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)

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)
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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
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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, 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

Scholarly Achievements
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Articles in Refereed Journals:

Takacs-Vesbach, C., K. Mitchell, O. Jackson-Weaver, and A.-L. Reysenbach.  In press.  Volcanic calderas delineate biogeographic provinces among Yellowstone thermophiles.  Environmental Microbiology.

Gooseff, M.N., J.E. Barrett, M.L. Northcott, C. Takacs-Vesbach, and L.H. Zeglin.  Accepted with minor revision. Thermal Dynamics of Active Layer Along a Hydrologic Gradient Bordering Lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica.  NICOP.

Auchtung, T.A., C.D. Takacs-Vesbach, C.M. Cavanaugh.  A 16S rRNA Phylogenetic Investigation of the Candidate Division, Korarchaeota.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2006. 72:5077-5082.

Takacs, C.D., J.C. Priscu, D.M. McKnight.  2001.  Bacterial dissolved organic carbon demand in Antarctic Dry Valley lakes.  Limnology and Oceanography 46: 1189-1194.

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.

Submitted articles
Hall, J., K. Mitchell, O. Jackson-Weaver, B.R. Cron, A.S. Kooser, L.J. Crossey, and C. Takacs-Vesbach.  Submitted. Molecular Characterization of the Diversity and Distribution of a Thermal Spring Microbial Community using rRNA and Functional Genes.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Jackson-Weaver, O., K. Mitchell, and C. Takacs-Vesbach.  Submitted. Detection of potential microbial dispersion within the Yellowstone thermal ecosystem using real-time PCR.  FEMS Microbiology Ecology.

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. Takacs-Vesbach, 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)

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.

Abstracts
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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.

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 cool-springs 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.

Barrett, JE, MN Gooseff, ML Northcott, M Bobb, L Zeglin, DB Bate, and C Takacs-Vesbach. 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. Three-dimensional 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.

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
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Doctoral Advisement:
Committee member for (student’s major advisor):
Marcy Gallo, Biology, (R. Sinsabaugh) Ph.D. December 2006
Christopher Lauber, Biology, (R. Sinsabaugh) Ph.D. May 2006
Maceo Martinet, Biology, (C. Dahm) expected graduation date May 2008
Chelsea Crenshaw, Biology, (C. Dahm) Ph.D. May 2007
Kathryn Ryan, Biology, (R. Cripps), expected graduation date May 2008
*Matthew Kirk, EP&S, (L. Crossey), expected graduation date May 2009

Ph.D. Advisement:
Serving as major advisor for:
Kendra Mitchell, expected graduation date May 2009
Lydia Zeglin, Biology, (with C. Dahm), expected graduation date May 2008

Bachelor’s Honor Advisement:
Serving as major Advisor for:
Justine Hall, Biology, B.S. Summa cum laude December 2007,
Gina Ryan, Biology, B.S. Magna cum laude May 2007, Characterization and Ecology of Psychrotolerant ?-Proteobacteria Species Isolated from the Perennially Ice-Covered Antarctic Lake Fryxell
Olan Jackson-Weaver, Biology, B.S. Magna cum laude May 2006, Movement of Thermophiles around Yellowstone National Park using Aquificales as Indicator Organisms.
David Stromberg, Biology, B.S., cum laude December 2005, Phylogenetic comparison of microbial communities from near-neutral thermal springs.
Jennifer Pincus, Biology, B.S. cum laude May 2004, 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:

Previously:
Justine Hall, 2004-2007, IMSD student, Honors student, working as technician in my lab and applying to graduate schools
Gina Ryan, 2006-2007, Honors student, Doctoral student at
Cornell University
Olan Jackson-Weaver,2003-2006, REU student 2004, ASM Undergraduate Scholar 2005-2006. Completed Honors thesis based on Yellowstone work, currently Ph.D. Student in UNMHSC BSGP.
David Stromberg, 2003-2005, REU student 2004, completed Honors Thesis based on his REU work, Medical student at UNM
Nik Rael, 2003-2005, REU student summer 2003, completed Honors Thesis based on his REU work, graduate student at CU Denver
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 Ross University 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)

Classroom Teaching:
Experience at the University of New Mexico:
Spring 2008
General Microbiology, Biol 351, Enrollment: 100.
Fall 2007
Laboratory methods in molecular biology, Biol 446/546, Enrollment: 12.
Fall 2006
Laboratory methods in molecular biology, Biol 446/546, Enrollment: 18.
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
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UNM:
Departmental Service:
Faculty Search Committee, Cell biologist Position 2007-2008.
Graduate Selection Committee, Scholarship Committe 2006-2007.
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.

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 Under-represented 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

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