Curriculum Vitae

2008 - present
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Central Michigan University
2002 - 2008
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Central Michigan University

1998 - 2002
Postdoctoral Research, Montana State University, Land Resources and Environmental Sciences.
1998
Ph.D. in Biology, University of Colorado, Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology.
1991
B.S. in Microbiology, Chemistry minor, Northern Arizona University, Microbiology Department.

2002 - present
Concepts of Biology, Microbiology, Environmental Contaminants, Microbial Ecology, Biology of Bacteria, Central Michigan University.
2001
Environmental Chemistry, Montana State University.
1996 - 1998
Introductory Microbiology Laboratory, University of Colorado.
1996 - 1997
Academic Honors Workshops for General Biology, Minority Arts and Sciences Program, University of Colorado.
1995, 1997
General Biology Laboratory, University of Colorado.
1996
Introduction to Molecular Biology Laboratory, University of Colorado.
1992
Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Northern Arizona University.

2008 - 2009
President's Research Investment Fund (CMU) - Microbial diversity of the Maxton Plains alvar ($15,000).
2006 - 2008
NSF - Rhizosphere influence on hydrocarbon metabolizing microorganisms ($174,769).
2006 - 2009
CMU 2010 Vision Fund Award - DNA Sequencing and Analysis Core Facility (co-PI - $170,618).
2006 - 2007
CMU Faculty Research & Creative Endeavors Research Grant - Nestling cloacal microbes in Tree Swallows (Tachchycineta bicolor) (PI - $3850).
2005
NSF - Research Experience for Undergraduates Supplement ($13,000).
2005 - 2007
Research Excellence Funds (CMU) - Do Contaminated Soils Enrich for Cystic Fibrosis Pathogens? ($67,000)
2004 - 2007
NSF – Acquisition of equipment for environmental microbiology research in Central Michigan ($157,000)
2002 – 2005
President's Research Investment Fund (CMU) - Contaminant-degrading microorganisms from Yellowstone National Park ($25,000).
2002 – 2005
NSF - Microbial diversity of Yellowstone hydrocarbon seeps ($17,997)
2001 - 2005
USDA-NRI - Soil organic matter-driven selection of atrazine-degrading microbial populations ($89,981).
2001 - 2004
EPA-NCER - Patterns and prediction: molecular analysis of PAH-degrading microbial populations and their function in real contaminant mixtures ($634,430 - co-PI with W.P. Inskeep and D.M. Ward).
1998
NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biosciences ($80,000 - declined to accept another position).
1997
NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Graduate Student Travel Award ($1457).
1997
Equity and Excellence Award for Ethnic Plurality, University of Colorado.
1997
National Hispanic Scholarship Fund Grant ($1100).
1996
EPO Biology Graduate Student Research Grant, University of Colorado ($1,047).
1992 - 1995
Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship, U. S. Department of Education ($45,000).
1992 - 1995
Arnold Grant, Graduate School, University of Colorado ($10,500).
1994
MSSCSP Travel Grant, American Society for Microbiology ($850).
1992, 1993
Deans Small Grant Award, Graduate School, University of Colorado ($500, $200).

2008 - 2011
Graduate Coordinator, Biology Department, Central Michigan University.
2006 - present
Co-Director, DNA Sequencing and Analysis Core Facility, Central Michigan University.
2005, 2006
National Science Foundation Review Panel the Major Research Instrumentation Program, Division of Biological Infrastructure.
2005
National Science Foundation Review Panel for the Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Program, Division of Undergraduate Education.
2003 - present
Chair, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Central Michigan University.
2003 - present
Biology Department Graduate Committee, Central Michigan University.
2003
National Science Foundation Review Panel for Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants Program, Division of Environmental Biology.
1999, 2000
National Science Foundation Review Panel for the Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Program, Division of Undergraduate Education.
1997 - 1998
Board of Directors, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.
1997 - 1998
Environmental Advisory Board Member, City of Westminster, Colorado.
1996, 1997
Graduate Student Mentor, Summer Minority Access to Research Training program.
1995 - 1998
Graduate Representative, Diversity Council, EPO Biology.

1998
Graduate Teacher Program certification, Graduate Teacher Program, University of Colorado.
1995
NSF Summer Workshop in Microbial Physiology, University of Georgia, Athens.
1993
Environmental Health and Safety for Hazardous Waste Site Operation Certification, Front Range Community College, Westminster, Colorado.

American Society for Microbiology
Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science

Colores, G.M., D.M. Ward and W.P. Inskeep. 2007. Competitive fitness of isolates enriched on phenanthrene sorbed to model phases. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 73:4074-4077.

Colores, G.M. and S.K. Schmidt. 2005. Recovery of microbially-mediated processes in remediated soil. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24:1912-1917.

Colores, G.M., R.E. Macur, D.M. Ward and W.P. Inskeep. 2000. Molecular analysis of microbial population shifts in soil as a function of surfactant application. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 66:2959-2964.

Colores, G.M. and S.K. Schmidt. 1999. Colonization of contaminated soil by an introduced bacterium: effects of initial pentachlorophenol levels on the survival of Sphingomonas chlorophenolica strain RA2. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 23:326- 331.

Colores, G.M., S.K. Schmidt and M.C. Fisk. 1996. Estimating the biomass of microbial functional groups using rates of growth-related soil respiration. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 28:1569-1577.

Hess, T.F., S.K. Schmidt and G.M. Colores. 1996. Maintenance energy model for microbial degradation of toxic chemicals in soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 28:907-915.

Colores, G.M., P.M. Radehaus and S.K. Schmidt. 1995. Use of a pentachlorophenol degrading bacterium to bioremediate highly contaminated soil. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 54:271-275.

Schmidt, S.K., G.M. Colores, T.F. Hess and P.M. Radehaus. 1995. A simple method for quantifying activity and survival of microorganisms involved in bioremediation processes. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 54:259-270.

2008* Pressler, M.J. and G.M. Colores. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading gene diversity in contaminated rhizosphere soils. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts.

2008* Ruegg, K.R. and G.M. Colores. Detection of Burkholderia Species in Soil Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts.

2008 Pressler, M.J. and G.M. Colores. Multiplex PCR primers for the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading genes. American Society for Microbiology Michigan Branch Meeting, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

2007* Klomp, J.E., D. Diekema, and G.M. Colores. Analysis of the avian cloacal microorganisms in nestling tree swallows using molecular techniques. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Toronto.

2007* Pressler, M.J. J.E. Klomp, and G.M. Colores. Multiplex PCR primers for the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading genes in contaminated rhizosphere soils. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Toronto.

2007 Klomp, J.E., D. Diekema, and G.M. Colores. Using PCR-DGGE to determine the bacterial diversity and identity of cloacal samples from Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). American Society for Microbiology Michigan Branch Meeting, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

2006* Colores, G.M. Implementation of a semester-long research project in an upper level microbial ecology course. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Orlando, Florida.

2006* Pressler, M.J., L.L. Vibber and G.M. Colores. Atrazine metabolism by novel soil isolates. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Orlando, Florida.

2006* Tonon M.A.L. and G.M. Colores. Characteristics of environmental and clinical Achromobacter xylosoxidans-related isolates. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Orlando, Florida.

2006* Vibber, L.L. and G.M. Colores. Analysis of atrazine-degrading genes in uncharacterized atrazine-degrading microorganisms. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Orlando, Florida.

2006 Tonon M.A.L. and G.M. Colores. Properties of environmental and clinical Achromobacter xylosoxidans isolates. American Society for Microbiology Michigan Branch Meeting, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan.

2006 Vibber, L.L. and G.M. Colores. Analysis of atrazine-degrading genes in uncharacterized atrazine-degrading microorganisms. American Society for Microbiology Michigan Branch Meeting, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan.

2005 Colores, G.M. and C.N. Blair. Chemical characterization of natural hydrocarbon seeps in Yellowstone National Park. Fall Scientific Meeting of the Midland Section of the American Chemical Society, Midland, Michigan.

2005 Pressler, M.J, L.L. Vibber and G.M. Colores. Atrazine metabolism by novel soil isolates. American Society for Microbiology Michigan Branch Meeting, University of Michigan-Dearborn.

2005 Pressler, M.J, L.L. Vibber and G.M. Colores. Characterization of metabolites produced by novel atrazine-degrading bacteria. Fall Scientific Meeting of the Midland Section of the American Chemical Society, Midland, Michigan.

2005* Blair, C.N. and G.M. Colores. Eukaryotic diversity in acidic, anoxic bog core samples. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia.

2005* Colores, G.M. and D.M. Ward. Demonstrating molecular community analysis and cultivation bias in an advanced microbiology laboratory. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia.

2005* Lehner, E.A. and G.M. Colores. Molecular detection of cyanobacteria from a grassland alvar. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia.

2005* Tonon M.A.L., E.S. Blackmon-Humphrey, and G.M. Colores. Isolation of potential pathogens from contaminated soils. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia.

2005* Vibber, L.L. and G.M. Colores. Isolation and characterization of atrazine-degrading microorganisms from an agricultural soil. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia.

2005 Blackmon-Humphrey, E.S. and G.M. Colores. Isolation of emerging pathogens from contaminated soils. National McNair Conference. University of Maryland - College Park.

2004* Tjepkema, M.D., C.N. Blair and G.M. Colores. Molecular analysis of the microbial communities in geologically distinct bogs on Beaver Island. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana.

2004* Francis, E.L., L.L. Gunter (Vibber), and G.M. Colores. Characterization of the bacterial community in atrazine contaminated soils. Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Notre Dame, Indiana.

2003 Tjepkema, M.D., C.N. Blair and G.M. Colores. Molecular analysis of the microbial communities in geologically distinct bogs on Beaver Island. American Society for Microbiology Michigan Branch Meeting, Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Best Paper Award)

2002 Colores, G.M., D.M. Ward and W.P. Inskeep. Bioavailability Influences the Selection of Phenanthrene-Mineralizing Microbial Populations. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.

2001 Inskeep, W.P, D. Ward, T. McDermott, G. Colores, H. Langner, and R. Macur. Pesticides and Other Toxic Organics in Soil and their Potential for Ground and Surface Water Contamination. Western Regional Research Project W-82, Berkeley, California.

1999* Colores, G.M., R.E. Macur, D.M. Ward and W.P. Inskeep. Molecular analysis of microbial population shifts in soil as a function of surfactant application. Soil Science Society of America National Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah.

1999 Ward, D.M., E.A. Kern, G.M. Colores and W.P. Inskeep. Population biology of bacteria involved in contaminant bioremediation. Bioremediation Research Program Review. Chicago, Illinois.

1999* Colores, G.M., R.E. Macur, D.M. Ward and W.P. Inskeep. Microbial population shifts in soil as a function of surfactant application. 1999 Conference on Hazardous Waste Research, St. Louis, Missouri. (Nominated for the Karen Morehouse Best Paper Award).

1997 Colores, G.M. and S.K. Schmidt. Can nitrification potential be restored after soil disturbance? Soil Ecology Society Conference, Manhattan, Kansas.

1997 Schmidt, S.K., D.L. Lipson, R.E. Ley, G.M. Colores, A.E. West and M.C. Fisk. Functional diversity of soil microbial communities are influenced by nitrogen fertilization and plant chemistry. Soil Ecology Society Conference, Manhattan, Kansas.

1997* Colores, G.M. and S.K. Schmidt. Restoration of nitrification potential in contaminated and remediated soil. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Miami Beach, Florida.

1996 Colores, G.M. and S.K. Schmidt. Recovery of microbial functional groups following pesticide remediation from contaminated soil. Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science National Meeting, Los Angeles, California.

1996* Colores, G.M., A.E. West and S.K. Schmidt. Recovery of methane oxidizing and methane producing populations following pesticide contamination and remediation. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana.

1995 Colores, G.M. and S.K. Schmidt. Use of a bacterium to remove pentachlorophenol from soil. Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science National Meeting, El Paso, Texas.

1994 Colores, G.M. and S.K. Schmidt. Survival and concentration limits for pentachlorophenol mineralization by a Sphingomonas sp. inoculated into soil. Rocky Mountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, Boulder, Colorado.

1994 West, A. E., C. Farmer, S. Babcock, L.K. Smith, S.K. Schmidt, M.C. Fisk, P.D. Brooks, G.M. Colores, J.C. Neff, E.A. Holland, and M. Reinhart. Temporal and spatial patterns of methane fluxes during 1992 and 1993 on Niwot Ridge. Long Term Ecological Research All Scientists Meeting, Estes Park, Colorado.

1994* Colores, G.M. and S.K. Schmidt. Survival and concentration limits for pentachlorophenol mineralization by a Sphingomonas sp. inoculated into soil. American Society for Microbiology National Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada.

1993* Colores, G.M., P.M. Radehaus and S.K. Schmidt. Use of a pentachlorophenol degrading bacterium to bioremediate highly contaminated soil. Sixth Annual Colorado Biotechnology Symposium, Boulder, Colorado.

1991 Colores, G.M., K.E. Dugan, K.J. Brenneman and H.K. Speidel. Comparison of two types of media for Actinomyces viscosus isolation from dental plaque. Arizona Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, Flagstaff, Arizona.