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Jeanette M. Norton

Professor Soil Microbiology

Area of Study: Environmental Soil & Water, Soil Science

Emphasis: Soil Microbiology/Ecology

Employee Type: Faculty

Email: jeanette.norton@usu.edu

Office Phone: 435-797-2166

Cell Phone: 435-757-9660

4820 Old Main Hill AGS 352
Logan Utah 84322-4820

Microorganisms perform the key processes that create and maintain the environment in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. I have been privileged to study soil microbiology during the time when a revolution in our technical abilities and understanding of the microbial world is occurring. During my career I have investigated a group of soil microbes known as nitrfiers that are key players in the nitrogen cycle. These investigations have spanned levels from their function in agricultural fields to the detail of individual genes. In this era of rapid global change as humans continue to enrich the environment with additional nitrogen, it has become even more crucial to understand the functioning of these bacteria (see the Nitrification Network).

I am committed to teaching and mentoring at all levels and I am excited to offer my courses, Microbes in Environmental Action (Soil 3200), and Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment (Soil 5560/6560) in spring semesters. Soil 5560/6560 is a small primarily laboratory class of both undergraduates and graduates interested in hands-on experience in soil characterization.

Curriculum Vitae for Jeanette Marie Norton Ph.D.

Professional preparation:

BS., 1980. State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Forest Biology. Concentrations in Forest Botany and Pathology and Biochemistry.

Ph.D., 1991. University of California , Berkeley. Soil Science (Soil Microbiology).Dissertation: Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in the Rhizosphere of Pinus ponderosa seedlings.

Post-doctoral Research Associate, Michigan State University NSF Center for Microbial Ecology 1991-1992.

Appointments:

June 2007-current. Professor, Soil Microbiology, Adjunct in Biology, Ecology Center Faculty Associate, Utah State University , Logan, Utah . Research: molecular biology, genomics and ecology of ammonia oxidizing bacteria, DNA probes for enzymatic functions, microbial / plant interactions in animal waste management, microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling, role of community structure in bioremediation of chlorinated solvents.

June 1999-2007. Associate Professor, Soil Microbiology, Adjunct in Biology, Ecology Center Faculty Associate, Utah State University , Logan, Utah .
January 1993- 1999. Assistant Professor, Soil Microbiology and Program in Molecular Biology, Utah State University , Logan, Utah .

June 1991- December 1992. Research Associate. NSF Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan .
August 1992. Workshop Instructor. Environmental Applications of Gene Probe Methodology. NSF Center for Microbial Ecology, East Lansing , Michigan .

June 1984- April 1991. Research Assistant, Soil Microbiology, University of California , Berkeley . Research: relationship of carbon and nitrogen cycling to microbial abundance and metabolic status in the rhizosphere of pine.
January 1990 - May 1990. Graduate Student Instructor for Soil Microbiology Laboratory, University of California , Berkeley .

April 1981- June 1984. Research Support Specialist, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York .

Selected Peer Reviewed Publications:
6 most pertinent

Norton, J. M., M. G. Klotz, L. Y.Stein, D. J. Arp, P. J. Bottomley, P. S.G. Chain, L. J. Hauser, M. L. Land, F.W. Larimer, M.W. Shin, S. R. Starkenburg. 2008. Complete genome sequence of Nitrosospira multiformis, an ammonia-oxidizing bacterium from the soil environment. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74:3559-3572.

Stein, L. Y., D. J. Arp, P. M. Berube, P. S. G. Chain, L. Hauser, M. S. M. Jetten, M. G. Klotz, F. W. Larimer, J. M. Norton, H. J. M. O. d. Camp, M. Shin, and X. Wei. 2007. Whole-genome analysis of the ammonia-oxidizing bacterium, Nitrosomonas eutropha C91: implications for niche adaptation. Environmental Microbiology 9: 2993-3007.

Habteselassie, M. Y., J. M. Stark, B. E. Miller, S. G. Thacker and J. M. Norton. 2006. Gross N transformations in an agricultural soil after repeated applications of dairy waste. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70:1338-1348.

Klotz, M.G., D. J. Arp, P. S.G. Chain, A. F. El-Sheikh, L. J.Hauser, N. G. Hommes, F. W. Larimer, S. A. Malfatti, J. M. Norton, A. T. Poret-Peterson, L. M. Vergez, and B. B. Ward. 2006. The complete genome sequence of the marine, chemolithoautotrophic, ammonia- oxidizing bacterium Nitrosococcus oceani ATCC19707. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 6299-6315.

Chain, P., J. Lamerdin, F. Larimer, W. Regala, V. Lao, M. Land, L. Hauser, A. Hooper, M. Klotz, J. Norton, L. Sayavedra-Soto, D. Arciero, N. Hommes, M. Whittaker, D. Arp. 2003. Complete genome sequence of the ammonia oxidizing bacterium and obligate chemolithoautotroph Nitrosomonas europaea. J. Bacteriol. 185:2759–2773.

Norton J.M., J.J Alzerreca, Y. Suwa and M. G. Klotz. 2002. Diversity of ammonia monooxygenase operon in autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Arch. Microbiol. 177:139-149.

5 other significant publications

Habteselassie, M. Y., J. M. Stark, B. E. Miller, S. G. Thacker and J. M. Norton. 2006. Soil nitrogen and nutrient dynamics after repeated application of treated dairy-waste. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70:1328-1337.

Shi, W., B.E. Miller, J. M. Stark and J. M. Norton. 2004. Microbial nitrogen transformations in response to treated dairy waste in an agricultural soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 68:1867-1874.

Koper T.E., A.L. El-Sheikh, J.M. Norton and M.G. Klotz. 2004. Urease-encoding genes in autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:2342-2348.

Norton J.M. 2000. Nitrogen Mineralization and Immobilization Turnover. Pages C148-C160 Nitrification. Pages C160-C181 in Handbook of Soil Science , M. Sumner (Editor), CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL.

Shi, W. and J.M. Norton. 2000. Microbial control of nitrate concentrations in an agricultural soil treated with compost or ammonium fertilizer. Soil Biol. Biochem.32:1453-1457.

Perrin T.S., J.L. Boettinger, D.T. Drost, and J.M. Norton. 1998. Decreasing nitrogen leaching from sandy soil with ammonium-loaded clinoptilolite. J. Environ. Qual. 27:656-663.

Synergistic activites

Native American and Latino Outreach Advisor to Diversity in Sciences Club, USU Chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native American in Sciences (SACNAS) and member faculty consortium for mentoring science students.

Undergraduate Research Mentor
Undergraduate research on molecular biology and ecology of nitrifying bacteria. Twelve students mentored and co-authors of GenBank sequences for amo and ure genes. Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year for College of Agricultural at USU. 2003.

Genomics of nitrifying bacteria
NSF Research Coordination Network for Nitrification, member of collaborative effort with Daniel Arp, Martin Klotz , Bess Ward, Lisa Stein and others to sequence the genomes of representative nitrifying bacteria. Completed genome sequence for Nitrosomonas europaea, N. eutropha, N. multiformis, N. oceani. Ongoing genomic work on other soil and marine nitrifiers, PI for N. oligotropha sequencing.

Resource for Nitrifying Bacteria Cultures and Sequences
Norton laboratory maintains and distributes cultures and sequence information on nitrifying bacteria to the scientific community for use as type strains and DNA controls for molecular techniques. NSF Research Coordination Network grant Co-PI.
Standard Methods: Joint Task Group on Nitrifying Bacteria, Soil Science Society of America representative to ATCC.

Professional Editorial and Review Services:
Editorial services for microbial ecology focus on functional genes and nitrifying bacteria. Associate Editor for Soil Science Society of America S-3 2005-current; Editorial Board of Applied Environmental Microbiology 1999-2004; NSF Panel Service1997-2005; USDA Panel Service 2000.

Advisees
Alzerreca, Javier (MS 1999); Shi, Wei (PhD. 1998); Patch, Kistie (MS 2003); Norton, Jay (postdoctoral 2002); Habteselassie, Mussie Ykeallo ( PhD 2005); Koper, Teresa (MS 2005).

Current Support

USDA/NRI, Stability of Weedy Plant Communities in Western Rangelands (J.M. Stark and CoPI J.M.Norton); NSF Research Coordination Network for Nitrification (P.I. D.J. Arp, Co-P.I. J.M. Norton et al.); Utah Agric. Expt Sta., Functional Genomics and Ecology of Nitrifying Bacteria (P.I. J.M. Norton).