Biography
Dr. Rajesh Singh is a Senior Research Scientist in the Subsurface R&D Group at the EERC, where he collaborates with EERC subject matter experts, principal investigators, and leadership to prepare proposals and develop and pursue new business opportunities. As part of a diverse multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers, Dr. Singh ensures that technical work is successfully completed on-time, on-budget, and within client expectations. He manages an analytical research laboratory that focuses on classical and advanced wet-chemistry analyses; petrochemical and geomechanical evaluation of rocks and soils; and mineralogical assessment of materials using x-ray fluorescence (XRF), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). He holds a Ph.D. degree in Geomicrobiology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and an M.S. degree in Geochemistry from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
Dr. Singh’s principal areas of interest and expertise include geomicrobiology, geochemistry, clay mineralogy, coal geochemistry, environmental microbiology, metal–microbe interactions, clay–microbe interactions, microbial hydrocarbon degradation, anoxygenic photosynthesis, metal biogeochemistry, and molecular cloning.
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- Microbial hydrocarbon degradation
- Geomicrobiology of photoferrotrophy in marine and terrestrial ecosystem
- Biogeochemical cycling of iron and carbon in the wetland ecosystem, microbial carbon sequestration
- Microbe-metal interactions
- Environmental Biotechnology
- Teaching, mentoring, and STEM curriculum development (both collegiate and K-12)
- Science communication
Publications:
- Bai, W., Ranaivoarisoa, T.O., Singh, R., Rengasamy, K., and Bose, A., 2021. n-Butanol production by Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1. Communications Biology, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02781-z
- Gupta, D., Guzman, M.S., Rengasamy, K., Stoica, A., Singh, R., Ranaivoarisoa, T. O., Davenport, E. J., Bai, W., McGinley, B., Meacham, J. M., and Bose, A., 2021. Photoferrotrophy and phototrophic extracellular electron uptake is common in the marine anoxygenic phototroph Rhodovulum sulfidophilum. The ISME Journal, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-01015-8
- Singh, R., Ranaivoarisoa, T.O, Gupta, D., Bai, W. and Bose, A., 2020. Genetic redundancy in iron and manganese transport in the metabolically versatile bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 86, doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01057-20
- Guzman, M.S., Rengasamy, K., Binkley, M.M., Jones, C., Ranaivoarisoa, T.O., Singh, R., Fike, D.A., Meacham, J.M. and Bose, A., 2019. Phototrophic extracellular electron uptake is linked to carbon dioxide fixation in the bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Nature communications, 10(1), p.1355, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09377-6
- Ranaivoarisoa, T.O., Singh, R., Rengasamy, K., Guzman, M.S. and Bose, A., 2019. Towards sustainable bioplastic production using the photoautotrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1. Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology, pp.1-17, doi: 1007/s10295-019-02165-7
- Karthikeyan, R., Singh, R., (equal contribution) and Bose, A., 2019. Microbial electron uptake in microbial electrosynthesis: a mini review. Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology, pp.1-8, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-019-02166-6
- Rengasamy, K., Ranaivoarisoa, T., Singh, R. and Bose, A., 2018. An insoluble iron complex coated cathode enhances direct electron uptake by Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1. Bioelectrochemistry, 122, pp.164-173, doi: 1016/j.bioelechem.2018.03.015
- Singh, R., Guzman, M.S. and Bose, A., 2017. Anaerobic oxidation of ethane, propane, and butane by marine microbes: a mini-review. Frontiers in microbiology, 8, p.2056, doi: 3389/fmicb.2017.02056
- Singh, R., Dong, H., Zeng, Q., Zhang, L. and Rengasamy, K., 2017. Hexavalent chromium removal by chitosan modified-bioreduced nontronite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 210, pp.25-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.04.030
- Singh, R., Dong, H., Liu, D., Zhao, L., Marts, A.R., Farquhar, E., Tierney, D.L., Almquist, C.B. and Briggs, B.R., 2015. Reduction of hexavalent chromium by the thermophilic methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 148, pp.442-456, doi: 1016/j.gca.2014.10.012
- Singh, R., Dong, H., Liu, D., Marts, A.R., Tierney, D.L. and Almquist, C.B., 2015. [Cobalt (III)–EDTA]? reduction by thermophilic methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. Chemical Geology, 411, pp.49-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2015.06.025
- Sun, J., Chillrud, S.N., Mailloux, B.J., Stute, M., Singh, R., Dong, H., Lepre, C.J. and Bostick, B.C., 2016. Enhanced and stabilized arsenic retention in microcosms through the microbial oxidation of ferrous iron by nitrate. Chemosphere, 144, pp.1106-1115, doi: 1016/j.chemosphere.2015.09.045
- Liu, D., Dong, H., Agrawal, A., Singh, R., Zhang, J. and Wang, H., 2016. Inhibitory effect of clay mineral on methanogenesis by Methanosarcina mazei and Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. Applied Clay Science, 126, pp.25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2016.02.030
- Singh, R. and Shrestha, R., 2005. Arsenic contamination in the groundwater of Parsa district, Central Terai, Nepal. Stratigraphic Association of Nepal.
- Shrestha, R. and Singh, R., Sources, seasonal variation, and mobilization of arsenic in groundwater of Rautahat district, Central Terai, Nepal. Stratigraphic Association of Nepal.
Presentations:
- Singh, R., Utsey, D., Bose, A. Symbiotic relationship between a phototrophic bacterium and a methanogenic archaeon: implications to eukaryogenesis. BIOFORUM. Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, MO. April 24, 2021 (Virtual-Oral).
- Singh, R., Rengasamy, K., Ranaivoarisoa, T., Davenport, E. J., and Bose A. Understanding the role of phototrophic extracellular electron uptake in terrestrial carbon cycling at the systems level. American Geophysical Union Fall meeting, December 01-17 (Online Poster).
- Singh, R., Ranaivoarisoa, T., Bai, W., and Bose A. A novel marine bacterial consortium can anaerobically degrade ethane linked to sulfate reduction. Plant and Microbial Biosciences Mini-Symposium Program Washington University in St. Louis, MO. October 17, 2020 (Oral).
- Singh, R., Guzman, M., and Bose A. Understanding the role of ethane as a microbial carbon source in marine ecosystems. BIOFORUM. Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, MO. December 01, 2017 (Oral).
- Singh, R., Guzman, M., and Bose A. Understanding anaerobic ethane oxidation linked to linked to sulfate-reduction by marine microbes from the Gulf of Mexico. 13th Annual Postdoc Scientific Symposium, Washington University in St. Louis, March 30, 2017 (Poster).
- Singh, R., Guzman, M., and Bose A. Anaerobic short-chain alkane consumption linked to sulfate-reduction by marine microbes. Midwest Geobiology Symposium, University of Cincinnati, October 15, 2016 (Poster).
- Singh, R., Dong, H., Liu, D., Zhao, L., Marts, A.R., Farquhar, E., Tierney, D., Almquist, C.B., Briggs, B.R. Reduction of hexavalent chromium and [Cobalt(III)-EDTA]- by thermophilic methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. 250th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, Boston, Massachusetts, August 16-20, 2015 (Oral).
- Singh, R., Dong, H., Li, D., Tierney, D. L., Almquist, C.B. [Co(III)-EDTA]- reduction by thermophilic methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. Graduate Research Forum, Sponsored by Graduate School and Graduate Alumni, Miami University, November 14, 2014 (Oral).
- Singh, R., Dong, H., Liu, D., Tierney, D.L., Almquist, C.B. Reduction of [Cobalt(III) -EDTA]- by the thermophilic methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. Midwest Geobiology Symposium, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. Illinois, September 27, 2014 (Poster).
- Singh, R., Liu, D., Zhao, L., Tierney, D.L., Almquist, C.B., Briggs, B.R., Dong, H., Reduction of hexavalent chromium by thermophilic methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. 246th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana, September 8-12, 2013 (Oral).
- Singh, R., Liu, D., Dong, H., Tierney, D.L. Reduction of hexavalent chromium by thermophilic methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. Graduate Research Forum, Sponsored by Graduate School and Graduate Alumni, Miami University, November 2, 2012 (Poster).
- Singh, R., Liu, D., Dong, H., Tierney, D.L. Microscopic evidence for microbial reduction of hexavalent chromium by Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus, a thermophilic methanogen. Microscopic Society of Ohio River Valley Meeting, October 24, Miami University, Oxford, OH (Oral).
- Singh, R., Deng, L., Dong, H., Tierney, D.L. Microbial Reduction of Cr(VI) by Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus, a Thermophilic Methanogen. 46th Annual GSA Meeting (North-Central Section), 23 – 24 April 2012, Dayton (Poster).
- Singh, R., Lefticariu, L. Distribution and mode of occurrences of sulfur and trace elements in Illinois coals. 42nd Annual GSA Meeting (North-Central Section) 2-3 April 2009, Northern Illinois University, Rockford, (Poster).
RESEARCH Spotlights:
- Using microbes to make carbon neutral?fuel-New way to train microbes to make a readily usable biofuel. https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=303943
- Using microbes to make carbon-neutral fuel. The Source, Washington University in St. Louis, November 3, 2021. https://source.wustl.edu/2021/11/using-microbes-to-make-carbon-neutral-fuel/
- These Bacteria Steal from Iron and Could Be Secretly Helping to Curb Climate Change. Scientific American, September 28, 2021. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/these-bacteria-steal-from-iron-and-could-be-secretly-helping-to-curb-climate-change/
- Harnessing Microbes to Produce Sustainable Plastics and Biofuels. Scientia, September 8, 2021. https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA730.
- These Bacteria Could Help Fight Climate Change, A 'Serendipitous' Finding. Louis Public Radio, June 25, 2021. https://news.stlpublicradio.org/health-science-environment/2021-06-25/these-bacteria-could-help-fight-climate-change-a-serendipitous-finding
- Electricity-eating bacteria could help oceans absorb more carbon; study finds. The Weather Network, Canada, June 22, 2021. https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/news/article/electricity-eating-bacteria-could-help-oceans-absorb-more-carbon-study-finds
- Creating Plastics from Electricity with “Bio batteries”. The Washington University Climate Change Program, September 02, 2020. https://climatechange.wustl.edu/items/biobatteries-plastics-from-electricity/
- Genetic Redundancy in Iron and Manganese Transport in the Metabolically Versatile Bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 86. Editor’s Spotlight for Biotechnology. https://aem.asm.org/content/86/16/e01057-20
- Creating sustainable bioplastics from electricity-eating microbes. The Source, Washington University in St. Louis, April 09, 2019. https://source.wustl.edu/2019/04/creating-sustainable-bioplastics-from-electricity-eating-microbes/
- Study shows how electricity-eating microbes use electrons to fix carbon dioxide. The Source, Washington University in St. Louis, March 22, 2019. https://source.wustl.edu/2019/03/study-shows-how-electricity-eating-microbes-use-electrons-to-fix-carbon-dioxide/
- Feeding electricity to bacteria. Science Trends, September 24, 2018. https://sciencetrends.com/feeding-electricity-to-bacteria/?_ppp=5c86a2bb3d