Kati Geszvain

Dr. Kati Geszvain is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico. Her research focuses on bacterial physiology, particularly the mechanisms of manganese oxidation by environmental bacteria and their application in bioremediation. She holds an office in Holt Hall 312 and teaches courses including Allied Health Microbiology and Microbial Genetics. Dr. Geszvain advises students in the Microbiology track and collaborates on projects involving microbial genetics and environmental microbiology.

Her research lab explores manganese-oxidizing bacteria’s roles in mineral formation and bioremediation, aiming to optimize strains for wastewater treatment. Key areas include understanding enzymatic pathways, regulatory mechanisms, and environmental interactions. Notable projects involve identifying oxidase enzymes and studying pyoverdine synthesis in Pseudomonas putida GB-1.

Dr. Geszvain has published extensively on manganese oxidation, microbial genetics, and bacterial physiology, with recent work exploring cold-tolerant strains and computational genomics. Her advising includes students like L Smesrud and J Maybee. She actively contributes to the Biological Sciences Department, promoting undergraduate research and interdisciplinary collaborations in environmental microbiology.