      Phelps, C.D.  2005.  Modeling the biogeochemical cycle of arsenic.  Ann. Conference of Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY.

 

6.      Phelps, C.D.  2005.  Microbial degradation pathways: a tool for environmental monitoring.  Annual Meeting of the Center for Environmental Bio-Inorganic Chemistry. Princeton, NJ.

 

7.      Phelps, C.D., J. Lamkie.  2004.  Winogradsky’s Battery: Exploring biocomplexity in aquatic sediment.  New Jersey Science Convention. Somerset, NJ.

 

8.      Phelps, C.D., E. Gallagher, L. Kerkhof and L.Y. Young.  2004.  New approaches to studying biodegradation of TNT in anaerobic sediments.  The 14th Annual West Coast Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water. San Diego, CA.

 

9.      Phelps, C.D.  2002.  Metabolic biomarkers for detecting PAH biodegradation in groundwater and sediments.  The 18th Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water. Amherst, MA.

 

10.   Phelps, C.D., and E.L. Hacherl.  2001.  A modified Winogradsky column for teaching the iron cycle.  Ann. Conference of Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY.

 

11.   Phelps, C.D., and L.Y. Young.  2001.  Metabolic biomarkers for monitoring in situ toluene and naphthalene bioremediation.  Battelle Symposium on In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation San Diego, CA.

 

12.   Phelps, C.D., and L.Y. Young.  2000.  Anaerobic metabolites and co-metabolites as bioindicators of in situ biodegradation.  Ann. Conference of Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY.

 

13.   Phelps, C.D. and L.Y. Young.  1998.  Anaerobic biodegradation of benzene and other gasoline components.  Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT (invited speaker).

 

14.   Phelps, C.D. and L.Y. Young.  1998.  Biodegradation of BTEX under anaerobic conditions in various aquatic sediments.  Ann. Conference of Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY.

 

15.   Phelps, C.D., X. Zhang, C.-M. So and L.Y. Young.  1998.  Petroleum components can be biodegraded in anoxic environments.  Pacific Basin Conference on Hazardous Waste, Honolulu, HI.

 

16.   Phelps, C.D. and L.Y. Young.  1996.  Anaerobic benzene mineralization in marine sediments.  Ann. Conference of Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY.

 

 

Selected Posters:

 

1.      P. Anderson, T. Barkay, T. Chase Jr., S. Crane, D. Davis, G. Davis, J. Dietz, D. Eveleigh, Z. Freedman, I. Gray, M. Häggblom, A. Isola, H. Liu, K. Maguire, A. Marinucci, A. Patel, C. Phelps*, S. Rawat, M. Spero, G. Swiatek, C. Vetriani, C. Villano, & L. Young. 2014.  The First American Microbiological Experiment: the George Washington and Thomas Paine Demonstration that the Marsh Will-O-the-Wisp was due to a Flammable Gas.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Boston, MA.

 

2.      C. D. Phelps.  2012.  A Simple Soil Assay to Demonstrate Enzyme Regulation.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology San Francisco, CA.

 

3.      A.R. Oka, C. D. Phelps, X. Zhu, D. L. Saber, L. Y. Young.  2009.  Metabolic Biomarkers and Biomolecular Signatures Provide Evidence for Natural Attenuation of Hydrocarbons in Anoxic Groundwater.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Philadelphia, PA.

 

4.      C.D. Phelps, C. M. Goodman, R. Miskewitz, W. J. Sciarappa, and C. C. Obropta.  2009.  Evaluation of Critical Parameters for Effective qPCR-Based Microbial Source Tracking on a Watershed Scale.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Philadelphia, PA.

 

5.      A.R. Oka, J. Anello, C.D. Phelps, and L.Y. Young.  2008.  Anaerobic Mechanism of Benzene and Phenol Degradation in a Sulfidogenic Consortium from Guaymas Basin.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Boston, MA.

 

6.      C.D. Phelps, K.A. Buckley, C.C. Obropta, and L.Y. Young.  2007.  Comparison of qPCR-Based Microbial Source Tracking Data to Traditional Water Quality Measurements in the Upper Cohansey River Watershed.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Toronto, ON.

 

7.      Gallagher, E., Phelps, C.D., L.Y. Young and L. Kerkhof.  2004.  Monitoring changes in anaerobic, aromatic degrading communities using stable-isotopes.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology New Orleans, LA.

 

8.      Phelps, C.D.  2003.  Winogradsky's Battery: Demonstrating redox potential using stratified sediment columns.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Washington, DC.

 

9.      Wise, A., Phelps, C.D., and L.Y. Young.  2002.  Anaerobic metabolism of p-cresol.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Salt Lake City, UT.

 

10.   Battistelli, J.M., Phelps, C.D., and L.Y. Young.  2002.  Use of metabolic biomarkers for monitoring anaerobic naphthalene biodegradation.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Salt Lake City, UT.

 

11.   Phelps, C.D., X. Zhang, and L.Y. Young.  2001.  Transformation of biphenyl and fluorobiphenyl by a sulfidogenic consortium degrading phenanthrene.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Orlando, FL.

 

12.   Phelps, C.D., J. Oberer, G. Mortimer and L.Y. Young.  2000.  Use of metabolic biomarkers to monitor in situ bioremediation at a contaminated field site.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Los Angeles, CA .

 

13.   Phelps, C.D., and L.Y. Young.  1999.  Isolation and characterization of an oligotrophic member of the Cytophagales.  Ann. Conference of Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY.

 

14.   Phelps, C.D., Lee Kerkhof and L.Y. Young.  1998.  Characterizing an anaerobic, benzene-degrading consortium.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology Atlanta, GA.

 

15.   Phelps, C.D. and L.Y. Young.  1997.  Biodegradation of BTEX Under anaerobic conditions in various aquatic sediments.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Miami, FL.

 

16.   Phelps, C.D., J. Kazumi and L.Y. Young.  1995.  Anaerobic biodegradation of benzene in marine sediments.  General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

 

17.   Phelps, C.D. and L.Y. Young.  1993.  Degradation of ferulic and syringic acids, two model lignin monomers, under three different reducing conditions.  Ann. Conference of Northeast Microbiologists for Physiology, Ecology, Taxonomy, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY.

 

 

 

 

Grants

 

Investigation of the Fate and Transport of Fecal Contamination Using Microbial Source Tracking.  USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.  $399,863.  Obropta, C.O.; Miskewitz, R.J.; Phelps, C.  15 June, 2007 – 14 June, 2011.