Scott Hamilton-Brehm

Scott Hamilton-Brehm serves as Associate Professor in the Environmental Resources and Policy department at Southern Illinois University, specializing in microbiology with research spanning subsurface ecosystems, biofuel production, and environmental recovery metrics. His laboratory investigates microbial processes in oligotrophic and geothermal environments to develop sustainable resource solutions.

Educational background includes a PhD from the University of Georgia (2008). Teaching responsibilities encompass MICR 201: Elementary Microbiology and MICR 423: Geomicrobiology, integrating field and laboratory approaches.

Research focuses on three interconnected themes:

• Characterizing deep subsurface microorganisms to understand metabolic sustainability in nutrient-poor environments
• Developing anaerobic consolidated bioprocessing systems using extremophiles for bio-waste conversion to biofuels
• Creating NGS-based algorithms to quantify ecosystem damage and recovery from pollution events

His work bridges fundamental microbiology with applied environmental challenges, emphasizing microbial adaptations in extreme habitats.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2010-2019) reveals consistent emphasis on thermophilic and subsurface microbiology, with growing integration of bioinformatics for ecological assessment. Key contributions include novel microbial species discovery, biomass conversion methodologies, and environmental monitoring frameworks.

Dr. Hamilton-Brehm actively recruits undergraduates and high school students for laboratory research, providing hands-on experience in microbial cultivation and environmental sampling. While specific grant details aren't listed, his extensive collaborative publications indicate multi-institutional research partnerships.

His laboratory maintains specialized capabilities for anaerobic and high-temperature microbial cultivation, with field sites including deep aquifers and geothermal features like Yellowstone's Obsidian Pool. Current work explores microbial roles in biogeochemical cycles and industrial applications of extremophile enzymes.