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Emma Bertran, Ph.D. Princeton Environmental InstituteGuyot Hall, Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ 08544Email: ebertran@princeton.edu; Website: ; Telephone: (617) 702-2996Research InterestsI am driven to redefine how we understand the co-evolution of microbial metabolic consortia and Earth surface environments. This intimate relationship produces specific chemical signatures, and these are transcribed into the rock record. The proper translation of these biosignatures is at the core of paleo-environmental reconstructions, yet, this is a challenging task. Refining our interpretation of the sediment isotope record required a multi-disciplinary approach. In my work, I apply a wide range of tools are necessary, including stable isotope geochemistry, environmental observations and analysis of the geologic geochemical record, hypothesis-driven pure culture microbial experiments, sophisticated quantitative models of microbial isotope effects and how they relate to environmental conditions, and studies of key enzyme dynamics.EDUCATION and TRAINING2019Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geosciences, Princeton University.Project: In vitro quantification of the enzyme nitrogenase nitrogen isotope effect and contribution to net biological nitrogen fixationAdvisor: Dr. Xinning Zhang2019Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University.Thesis: Cellular and intracellular insights into the main drivers of biogeochemical sulfur cycling: microbial sulfate reduction and sulfur disproportionationFaculty Advisor: Prof. David T. Johnston2014M.S. in Earth Sciences, McGill University.Thesis: Deconstructing the Dissimilatory Sulfate Reduction Pathway: Isotope Fractionation of a Mutant Unable of Growth on SulfateFaculty Advisor: Prof. Boswell Wing2010B.S. in Biology with a minor in Geology, McGill University.PUBLICATIONSBertran, E., Ward, L. M., Johnston, D. T. (2020) Draft genome sequence of Desulfobacter hydrogenophilus DSM3380, a psychrotolerant sulfate reducing bacterium Microbiology Resource AnnoucementsWard, L. M., Bertran, E., Johnston, D. T. (2020) Draft genome sequence of Desulfovibrio sulfodismutans ThAc01, a heterotrophic sulfur disproportionating member of the Desulfotobacterota Microbiology Resource AnnoucementsBertran E., Waldeck A., Wing B. A., Halevy I., Leavitt W. D., Bradley A. S., Johnston D. T. (2020) Oxygen isotope effects during microbial sulfate reduction: applications to sediment cell abundances The ISME Journal?Bertran E., Ward L. M., Johnston D. T. (2020) Draft genome sequence of Desulfofundulus thermobenzoicus subsp. thermosyntrophicus DSM 14055, a moderately thermophilic sulfate reducer Microbiology Resource Annoucements Bertran E., Ward L. M., Johnston D. T. (2020) Draft genome sequence of Acidianus ambivalens DSM 3772, an aerobic thermoacidophilic sulfur disproportionator Microbiology Resource Annoucements Waldeck A.R., Cowie B.R., Bertran E., Wing B.A., Halevy I., Johnston D.T. (2019) Deciphering the atmospheric signal in marine sulfate oxygen isotope composition EPSLBertran E., Leavitt W. D., Pèllerin A., Zane G. M., Wall J. D., Johnston D. T., Wing B. A. (2018) Deconstructing the dissimilatory sulfate reduction pathway: Isotope fractionation of a mutant unable to grow on sulfate Frontiers in Microbiology?In pressWard L. M., Bertran E., Johnston D. T. (2020) Genomic sequence analysis of Dissulfurirhabdus thermomarina SH388 and proposed reassignment to Dissulfurirhabdaceae fam. nov. Microbial GenomicsOngoing workBertran E., Ward L. M., Ka?ar B., Johnston D. T. Structural argument for the uniqueness of microbial sulfur disproportionation (in prep)Bertran E. and Johnston D. T. Intracellular dynamics of sulfite and thiosulfate disproportionation: Insights from a thermodynamically rooted, isotope effect-calibrated model (in prep)Bertran E., Ward L. M., and Johnston D. T. The Desulfobulbaceae family (in prep)FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDSFellowships Agouron Geobiology Postdoctoral Fellowship – Awarded 2019, declinedTeaching RecognitionHarvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, 2019Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, 2017Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, 2016Research GrantsWilliam Benjamin and Jill Kowal Graduate Aid Fund in Environmental Studies, 2014Bourse de Stages Internationaux du Fond du Québec de Recherche Nature et Technologies, 2012Canadian Institute For Advanced Research Scholarship, 2011Canadian Astrobiology Training Program Graduate Student Fellowship, 2011Canadian Astrobiology Training Program Undergraduate Fellowship, 2010Earth and Planetary Sciences Departmental Research Fund, 2010PRESENTATIONSInvited talksUnique approaches for unique insights into the sedimentary biogeochemical sulfur cycle: Understanding the reductive and oxidative branches COG3 Seminar Series, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 2019Unique approaches for unique insights into the sedimentary biogeochemical sulfur cycle: Understanding the reductive and oxidative branches Division of Biology and Paleo Environment Seminar Series, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, New York, United States, 2019?Conference talksBertran E., Waldeck A., Wing B. A., Halevy I., Leavitt W. D., Bradley A. S., Johnston D. T. A mechanistic understanding of oxygen isotope effects during microbial sulfate reduction Goldschmidt Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 2018Bertran E., Waldeck A., Wing B. A., Halevy I., Leavitt W. D., Bradley A. S., Johnston D. T. A mechanistic understanding of oxygen isotope effects during microbial sulfate reduction Geobiology Gordon Research Seminar, Galveston, Texas, United States, 2018Bertran E., Waldeck A., Wing B. A., Halevy I., Leavitt W. D., Bradley A. S., Johnston D. T. A mechanistic understanding of oxygen isotope effects during microbial sulfate reduction Northeastern Geobiology Symposium, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States, 2018Bertran E., Waldeck A., Wing B. A., Halevy I., Leavitt W. D., Bradley A. S., Johnston D. T. A mechanistic understanding of oxygen isotope effects during microbial sulfate reduction 5th International Symposium on Microbial Sulfur Metabolism, Vienna, Austria, 2018Poster PresentationsBertran E., Ward L. M., Kacar B., Johnston D. T. Insights into the sulfur disproportionation metabolism via the structural comparison of the enzyme adenosine phosphosulfate reductase Gordon Research Seminar, Galveston, Texas, USA, 2020Bertran E., Ward L. M., Kacar B., Johnston D. T. Insights into the sulfur disproportionation metabolism via the structural comparison of the enzyme adenosine phosphosulfate reductase American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Washington, D.C., USA, 2018Bertran E., Waldeck A., Wing B. A., Halevy I., Leavitt W. D., Bradley A. S., Johnston D. T. Understanding oxygen isotope trends during microbial sulfate reduction: A new approach integrating pure culture experiments, statistical tools, and steady state isotope models First Geobiology Society Conference, Banff, Canada, 2017Bertran E., Johnston D. T. Comparative isotope characterization of the thiosulfate disproportionator Desulfocapsa sulfoexigens in the presence of ferric iron and titanium citrate. Workshop on Microbial Sulfur Metabolisms, Elsinore, Denmark, 2015Santiago Ramos D. P., Rempfert K. R., Nascimento G. S., Zhang F., Loyd S. J., Piazza O., Bertran E., Stamps B. W., Stevenson B. S., Spear J. R. Corsetti F. A. Preservation Potential of Life in Little Hot Creek, California: Implications for the use of Hot Spring Systems as Astrobiological Targets AGU Fall Meeting?2015Bertran E., Leavitt W. D., Pèllerin A., Zane G. M., Wall J. D., Johnston D. T., Wing B. A. Deconstructing the dissimilatory sulfate reduction pathway: Isotope fractionation of a mutant unable to grow on sulfate Agouron Sulfur Symposium, California, USA, 2014Piazza O., Demott L. M., Bertran E., Bonis B., Frantz C. M., Corsetti F. A., Loyd S. J., Stevenson B. S., Stamps B. W., and Spear J. R. Biogenecity of mixed silica-carbonate accretionary structures from a hot spring (Little Hot Creek, CA) GSA Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, 2014Demott L. M., Piazza O., Bertran E., Bonis B., Frantz C. M., Loyd S. J., Corsetti F. A., and Spear J. R. Using carbon isotopes to assess biogenicity of mixed-composition accretionary structures from a thermal spring (Little Hot Creek, CA, USA) GSA Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, 2014Bertran E., Leavitt W. D., Pèllerin A., Zane G. M., Wall J. D., Johnston D. T., Wing B. A. Deconstructing the dissimilatory sulfate reduction pathway: Isotope fractionation of a mutant unable to grow on sulfate Goldschmidt Conference, Florence, Italy, 2013Bertran E., Pèllerin A., Wing B. A. Fractionation of Sulfur Isotopes by a Mutant Strain of Desulfovibrio vulgaris GeoTop Conference, Montreal, Qc, 2011Pèllerin A., Bertran E., Mykczuk N., Wing B. A. How Evolution Affects Sulfur Isotope Fractionation NASA Astrobiology Winter School: Water and the Evolution of Life in the Universe, Hawaii, USA, 2010Bertran E., Pèllerin A., Wing B. A. Fractionation of Sulfur Isotopes by a Mutant Strain of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Undergraduate Poster Competition, McGill University, Montreal, Qc, 2010TEACHING & ADVISING EXPERIENCETeaching AssistantDeveloped section materials, lead section discussions, supervised labs, graded all assignments, and met with students individually.Marine Geochemistry, Fall 2018, Harvard University; Instructor: David T. JohnstonAnalytical and Field Methods in Geobiology, Winter 2017, Harvard University; Instructors: Ann Pearson, David T. JohnstonGeobiology and the History of Life, Winter 2016, Harvard University; Instructors: Andrew H. Knoll, David T. JohnstonThe Terrestrial Planets, Winter 2013, McGill University; Instructor: Olivia JensenSedimentary Geology, Fall 2012, McGill University; Instructor: Galen P. HalversonAstrobiology, Winter 2011, McGill University; Instructor: Hojatollah ValiFundamentals of Thermodynamics, Fall 2011, McGill University; Instructor: Donald BakerGuest lecturerMarine Geochemistry, Harvard University, Fall 2018Pedagogical TrainingBok Center Teaching Certificate Seminars.Teaching as StorytellingCrafting your Teaching PersonaAdvising Experience4 undergraduate students at Harvard University, 2013 through 2017SERVICE TO PROFESSIONPeer-review serviceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – note wrote and assisted peer-review with Prof. X. ZhangSeminar co-organizerEarth History and Paleontology/Geobiology Seminar, Harvard University; Fall 2018 to Spring 2019Environmental Geology and Geochemistry Seminar Lecture Series, Princeton University; Fall 2019Educational OutreachContributed to ‘Earth & Planetary Times’, a newsletter with updates from the department and from members of the department of Earth and Planetary Sciences community at Harvard University, past and present; Piece: Understanding the History of Atmospheric Oxygen: Proxies required at all scales; 2018Contributed to ‘Science in the News’, a Harvard graduate student organization that aims at bridging the communication gap between scientists and non-scientists; Piece: The Ghost of Climate Past: Lessons from a previous global warming; 2017Participated in Skype A Scientist sessions, introducing 6th grade students to Earth historyAuthor of the blog ‘The Unchained Geobiologist’ for the dissemination of scientific content (started 2020)Summer CoursesInternational Geobiology Summer Course; Sponsored by the Agouron Institute; 2014International Astrobiology Summer School: Unveiling the Habitability of Mars; Funded by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; 2011Committee ExperienceCo-founder of the advocacy group Inclusion and Diversity in Earth Sciences (IDEaS) within the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University; the goal of the group was to serve as an active voice to improve the representation of women and minorities within the department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University, as well as in the greater Earth Sciences community; 2017-2018Geoclub Co-President; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University; 2016-2018 Professional membershipsAmerican Geophysical Union; 2017-2019Additional Professional ExperienceLaboratory safety officer in the Johnston laboratory; 2017-2018Research Assistant in the Wing Stable Isotopes Laboratory; 2011Research Assistant in the Wing Stable Isotopes Laboratory; 2010Research assistant in the Lefebvre Animal Behavior Laboratory; 2008REFERENCESProfessor David T. JohnstonDoctoral thesis advisorJohn L. Loeb Professor of Natural SciencesDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Harvard University20 Oxford Street; Cambridge, MA 02138(617) 496-5230; johnston@eps.harvard.eduProfessor Ann Pearson Doctoral thesis committee memberMurray and Martha Ross Professor of Environmental Sciences; Harvard College ProfessorDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Harvard University20 Oxford Street; Cambridge, MA 02138(617) 496-5230; apearson@eps.harvard.eduProfessor Andrew H. Knoll Doctoral thesis committee memberFisher Professor of Natural History and Professor of Earth and Planetary SciencesDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Harvard University Botanical Museum; Harvard University20 Oxford Street; Cambridge, MA 02138(617) 495-9306; aknoll@fas.harvard.eduProfessor Boswell A. WingMaster’s thesis advisorProfessor of Isotope GeochemistryDepartment of Geological Sciences; University of Colorado, BoulderUCB 399, Boulder; CO 80309-0399 USA(303) 735-6284; Boswell.Wing@Colorado.eduProfessor Xinning ZhangPostdoctoral research supervisorAssistant Professor of GeosciencesDepartment of Geosciences and Princeton Environmental Institute; Princeton UniversityGuyot Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544-1003(609) 258-2489; xinningz@Princeton.EDUProfessor Jerry X. MitrovicaFrank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of ScienceDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Harvard University20 Oxford Street; Cambridge, MA 02138(617) 496-2732; jxm@eps.harvard.edu ................
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