Chromium is a priority pollutant in the United States with serious human health impacts due to the toxicity and carcinogenicity of its hexavalent form [(Cr(VI)].  The microbial catalysis of chromate [Cr(VI)]  to the less toxic, sparingly soluble trivalent state [Cr(III)] by such dissimilatory metal ion-reducing bacteria (DMRB) as Shewanella oneidensis presents a potent, cost-effective means of remediating Cr(VI)-polluted environments.

This study will develop a novel chemical imaging platform and fluorescence lifetime imaging techniques for dynamic monitoring of bioremediation pockets within a single microorganism to address a variety of mechanistic questions related to biological reduction of heavy metals, bioremediation efficacy, and the fate of metal contaminants in the environment.

The NIH-RO1 is a very prestigious and extremely competitive granting mechanism with a success rate of about 5%.