C.D. Takacs-Vesbach
Cristina Takacs-Vesbach
Biology
Biology
January 2006
January, 2006
Educational History
B.A. 1991, University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Environmental, Population,
and Organismic Biology, Boulder, CO.
Specialization: Biology
Ph.D., 1999, Montana State University, Bozeman, Department of Biology, Bozeman, MT
Specialization: Microbial Ecology with a minor concentration in Biochemistry
Dissertation Title: The factors affecting bacterioplankton biomass and productivity
in Taylor Valley lakes, Antarctica
Dissertation Advisor: Dr. John C. Priscu
Academic Positions (principle)
Assistant Professor, August 2002-present, University of New Mexico, Department of
Biology, Albuquerque NM
Research Faculty, 2000-2002, Portland State University, Department of Biology, Portland,
OR
Postdoctoral Fellow, 1999-2000, Portland State University, Department of Biology,
Portland, OR
Employment History (other)
Visiting Scholar, June 2005, The Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University,
Bozeman, MT
Teaching Assistant, Introductory Biology, Fall 1998, Montana State University,
Department of Biology, Bozeman, MT
Research Assistant, Fall 1994-Spring 1995 and summers through 1998, Montana State
University, Department of Biology, Bozeman, MT
Research Technician, January 1994-June 1994, Xytronyx, inc., San Diego, CA
Research Intern, January 1994-August 1994, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San
Diego, CA
Professional Recognition
Outstanding Performance in a Doctoral Program Award, annual university-wide
competition among doctoral recipients, 1999, Montana State University
Foundation, Bozeman, MT
NASA-Montana Space Grant Fellow, statewide competition offering a full scholarship and
stipend for doctoral students, awarded to 2-3 students each year, Fall 1995-Spring
1999, Montana Space Grant Consortium, Bozeman, MT
NSF/Chinese Academy of Sciences sponsored visit to ecological research sites in June, 1998 Taiwan
and China aimed at fostering collaborative research between the US and Asian nation
Leopold Schepp Foundation Scholar, 1995 & 1996, National competition that recognizes students
based on character, ability, and financial need, 551 Fifth Ave, Suite 3000, NY, NY 10176
1
C.D. Takacs-Vesbach
Biology
January 2006
Scholarly Achievements
Articles in Refereed Journals:
Takacs, C.D., M. Ehringer, R. Favre, M. Cermola, G. Eggertsson, A. Palsdottir, A.-L.
Reysenbach. 2001. Phylogenetic characterization of the blue filamentous bacterial
community from an Icelandic geothermal spring. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 35:
123-128.
Takacs, C.D., J.C. Priscu, D.M. McKnight. 2001. Bacterial dissolved organic carbon
demand in Antarctic Dry Valley lakes. Limnology and Oceanography 46: 11891194.
Takacs, C.D., A.-L. Reysenbach, D. Boone. 2000. Archaeal Ecology. Encyclopedia of
Life Sciences. Published online at www.els.net.
Priscu, J.P., E.E. Adams, W.B. Lyons, D.W. Mogk, R.L. Brown, C.D. Takacs, K.A.
Welch, C.F. Wolf, M.A. Voytek, R. Avci. 1999. Geomicrobiology of subglacial
ice above Lake Vostok, Antarctica. Science 286: 2141-2144.
Priscu, J. C., C.F. Wolf, C. D. Takacs , C. H., Fritsen, J., Laybourn-Parry, J., E.C. Roberts.
1999. Carbon transformations in a perennially ice-covered Antarctic lake.
Bioscience 49: 997-1008.
Takacs, C.D., and J.C. Priscu. 1998. Bacterioplankton dynamics in the McMurdo Dry
Valley lakes, Antarctica: Production and biomass loss over four seasons. Microbial
Ecology 36: 239-250.
Articles Appearing as Chapters in Edited Volumes:
Reysenbach, A.-L., A. Banta, S. Civello, J. Daly, K. Mitchell, S. Lalonde, K. Konhauser,
A. Rodman, K. Rustenholtz, C. Takacs-Vesbach. 2005. The Aquificales in
Yellowstone National Park. In Geothermal Biology and Geochemistry in
Yellowstone National Park, ed. W.P. Inskeep and T.R. McDermott, pp. 129.142.
Bozeman, MT: Montana State University Thermal Biology Institute.
Major Governmental Reports:
Chyba, C.F., S. Clifford, A. Delamere, M.S. Favero, E.J. Mathur, J.C. Neihoff, G.G. Ori,
D.A. Paige, A. Pearson, J.C. Priscu, M.S. Race, M.L. Sogin, C. Takacs-Vesbach.
2005. Preventing the forward contamination of Mars. Report by the Committee for
Preventing the Forward Contamination of Mars, Space Studies Board, National
Academy of Science Press, Washington, DC. 167pp.
Albert, M., R. Bindschadler, C. Bitz, J. Bowen, D. Bromwich, R. Glenn, J. Grebmeier, J.
Kelley, I. Krupnik, L. Lanzerotti, P. Schlosser, P. Smith, G. Somero, C. TakacsVesbach, G. Weller, D. Wiens, M.C. Kennicutt, R. Bell, P. Webber, T. Wilson.
2004. A Vision for the International Polar Year 2007-2008. Report by the U.S.
National Committee for the International Polar Year 2007-2008, Polar Research
Board, National Academy of Science Press, Washington, DC. 96 pp.
Takacs, C.D. and J.C. Priscu. 1996. The role of phytoplankton extracellular release in
bacterioplankton growth in Taylor Valley lakes, Antarctica. Antarctic Journal of
the United States 31: 211-212. (Annual publication by the Office of Polar
Programs, NSF)
2
C.D. Takacs-Vesbach
Biology
January 2006
Takacs, C.D. and J.C. Priscu. 1995. Responses of bacterial growth to inorganic and
organic nutrient enrichment in the lakes of the Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Antarctic
Journal of the United States 30: 303-305. (Annual publication by the Office of
Polar Programs, NSF)
Other Writings:
Takacs, C.D. 1999. Learning to Teach. American Society for Limnology and
Oceanography Bulletin 8: 25.
Works in Progress
Submitted articles:
Auchtung, T.A., C.D. Takacs-Vesbach, C.M. Cavanaugh. A 16S rRNA phylogenetic
investigation of the candidate division, Korarchaeota. Submitted January 2006 to
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, manuscript included in supplemental
materials.
Reysenbach, A.-L. J. Webb, L.A. Amaral-Zettler, F. Hubler, O. Mason, M. Mora, K.
Rusterholtz, A. Sittenfeld, C. Takacs-Vesbach, G. Thorn, and L. Uribe-Lorio.
Patterns of microbial diversity associated with the tropical caterpillar Rothschildia
lebeau (Saturniidae). Submitted January 2006 to Microbial Ecology, manuscript
included in supplemental materials. This pub is related to post-doc work.
Invited or Refereed Abstracts and/or Presentation at Professional Meetings
Takacs-Vesbach, C.D. Bacterial diversity of near-neutral thermal springs in Yellowstone
National Park: Evidence of isolation? Invited seminar speaker, Thermal Biology
Institute, Montana State University, April, 2005.
Takacs-Vesbach, C.D. A Vision for the International Polar Year. RF Ionospheric
Interactions Workshop. Santa Fe, New Mexico. April, 2005.
Takacs-Vesbach, C.D. Probing the black box: diversity, function, and dynamics of
microbial communities in extreme environments. Invited seminar speaker,
Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, March, 2005.
Takacs-Vesbach, C.D., K. Maas, A. Rodman, A-L Reysenbach. A microbial inventory of
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem thermal features. First Biannual Workshop on
Geothermal Biology and Geochemistry in Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful,
Yellowstone National Park, October, 2003.
Takacs-Vesbach, C.D., A.-L. Reysenbach. 2002. Spatial and temporal variations of the
microbial diversity within the caterpillar gut. Microbial Observatory of Caterpillar
Guts Investigators Meeting, Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica, June,
2002.
Takacs-Vesbach, C.D. The microbial ecology of Antarctic lakes, probing the black box.
Department of Biology, Invited speaker, University of New Mexico, April, 2001.
Takacs-Vesbach, C.D. The microbial ecology of extreme environments. Invited seminar
speaker, Department of Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks April, 2001.
3
C.D. Takacs-Vesbach
Biology
January 2006
Contributed Abstracts and/or Oral Presentations at Professional Meetings
Gooseff, M.N., J E Barrett, K R Hill, D B Bate, M L Northcott, L H Zeglin, M Bobb, C D
Vesbach. Controls on soil moisture wicking extent away from Lake Fryxell
(Constant Boundary Condition) in the Dry Valleys polar desert, Antarctica.
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December, 2005.
Newell, D.L., L J Crossey, C N Dahm, C Takacs-Vesbach. Travertine-depositing coolsprings of the Rio Grande rift, New Mexico: links between geochemistry, tectonic
setting, and microbial Diversity. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San
Francisco, CA, December, 2005. Won ‘Best Student Paper’ Award.
Crossey, L.J., K E Karlstrom, D L Newell, M L Kirk, C Takacs-Vesbach, C N Dahm, T
Fischer, D Hilton. Cool CO2 springs of the Western U.S.: continental "smokers"?
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA December, 2005.
Bobb, M., Zeglin, L.H., Gooseff, M., Barrett, J.E., C.D. Takacs-Vesbach.
Hydrological/biogeochemical controls over microbial diversity across varying
spatial scales in antarctic riparian zones. American Geophysical Union Fall
Meeting, San Francisco, CA December, 2005.
Gooseff, M.N., J E Barrett, K R Hill, D B Bate, M L Northcott, L H Zeglin, M Bobb, C D
Vesbach. Controls on soil moisture wicking extent away from Lake Fryxell
(Constant Boundary Condition) in the Dry Valleys polar desert, Antarctica.
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA December, 2005.
Kirk, M F, Crossey, L J, Bowman, R S, C. Takacs-Vesbach. Deep groundwater upwelling
in the Socorro basin; influence on groundwater quality and microbial community
structure. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting: Salt Lake City, UT
October, 2005.
Hall, J.R., Mitchell, K.R., Takacs-Vesbach, C.D. Determining the ecological significance
of phylogenetic micro-diversity of thermophilic microbial communities. Society for
the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science Annual
Conference: Denver, CO. October, 2005.
Kirk, M F, Crossey, L J, Bowman, R S, C. Takacs-Vesbach. 2005. Deep groundwater
upwelling in the Socorro basin; influence on groundwater quality and microbial
community structure. New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute Technical
Water Research Symposium, Socorro, NM, August, 2005.
Hall, J.R.. Determining the ecological significance of phylogenetic micro-diversity of
thermophilic microbial communities. IMSD Research Symposium, University of
New Mexico, August, 2005.
Mitchell, K., A.B. Banta, A.-L. Reysenbach, A. Rodman, L.A. Morgan, D.K. Nordstrom,
and C.D. Vesbach. Ecology of thermophilic microbes in Yellowstone National
Park: Small and medium scale spatial distribution. ESA-INTECOL joint meeting,
Montreal, Canada, August, 2005.
Bobb, M., Zeglin, L.H., Gooseff, M.N., Barrett, J.E., Dahm, C.N., C.D. Vesbach. 2005.
Hydrological & biogeochemical controls over microbial diversity across varying
spatial scales in Antarctic hyporheic zones. ESA-INTECOL joint meeting,
Montreal, Canada. August, 2005.
4
C.D. Takacs-Vesbach
Biology
January 2006
Barrett, JE, MN Gooseff, ML Northcott, M Bobb, L Zeglin, DB Bate, and C TakacsVesbach. 2005. Nutrient cycling in riparian soils and sediments bordering cold
desert streams and lakes . American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, New
Oreleans, LA. May, 2005.
Caldwell, S., L. Crossey, C. Takacs-Vesbach. Prokaryotic diversity and biogeochemical
cycling in the middle Rio Grande aquifer, New Mexico. NMGS Spring Meeting,
Socorro, NM, April, 2005.
Jackson-Weaver, O. K.R. Mitchell, C.D. Takacs-Vesbach. Using real time PCR to quantify
members of the Aquificales in environmental samples, University of New Mexico
Biology Research Day, April, 2005.
Bobb, M., L.H. Zeglin, M.N. Gooseff, J.E. Barrett, C.N. Dahm, C.D.Vesbach. Threedimensional spatial scaling of microbial community diversity within
aquatic/terrestrial interfaces in a polar desert. American Society of Limnology &
Oceanography, Salt Lake City, February, 2005.
Mitchell, K., A.B. Banta, A.-L. Reysenbach, A. Rodman, L.A. Morgan, D.K. Nordstrom,
C.D. Vesbach. Distribution of thermophilic microbial communities in Yellowstone
National Park: ecological convergence or isolation? ASLO Aquatic Science
Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, February, 2005.
Stromberg, D., N. Rael, B. Forrester, A.B. Banta, A.-L. Reysenbach, A. Rodman, L.A.
Morgan, D.K. Nordstrom, D. Newell, L. Crossey, C.D. Vesbach. Phylogenetic and
geochemical comparison of Yellowstone National Park Thermal Springs. UNM
Research Day 2004.
Pincus, J., A. Leathers-Lopez, J.C. Priscu, C. Vesbach. Isolation and identification of
microbes from Lake Bonney, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. UNM Research
Day and Profound Symposium, April, 2004.
Mitchell, K., A.B. Banta, A.-L. Reysenbach, A. Rodman, L.A. Morgan, D.K. Nordstrom,
C.D. Vesbach. Comparison of preservation and DNA extraction methods for
microbial inventories of thermal environments. UNM Research Day, April, 2004.
Maas, K., A. Rodman, A-L Reysenbach, C.D. Takacs-Vesbach. A microbial inventory of
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem thermal features. UNM Research Day, April,
2003.
A.-L. Reysenbach, L. Amaral Zettler, C. Takacs-Vesbach, G. Thorn, A. Sittenfeld, E.
Cambronero , F. Chavarria, J. Diaz , G. Fontecha, R.F. Hubler, D. Janzen, B.
Khatoon, A. Laatsch, M. Lopez, M. Petropoulos, S. Petropoulos, A. Pinto. L.
Uribe, E. Zettler. 2002. A Tropical Microbial Observatory: Collaborative research
on microbial diversity in caterpillars. MO/LExEn Workshop, Arlington, Virginia.
September, 2002.
Aguiar, P., A.-L. Reysenbach, C. Takacs-Vesbach. 2002. Biogeographical Distribution of
a New Lineage within the Aquificales. American Society for Microbiology General
Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, May, 2002.
Takacs, C.D., A. Banta, A-L. Reysenbach. Phylogenetic and Physiological diversity of
the black filamentous bacterial community from Calcite Springs, Yellowstone
National Park. American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, Los Angeles,
CA, May, 2000.
5
C.D. Takacs-Vesbach
Biology
January 2006
Reysenbach, A-L., C.D. Takacs, D.R. Boone, E. McLaughlin-West, T. Beveridge, S.
Seitzinger, E. Shock, G. Luther, and C. Cary. Thermophilic biological hydrogen
oxidation as a way of life: implications for life in the deep subsurface and
elsewhere. American Geophysical Union Ocean Sciences Meeting, San Francisco,
CA, December, 1999.
Takacs, C.D. and J.C. Priscu. Bacterial dissolved organic carbon demand in McMurdo Dry
Valley lakes, Antarctica. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
Aquatic Sciences Conference, Santa Fe, NM, February, 1999.
Takacs, C.D. and J.C. Priscu. Bacterioplankton in the McMurdo Dry Valley lakes:
Biomass and production measurements during four seasons. McMurdo Dry Valley
LTER Science Workshop, Boulder, CO, June 1997.
Takacs, C.D. and J.C. Priscu. Bacterial growth in Antarctic lakes: The role of
phytoplankton extracellular release. American Society of Limnology and
Oceanography Annual International Meeting, Milwaukee, WI, June 1996.
Takacs, C.D. and J.C. Priscu. Responses of bacterial growth to inorganic and Organic
nutrient enrichment in Antarctic lakes. American Society of Limnology and
Oceanography Annual International Meeting, Reno, NV, June 1995.
Teaching
Doctoral Advisement:
Committee member for (student’s major advisor):
Marcy Gallo, Biology, (R. Sinsabaugh) expected graduation date May 2006
Christopher Lauber, Biology, (R. Sinsabaugh) expected graduation date May 2006
Maceo Martinet, Biology, (C. Dahm), expected graduation date May 2007
Chelsea Crenshaw, Biology, (C. Dahm), expected graduation date May 2007
Kathryn Ryan, Biology, (R. Cripps), expected graduation date May 2007
Yvonne Bishop, Biology, (L. Barton), expected graduation May 2007
*
Lydia Zeglin, Biology, (C. Dahm), expected graduation date May 2008
*
Matthew Kirk, EP&S, (L. Crossey), expected graduation date May 2009
Masters Advisement:
Serving as major advisor for:
Kendra Mitchell, expected graduation date May 2006
Michael Bobb, expected graduation date May 2006
Bachelor’s Honor Advisement:
Serving as major Advisor for:
Justine Hall, Biology, expected completion May 2007
Olan Jackson-Weaver, Biology, expected completion May 2006
David Stromberg, Biology, B.S., December 2005, Phylogenetic comparison of microbial
communities from near-neutral thermal springs.
*
performing a significant portion of their research in my laboratory
6
C.D. Takacs-Vesbach
Biology
January 2006
Jennifer Pincus, Biology, May 2004, B.S., Isolation and identification of microbes from
Lake Bonney, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Serving as a reader for (student’s major advisor):
Nik Rael, E&PS (L. Crossey), December 2005, B.S., Phylogenetic comparison of
microbial communities from near-neutral thermal springs
Sara Caldwell, E&PS, (L. Crossey), May 2005, B.S., Bacterial Diversity and
Biogeochemical cycling in the shallow, alluvial, aquifer associated with the middle
Rio Grande, New Mexico
Darrell Dinwiddie, Biology, (D. Faguy) May 2003, B.S., Enrichment, Isolation, and
characterization of a thermophilic methanogen from Turkey Creek hot spring, Gila,
New Mexico
Justin Averna, Biology, (L. Barton), May 2003, B.S., Characterization of subsurface
bacteria
Undergraduate Student Mentoring:
Currently 2003-2006:
Olan Jackson-Weaver, since 2003, working on an Honors project in my lab, recently
awarded an undergraduate research fellowship form the American Society for
Microbiology.
Justine Hall, since 2004, IMSD student.
Previously:
David Stromberg, 2003-2005, REU student 2004, completed Honors Thesis based on his
REU work, currently employed at Sandia Labs, applying to medical school
Nik Rael, 2003-2005, REU student summer 2003, completed Honors Thesis based on his
REU work, currently employed at Sandia Labs
Kim Rogers, 2004-2005, continuing undergraduate work at UNM
Sara Caldwell, 2003-2005 (REU summer 2004, completed Honors Thesis in E&PS based
on Rio Grande research that was conducted partially in my lab in collaboration with
L. Crossey, currently an IGERT Ph.D. student at Portland State Universtity
Andrea Lopez, 2003-2004, attending medical school in Mexico
Jennifer Pincus, 2003-2004, graduated cum laude with honors in Biology based on her
research in my lab, will begin medical school at UNM in summer
Allison Sieburn, Spring 2003 BIOL 499, Ph.D. student at Florida State University in
Psychology
Kendra Maas, 2/2002-12/2002, National Park Service employee that became a Master’s
degree student with me in Fall 2003
EunJung Yi, 2000-2002, undergraduate Honors student at PSU, presently a medical
student at OHSU
Kate Aldrich, 1998 American Cancer Society Summer Research Experience Student
Lance Spotted Elk, 1997 American Indian Research Opportunity student, as of 2005 is an
undergraduate engineering student at Montana State University after a leave of
absence from school (see supplemental materials)
7
C.D. Takacs-Vesbach
Biology
January 2006
Classroom Teaching:
Experience at the University of New Mexico:
Spring 2006
General Microbiology, Biol 351, Enrollment: 67
Fall 2005
Microbial Ecology, Biol 451, Enrollment: 23
Spring 2005
Laboratory methods in molecular biology, Biol 446/546, Enrollment: 18.
Fall 2004
Current literature in microbial ecology, Biol 402/502, Enrollment: 5.
Spring 2004
Microbial ecology, Biol 451, Enrollment: 22.
Current literature in microbial ecology, Biol 402/502, Enrollment: 5.
Honors thesis, Biol 400, Enrollment: 2.
Undergraduate problems, Biol 499, Enrollment: 2.
Fall 2003
Current literature in microbial ecology, Biol 402/502, Enrollment: 3.
Laboratory methods in molecular biology, Biol 446/546, Enrollment: 12.
Spring 2003
Microbial ecology, Biol 451, Enrollment: 15.
Undergraduate problems, Biol 499, Enrollment 3.
Experience at other Institutions:
Life in Extreme Environments: Two-part guest lecture for the Masters in Science
Education Program at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT June 2005.
Mini-Phylogenetics Workshop: 3 h lecture and workshop for the Thermal Biology
Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MY, June, 2005
Molecular Phylogenetics Workshop: an Introduction, organizer and instructor, Feb. 2001,
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Enrollment: 10.
Microbial Diversity, Guest lecturer for Anna-Louise Reysenbach at Portland State University,
Spring 2000.
Classical Ecology, a graduate seminar, Fall 1997, Enrollment: 12.
Introduction to Biology, molecular and cellular biology laboratory, Montana State
University, Fall 1998, TA two sections, (MSU reserved its TA funds for students
without funding, I volunteered to teach pro bono in order to gain classroom
experience).
Service
UNM:
Departmental Service:
Faculty Search Committee, Avian Biologist Position, 2005-2006
Faculty Search Committee, Comparative Immunologist Position, 2004-2005
UNM Biology Research Day committee, member in 2003, Co-chair in 2004.
Graduate Policy Committee, member 2003-2004.
8
C.D. Takacs-Vesbach
Biology
January 2006
University Service:
Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP), UNM committee
member, appointed in 2003.
Professional:
National Service within field:
United States Sub-glacial Antarctic Lakes Environment Program, 2005-present, member,
Limnology and Biogeochemistry Committee.
National Academy of Sciences, member of the United States Committee to the
International Polar Year 2007-2008. Polar Research Board. Term of appointment:
August 2003-December 2004.
National Academy of Sciences, member of the NRC study “Prevention of the Forward
Contamination of Mars”. Term of appointment February 2004-May 2005.
Faculty of 1000, Biology Reports, Ltd. (see http://www.facultyof1000.com/) Member of
the Microbiology Faculty, Environmental Microbiology since August 2002.
2001-2002, Train Costa Rican collaborators in molecular techniques as part of a Microbial
Observatory (granted to Anna-Louise Reysenbach)
2001, Pacific Northwest Regional Science Fair, Judge, High School Microbiology
June, 1998, NSF/Chinese Academy of Sciences sponsored visit to ecological research sites
in Taiwan and China aimed at fostering collaborative research between the US and
Asian nation
1997-2000, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Board of Directors,
Student Representative, Education and Meetings Committees
1995 & 1996, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Workshop for Underrepresented Minorities in Limnology and Oceanography
Journals for which I have served as a reviewer:
International Microbiology 2005
Geobiology 2004, 2005
Limnology and Oceanography 2004
Journal of the North American Benthological Society 2004
Polar Biology 2004
Agencies for which I have served as reviewer:
Australian Antarctic Division 2005
National Science Foundation 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
NASA 2004
Community Service:
Luna y Sol Midwifery, Board of Directors, since 2005.
9