University of Wisconsin - Stout

Steve-in-Boatedit.jpg

Dr. Stephen Nold, Associate Professor
nolds@uwstout.edu
213 Jarvis Hall, Science Wing
Phone: (715) 232-2560

See my office door for current hours, or by appointment.

BIO 101: Introductory Biology
BIO 136: College Molecular Cell Biology I
BIO 210: Biotechnology Issues
BIO 306: General Microbiology
BIO 370: Biotechnology
APSC 201: Applied Science Seminar

I am committed to providing the absolute best in science education and training. I use active, small group teaching strategies that promote student learning in a supportive environment. I also enliven course content with case studies, academic controversies, problem-based learning, and team learning. Finally, I ask my classroom students to participate in my research endeavors. Biology students generate molecular data that helps me test my research hypotheses. As a result, my students are engaged and challenged. Most importantly, my students enjoy learning about science and retain what they learn.

My teaching also includes efforts to improve the quality of science education. In addition to presenting faculty development workshops on small-group learning and skill development, I have developed, tested, and shared skill development modules for use in the college science classroom. See www.uwstout.edu/skills.

Ph.D. in Microbiology, December 1996, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
Dissertation: "Molecular Analysis of Hot Spring Microbial Mats to Study Bacterial Diversity and Physiology"

B.S. in Biology and Natural Science (double major), Chemistry Minor, December 1989, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI

My research takes a multidisciplinary approach to fundamental questions in microbial ecology. My goal is to understand the role of microbial populations in determining ecosystem-scale biogeochemical functioning. I am most interested in the roles microorganisms play in nutrient cycling, particularly the linkages between the carbon and nitrogen cycles. This research spans the fields of aquatic microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, environmental genomics and proteomics. I seek answers to these and other fundamental questions: What is the relationship between microbial biodiversity and ecosystem functioning? What physical and biological forces are most important in shaping microbial communities? How do we measure community composition and function in a way that links ecologically important processes to the responsible microorganisms?

I currently lead a large research laboratory that has included a post-doctoral scholar, a research technician, and many undergraduate scholars who use stable isotope, molecular biology, and process measurements to investigate microbial ecology.

Student Research
While most of my research occurs in the courses I teach, there are many other students who work in my research laboratory. I usually recruit outstanding students from the classroom to participate in more individualized research projects. If you are interested in participating in undergraduate research, please contact me, as there are often openings in my laboratory.

Federal Research Grants
$532,906 National Science Foundation CAREER Grant “Capture probing to link methanotrophic species with ecological function in acidic northern wetlands” (1/01-1/06)

$6,000 REU Supplement to previous NSF CAREER Grant (9/02-5/03)

$126,865 National Science Foundation Microbial Interactions and Processes Grant “Lake Huron Sinkholes-Microbial Composition and Processes in Biogeochemical Hot Spots” (9/06-8/08)

$6,000 REU Supplement to current NSF CAREER Grant (7/07-7/08)

$284,315 National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean Exploration. "Exploration of Shallow and Deep Water Submerged Sinkhole Ecosystems in Thunder Bay National Marine Sactuary, Lake Huron: Habitat and Life" $17,029 to UW-Stout (5/08-4/09)

The following is a list of six publications out of over 20 that I have composed or contributed to.

1. Nold, S.C. Fecal Coliforms in Antarctica. 2002. Center for Case Studies in Science Teaching. http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/coliforms/coliforms1.html.

2. Liu, X., Tiquia, S.M., Holguin, G., Wu, L., Nold, S.C., Devol, A.H., A.V. Palumbo, Tiedje, J.M., and J. Zhou. 2003. Molecular diversity of denitrifying genes in continental margin sediments within the oxygen deficient zone off the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 69:3549-3560.

3. Grüntzig, V.*, Nold, S.C., Zhou, J. and J.M.Tiedje. 2001. Psuedomonas stutzeri nitrite reductase gene abundance in environmental samples measured by real time PCR. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 67:760-768.

4. Nold, S.C., Zhou, J., Devol, A.H. and J.M. Tiedje. 2000. Pacific northwest marine sediments contain ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in the ? subdivision of the Proteobacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 66:4532-4535.

5. Nold, S.C., Boschker, H.T.S., Pel, R., and H.J. Laanbroek. 1999. Ammonium addition inhibits 13C-methane incorporation into methanotroph membrane lipids in a freshwater sediment. FEMS Microbial Ecology. 29:81-99.

6. Zwart, G., Hiorns, W.D., Methe, B.A., van Agterveld, M.P., Huismans, R., Nold, S.C., Zehr, J.P., and H.J. Laanbroek. 1998. Nearly identical 16S rRNA sequences recovered from lakes in North America and Europe indicate the existence of clades of globally distributed freshwater bacteria. Systematic and Applied Microbiology. 21:546-556.

UW-Stout Outstanding Researcher of the Year (2003)
Promotion to Associate Professor by exception to time in rank criterion (2003)
Wisconsin Governor’s Recognition, UW-Stout Top Federal Grant Awardee (2002)
Nominee, Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the nation’s most prestigious award for early science faculty (2001)

American Society for Microbiology (1991-present)

International Society for Microbial Ecology (1998-present)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (2000-present)