Volker Brozel

Education

Ph.D. Microbiology, University of Pretoria
M.S. Microbiology, University of Pretoria
B.Sc. Food Science, University of Stellenbosch

Academic Interests

Bacterial Ecophysiology
Nitrogen fixing bacteria

Academic Responsibilities

MICR 332 Microbial Physiology
MICR 332L Microbial Physiology Lab
BIOL / MICR 448 Molecular Microbial Genetics
MICR 667 Bacteriology (odd years)
BIOL 790 S01 Presenting Science
BIOL 790 S02 Scientific Writing

Professional Memberships

American Society for Microbiology
American Society for Microbiology North Central Branch
International Society for Microbial Ecology

Work Experience

Senior Lecturer, University of the Western Cape, South Africa: 1994 - 1997
Associate Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa: 1998 - 2003
Visiting Professor, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Germany: 2002
Associate Professor, South Dakota State University: 2003 - 2009
Krupp Fellow: Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Germany: 2007
Professor: South Dakota State University: 2009 to date
Head of Department, South Dakota State University: 2011 - 2020
Extraordinary Professor, Microbiology at University of Pretoria: 2013 to date

Area(s) of Research

Soil: Where food begins

Bacteria play a major role in biocatalysis on our planet. We know surprisingly little on how the over one million bacterial and archaeal species behave in their diverse natural environments. My lab focuses on growth and survival of bacteria in soil where many bacteria contribute to mobilization of plant nutrients, and associate with both plant root, and soil particle surfaces, forming multicellular conglomerates called biofilms.

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria: Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas to ammonia can only be performed by select bacteria called nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This is the second most vital process for life on earth after photosynthesis. My lab focuses on ecophysiology and diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and their associations with plants.

Soils lose nitrogen through denitrification, suggesting that nitrogen fixers play a more important role than generally believed. We study the diversity and function of free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria in soils.

Low nutrient levels in soil select for slow growing bacteria. Yet rapid growing saprophytes such as Bacillus abound in soils. We seek to understand how the aerobic endospore forming soil saprophyte Bacillus cereus is so successful in soil.

Escherichia coli thrives in the gut of mammals, and is used as indicator of fecal pollution. Yet E. coli can be found in soils not contaminated by feces. We seek to determine how select strains of E. coli thrive in soils