Project Leader:
Dr. Andrew Juhl
Earth Institute Contact: Dr. Andrew Juhl
Description:
Contamination by sewage continues to be a major water quality concern in the lower Hudson River Estuary. While we know the source of sewage-derived microorganisms to the Estuary, we do not know what their fate is after they arrive. How long do they survive, do they get eaten by microbial predators, do they end up in the sediments? Understanding and quantifying these processes is necessary for knowing how long to post advisories following a sewage spill or rain storm. The student will conduct field and laboratory experiments to measure loss rates of sewage-indicator bacteria from the Hudson River in relationship to key environmental variables. The student will also participate in several large-scale surveys of Hudson River water quality. This project will require a lot of time sitting at a microscope.
SIGN UP