PAUL J. STURMAN

Industrial Coordinator - Senior Research Engineer
366 EPS - P.O. Box 173980
Montana State University-Bozeman
Bozeman, MT 59717-3980
Email Paul Sturman

HIGHEST DEGREE:

Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Montana State University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Industrial Coordinator/Senior Research Engineer, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Bozeman, MT 2000-present
  
• Research Engineer, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Bozeman, MT  1991-1999
  
• Environmental Engineer, Matney-Frantz Engineering, Bozeman, MT  1990-1994
  

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Technical:

• Development of testing protocols for assessing the efficacy antimicrobial products and surfaces
  
• Engineered systems for microbial process control
  
• Control of microbial souring of oil in pipelines and subsurface formations
  
• Biodegradation of organic chemicals in soil and groundwater
  
• Groundwater flow hydraulics and microbial transport in porous media
  
• Biobarrier construction for groundwater flow control and mitigation of acid rock drainage
  
• Design of field-scale biotreatment systems
  

Technology Transfer:

• Communication of biotechnology research advances with industry and government
  
• Organization of bi-annual technical meetings for Engineering Research Center Industrial Associates
  
• Organization and presentation of biofilm analytical methods workshops for industry and academic researchers and strategic planning workshops for industrial partners
  

TOTAL PAPERS PUBLISHED: 19

SAMPLES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

Kjellerup, B.V., R.H. Veeh, P. Sumithraratne, T.R. Thomsen, K. Buckingham-Meyer, B. Frolund, and P. Sturman, "Monitoring of Microbial Souring in Chemically Treated, Produced-Water Biofilm Systems Using Molecular Techniques," J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 32:163-170 (2005) 

Sanders, P.F. and P.J. Sturman, "Biofouling in the Oil Industry," In: Petroleum Microbiology, Olivier, B. and Magot, M. (eds), ASM Press, Washington, DC, pp. 171-198 (2005) 

Sturman, P.J. and I. Saxena. “Development and Testing of a Fiber-Optic Probe for Biofilm Detection and Quantification”, In: Proceedings: International Conference on Biofilm Monitoring, Porto, Portugal. March 2002

Sturman, P.J., D.M. Goeres, and M.A. Winters. “Control of Hydrogen Sulfide in Oil and Gas Wells with Nitrite Injection," Society of Petroleum Engineers Paper #56772, Proceedings SPE Annual Technical Conference, Houston TX, 3-6 October 1999.

Zelver, N., M. Hamilton, B. Pitts, D. Goeres, D. Walker, P. Sturman, and J. Heersink. "Measuring Antimicrobial Effects on Biofilm Bacteria: From Laboratory to Field," invited Chapter, Biofilms: Methods Enzymology Series, R.J. Doyle (Ed.), Academic Press. 1999.

Cunningham A. B., and P.J. Sturman. “ In Situ Bioremediation Process Engineering Concepts”, invited Chapter, Bioremediation: Principles and Practice, Technomics Publishers, Vol 1, 1998

Sturman, P.J., J.D. Meyers, C. Wemple, and A.B. Cunningham, 1997, Accelerating Aerobic DRO Biodegradation in Stream Bank Sediments Through Oxygen Enhancements: Laboratory Results and Field Pilot Demonstration. In: Proceedings of the 1997 Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Organic Chemicals in Ground Water: Prevention, Detection, and Remediation Conference, November 12-14, 1997, Houston, TX, National Ground Water Association.

Cunningham, A., B. Warwood, P. Sturman, K. Horrigan, G. James, J. W. Costerton and R. Hiebert. 1997. Biofilm processes in porous media Practical applications. p. 325 344. In P. S. Amy and D. L. Haldeman. (ed.), The Microbiology of the Terrestrial Deep Subsurface. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.

Sturman, P.J., Stewart, P.S., Cunningham, A.B., Bouwer, E.J., and Wolfram, J.H., 1995, "Engineering Scale-up of In Situ Bioremediation Processes: A Review," J. Contaminant Hydrology, 19:171-203.

CURRENT RESEARCH:

Development of methods for testing the efficacy of dental unit waterline antimicrobials. This project is supported by the American Dental Association in conjunction with the Organization for Sepsis and Aseptic Procedures (OSAP) with the goal of developing a standard testing apparatus and protocol for assessing the effectiveness of various products for biofilm control in dental unit water lines.

Control of microbial souring of oil bearing formations and pipelines. This project is jointly funded by Saudi Aramco, Texaco and BP with goals of determining the microbial consortium responsible for souring and the effects of souring inhibitors on this consortium.

Prevention of acid rock drainage through the construction of surface biobarriers to deoxygenate infiltrating groundwater. Work funded by the US EPA Mine Waste Technology Program in concert with MSE, Inc. (Butte, MT) investigates the factors influencing the construction and maintenance of microbial barriers in mine tailings.

Biobarriers for the confinement of dissolved contaminants in groundwater. Research funded by the Department of Energy proceeds in developing and testing biobarriers to subsurface flow of groundwater contaminated with a variety of organic and inorganic chemicals. Biobarriers are highly non-conductive zones of microbial colonization within the porous matrix.

Biofilm Methods Workshop organization and delivery. This 1-3 day workshop is presented to Center for Biofilm Engineering Industrial Associates and other interested parties approximately 5 times annually. The workshop focuses on hands-on laboratory methods and biofilm theory.
 

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