MaxHggblom Distinguished Professor and ChairDepartment of Biochemistry and MicrobiologySchool of Environmental and Biological SciencesRutgers-New BrunswickHonored for distinguished contributions to understanding both the fundamental and application components of microbialbiotransformationsof pollutants, especially chlorinated aromaticcompoundsand metalloids.

MaxHggblomis a renowned research scientist and educator with a large body of microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology research that has expanded our understanding of how the biodegradation of environmental pollutants, such as dioxins and PCBs,impact our planet.

His research interests revolve around thebioexploration, cultivation and characterization of novel microbes.His research on bacteria has provided a foundation for applications that address the pollution problems facing impacted industrialized and urbanized environments.

Hggblomslab is also actively studying microorganisms that degrade pharmaceutical and personal care products in aquatic environments.

Over the past decadesthediverse chemicalsin pharmaceutical and personal care productshave emerged as a major group of environmental contaminants in numerous watersheds around the world; therefore, it is important to understand how microbes can degrade them.There is much to explore and learn,Hggblomadded.

Hggblomswork also touches climate change, particularly the roles and responses of microbes in rapidly changing environments, such as the Arctic.In his lab at Rutgers, students have the unique opportunity to exploreareas of research such asthe biodegradation and detoxification of anthropogenic pollutant chemicals, including certainpesticides;respiration of rare metalloids; or life in the frozen tundra soils.

For several years,my lab has worked on studying the microbial ecology of Arctic tundra soils to understand how the changing conditions impact microbial activity and turnover of soil organic matter, and consequently enhanced greenhouse gas flux,Hggblomsaid. This is an important area of research as the threat of microbial contribution to positive feedback of greenhouse gas flux is substantial.

His lab recently received funding from the National Science Foundation to studyhowdiverse microbial communitiesare established insoils.Hggblomwill work with an international research team of scientists from the U.S., China, South Africa and Finland to study soils from the three differentregionsacross Arctic, Tibetan Plateau and Antarctic habitats to expand our understanding of how soil ecosystems respond in critical polar regions.

Emily EversonLayden

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