College of Science and Mathematics

Faculty & Staff

Michael Shiaris, PhD

Professor of Biology - Microbial Ecology.

Areas of Expertise

Microbial Ecology

Degrees

PhD, University of Tennessee (1979)
MS, Colorado State University (1976)
BS, University of Maryland (1972)

Professional Publications & Contributions

• Shiaris, M.P. and J.J. Cooney. 1983. Replica plating method for estimating phenanthreneutilizing and phenanthrene-cometabolizing microorganisms. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 45: 706-710.
• Shiaris, M.P. and D. Jambard-Sweet. 1986. Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surficial sediments of Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, USA. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 17: 469-472.
• Pettibone, G.W., S.A. Sullivan, and M.P. Shiaris. 1987. Survival of antibiotic-resistant and -sensitive indicator bacteria in estuarine water. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53: 1241-1245.
• Shiaris, M.P., A.C. Rex, G.W. Pettibone, K. Keay, P. McManus, M.A. Rex, J. Ebersole and E. Gallagher. 1987. Distribution of indicator bacteria and n Vibrio parahaemolyticus in sewage-polluted intertidal sediments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53: 1756-1761.
• Shiaris, M.P. 1989. Seasonal biodegradation of naphthalene, phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene in estuarine sediments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55: 1391-1399.
• Shiaris, M.P. 1989. Phenanthrene mineralization along a natural salinity gradient in an urban estuary, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. Microbial Ecol. 18: 135-146.
• Epstein, S.S., and M.P. Shiaris. 1992. Rates of microbenthic and meiobenthic bacterivory in a temperate muddy tidal-flat community. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58: 2426-2431.
• Macgillivray, A.R., and M.P. Shiaris. 1994. Relative role of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microorganisms in phenanthrene transformation in coastal sediments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60: 1154-1159.
• Yang, Y., R.F. Chen, and M.P. Shiaris. 1994. Metabolism of naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene: Preliminary characterization of a cloned gene cluster from Pseudomonas putida strain NCIB 9816. J. Bacteriol. 176: 2158-2164.
• Macgillivray, R.A., and M.P. Shiaris. 1995. Microbial ecology of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation in coastal sediments. pp. 125-147 In G.R. Chaudhry (ed.), Biological Degradation and Bioremediation of Toxic Chemicals, Chapman &;Hall, London.

Additional Information

Teaching Interests

Microbiology and Ecology. I taught the Microbiology course (Biol 334) for over 25 years but starting in fall 2010, I developed a new undergraduate course, “Genomics: microbes, the human microbiome, and marine metagenome.” This year I am offering a project-based learning laboratory for the Genomics course. My teaching experience at the undergraduate level also includes introductory biology, population ecology, coastal ecology, and immunology. In the spring semesters I typically teach a graduate course in Microbial Physiology (Bio 627) or Microbial Ecology (Biol 628). My teaching experience at the graduate level also includes Chemistry and Biology of Urban Estuaries (EnvSci 697) and Introduction to Research Techniques (EnvSci 614).

Research Interests

Currently, I have a master's student and two undergraduates working in three general areas of environmental microbiology/microbial ecology. One area is bacterial indicators of pollution and their survival in coastal environments, the second is the bacterial population ecology in coastal environments, and the third area is plant root-bacterial interactions (with Profs Adan Colon-Carmona and Rick Kesseli). We use DNA fingerprinting, DNA sequencing, and routine microbiological techniques to study bacteria in coastal environments and the rhizosphere. I also interact with the Coastal Environmental Network Sensor group to develop remote bacterial sensors.

Current Grant Support

• DNA fingerprint characterization of fecal indicator bacteria in the Souhegan River, New Hampshire, watershed. ENSR International. M.P. Shiaris, (PI).
• Shiaris, Michael P: Co-PI. National Science Foundation Division of Integrative Organismal System: Genetic Bases and Ecological Significance of Plant-Microbe Interactions in the Rhizosphere. (PI: Rick Kesseli, UMass Boston; Co-PI Adan Colon-Carmona, UMass Boston and Jeffrey Dukes, Purdue University).
• Roxbury-Bunker Hill-UMass Boston "Bridges to Baccalaureate," an initiative for minority students: Bridges to Baccalaureate, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences. M. P. Shiaris, (PI).

Current Lab Group

• Steven Bryant-Allen (MS, Enterococci Occurrence and Distribution in Marine Beach Sands).
• Danielle Eschuk (Undergraduate, Diversity of Enterococcus in the Environment).