Speakers
Tim Buscheck
Chevron Energy Technology Company
Tim Buscheck is a Consulting Hydrogeologist in the Groundwater Team of the Health, Environment and Safety Group. He consults with various Chevron Operating Companies on site assessments and remediation for marketing, chemical, and refining facilities throughout the United States and internationally. Tim manages a Remediation Strategic Research Program. He collaborates with several universities on Chevron-funded research. He has taught short courses and workshops for regulatory agencies and industry. He has authored papers on the subjects of compound specific isotope analysis, natural attenuation, ethanol fate and transport, and multi-site plume studies. He has written several Chevron Protocols for monitoring natural attenuation of contaminants in groundwater and authored a 2008 Guidance Document for Compound Specific Isotope Analysis. Tim has been an active member of the API Soil/Groundwater Technical Task Force since 1986. He taught courses for the University of California, Berkeley Extension Program between 1992 and 2004 on the subjects of Contaminant Hydrogeology and Natural Attenuation. Tim has a M.S. in Geological Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Lafayette College. He is a registered Civil Engineer in California.
Greg Davis
Microbial Insights
Greg Davis is President of Microbial Insights, Inc., a biotechnology laboratory. Mr. Davis received his B.S. in environmental science from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Davis has eleven years of experience in assessing the microbial ecology behind bioremediation. Currently Mr. Davis is focused on the development of panels of molecular based approaches which can be used to facilitate site design and management decisions.
Joseph Haas
Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) - New York State Office of the Attorney General
Joseph Haas recently joined the Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) staff within the New York State Office of the Attorney General where he is working with other EPB scientists to initiate, investigate, understand, communicate, and resolve specialized environmental issues. Prior to his joining the EPB in May 2008, Joe worked as an Engineering Geologist within various Divisions of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) since 1989. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and a Masters of Science Degree in Hydrogeology. He is a licensed Hydrogeologist & Engineering Geologist.
Michael Hyman
North Carolina State University
Dr. Michael Hyman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology at North Carolina State University. He obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Bristol UK and held postdoctoral positions at the University of California-Riverside and Oregon State University. Dr. Hyman has 25 years of experience in the characterization of microbial biodegradation processes directed at environmental pollutants including chlorinated solvents, ethers and fuel oxygenates. His work has included studies with nitrifying bacteria as well as bacterial and fungal hydrocarbon oxidizers.
Pat McLoughlin
Microseeps, Inc.
As Technical Director and Manager of Quality Systems at Microseeps, Dr. McLoughlin is responsible for the laboratory QA/QC program, as well evaluating technical issues and writing technical proposals and reports. Dr. McLoughlin has been responsible for developing new technical applications and currently has two patents pending. Dr. McLoughlin obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Physical Chemistry from Cornell University.
Aaron Peacock
Haley & Aldrich
Dr. Aaron Peacock is an environmental scientist specializing biotechnology and its application to address complex environmental issues. Dr. Peacock has 15 years of experience in academia and industry, and is on the forefront of the development of new technologies for bacterial identification and measurement to support site investigation and the evaluation and implementation of monitored natural attenuation (MNA) and enhanced bioremediation.
Dr. Peacock's current focus has been on the use and development of molecular biological tools (MBTs) to aid in the evaluation of sites for in-situ bioremediation potential, performance monitoring of ongoing bioremediation programs, and forensics of non-performing sites. In addition to his work with MBTs, Dr. Peacock has co-developed novel in-situ tools for the characterization and assessment of contaminated sites. Some examples of these tools include the Bio-trap sampling device and in-situ sediment incubator (ISI).
Dr. Peacock's work experience also includes conducting research for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Environmental Remediation Science Program (ERSP). The objective of the current research is to gain a comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of the microbial factors and associated geochemistry controlling metal and radionuclide mobility so that DOE can confidently remediate these plumes as well as support stewardship of metal and radionuclide-contaminated sites. The approach specifically targets new knowledge that can be translated into scientifically defensible flow and reactive transport process models of microbially mediated and abiotic reactions, taking a major step toward ERSP's long-term goal to "incorporate coupled biological, chemical and physical processes into decision making for environmental remediation."
Bob Pirkle
Microseeps, Inc.
Dr. Bob Pirkle has over twenty-five years of experience in geotechnical and geochemical research and development. After working as Director of Geochemistry for Gulf Research and Development Company, Bob and his partners founded Microseeps in 1984. Bob completed undergraduate and graduate studies in Chemistry at Auburn University; he obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from The University of Western Ontario, and completed Postdoctoral Studies and a Research Associateship in Chemistry & Applied Physics at Cornell University. Currently Bob is CEO of Microseeps, a NELAP certified full service environmental laboratory serving clients in all 48 states as well as numerous international locations.
Gerard Spinnler
Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc
Gerard Spinnler is a consultant within Shell Global Solutions focusing on soil and groundwater management. He supports Shell operations in the northeast from his office at the Westhollow Technology Center in Houston, TX.
Kerry Sublette
Center for Applied BioGeosciences, University of Tulsa
Dr. Kerry L. Sublette is Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Technology and Sarkeys Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Tulsa. He also serves as the director of the Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium (IPEC). He earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 1985 and worked for six years in research and development for Combustion Engineering before joining the University of Tulsa faculty. His research interests include anoxic biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons, microbial oxidation of hydrogen sulfide, microbial reduction of sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, soil ecosystem restoration, and general biological waste treatment.
John Wilson
USEPA
Dr. John Wilson is a research microbiologist with USEPA. He has worked on groundwater issues at the R.S. Kerr Center since 1978. He led the development of the USEPA approach to evaluate Monitored Natural Attenuation of organic contaminants in ground water. His personal research has focused on natural biodegradation of BTEX compounds, ethanol, MTBE, TBA, EDB, and chlorinated solvents in groundwater.