2009 Robert C. Anderson Memorial Award

Congratulations to Dr. Noha Mesbah, recipient of the 2009 Robert C. Anderson Memorial Award. This annual award reflects Noha's outstanding record of research accomplishments carried out as part of her graduate studies and her dissertation research on extremophiles.  Extremophiles are microorganisms which thrive under conditions considered to be unusual from a human point of view. Her research focused on a group of extremophiles able to grow under the combination of high salt concentration, alkaline pH and high temperature; the halophilic alkalithermophiles. Many other bacteria would perish under these harsh conditions.  “To imagine this habitat,” Noha said, “mix one cup of Draino and two pounds of salt in a gallon of water.  Then heat to 60 C (or 140 F).” Dr.  Mesbah succeeded in isolating several novel groups of anaerobic halophilic alkalithermophiles, which constitute the novel order Natranaerobiales within the phylum Firmicutes. Using the type microorganism Natranaerobius thermophilus and a combination of genetic and physiological approaches, her research has shown that these bacteria possess unusual adaptive mechanisms, including a dual-mechanism to regulate intracellular pH and cation content.

Noha was nominated by her major professor, Dr. Juergen Wiegel. 
At the Annual Research Awards Banquet to be held March 20, 2009, she will be presented a $1,000 honorarium and a certificate for this outstanding research accomplishment.  When asked what she would do with her prize money, Noha said she plans to make a trip to Yellowstone National Park later in the spring to tour the geysers and hot springs, and see the wildlife up close.