Laura Leff

Dr. Laura Leff is a Professor and Chair at Kent State University's Environmental Science and Design Research Institute. Her research focuses on microbial ecology in aquatic ecosystems, particularly bacterial responses to environmental stressors like urbanization, pollution, and habitat changes. She has held editorial roles for journals including *Applied and Environmental Microbiology* and *Microbial Ecology*, contributing to academic discourse in her field. Dr. Leff earned her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Her research projects include studying bacterial communities in acid mine-impacted streams, agricultural streams, and wetlands, using molecular biology and microscopy to explore microbial community structure and function. She investigates topics such as denitrification dynamics, microplastic colonization, and antibiotic resistance in urban stream biofilms.

Dr. Leff has secured funding from NSF, NASA, and the EPA. Her work bridges microbiology and ecology, addressing pressing environmental issues like water quality and bioremediation. Recent studies highlight her focus on emerging contaminants, microbial interactions in biofilms, and the impacts of human activities on freshwater ecosystems.

• Key Affiliations: American Society for Microbiology, International Society for Microbial Ecology.
• Grants: NSF, NASA, EPA grants for projects on microbial ecology and bioremediation.
• Editorial Roles: *Applied and Environmental Microbiology* (2001–2011), *Microbial Ecology* (2001–2017).