"Achieving international distinction for creativity, innovation and excellence in geographical, geological and environmental education, research and outreach."

Publications

Papers
Presentations (selected)
Conference Posters

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Papers

Mahmoudi, N., Fulthorpe, R.R., Burns, L., Mancini, S., Slater, G.F.  (2013) Assessing microbial carbon sources and potential PAH degradation using natural abundance radiocarbon analysis Environmental Pollution, 175: 125-130.

Mahmoudi, N., Slater, G.F., Juhasz, A.L.  (2013) Assessing limitations for PAH biodegradation in long-term contaminated soils using bioavailability assays. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 224: 1411.

Mahmoudi N., Slater, G.F. Fulthorpe, R.R. (2011) Comparison of commercial DNA extraction kits for isolation and purification of bacterial and eukaryotic DNA from PAH-contaminated soils. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 57(8):623-8.

Mahmoudi N., Modanu M., Brandt Y., Andrade MCB. (2008)  Subtle Pedipalp Dimorphism: A reliable Method for Sexing Juvenile Spiders. Journal of Arachnology. 36: 513-517

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Presentations (selected)

Mahmoudi, N., Fulthorpe, R.R., Zimmerman, A.R., Silliman, B.R., Slater, G.F.  Temporal trends in microbial abundance and biodegradation in Louisiana salt marshes following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California. December 3-7, 2012.

Mahmoudi, N., Slater, G.F., Juhasz, A.L. Assessing limitations for PAH biodegradation in long-term contaminated soils using bioavailability assays, 22nd Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference, Montreal, Quebec, June 24-30, 2012.

Mahmoudi, N., Burns, L., Mancini, S., Fulthorpe, R.R., Slater, G.F.  What’s on the menu? Assessing microbial carbon sources and cycling in soils using natural abundance radiocarbon analysis, American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, December 5-9, 2011.

Mahmoudi, N., Ahad, J.M.E., Burns, L., Mancini, S., Fulthorpe, R.R., Slater, G.F.  Relationship between the extent of contamination and archaeal, eukaryotic and bacterial community complexity and diversity, 13th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology, Seattle, Washington, August 22- 27, 2010.

Mahmoudi, N., Murphy, S., Fulthorpe, R.R., Slater, G.F.  Effect of microbial diversity on biodegradation capability of PAH-contaminated soil, Advances in Earth Sciences Research Conference, Ottawa, Ontario, March 26-28, 2010.

Mahmoudi, N., Fulthorpe, R.R., Slater, G.F.  Microbial degradation of petroleum-derived pollutants in soil, 24th Gananoque Environmental Science and Engineering Student Conference, Gananoque, Ontario, February 5-7, 2010.

Mahmoudi N., Brandt Y., Andrade MCB. Development of sexual dimorphism in morphology and allometry in the redback spider. Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution, Toronto, Ontario. May 17-20, 2007.

 

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Conference Posters

Mahmoudi, N., Slater, G.F., Fulthorpe, R.R. (2010) Comparison of commercial DNA extraction kits for isolation and purification of bacterial and eukaryotic DNA from PAH-contaminated soils, Canadian Society for Microbiology, Hamilton, Ontario, June 14-17, 2010.

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Teaching

McMaster University	EARTH/ENVIR SC 3O03, Organic Contaminants in the Environment, 2012-13	T.A.
McMaster University	EARTH/ENVIR SC 3O03, Organic Contaminants in the Environment, 2011-12	T.A.
McMaster University	EARTH/ENVIR SC 3O03, Organic Contaminants in the Environment, 2010-11	T.A.
McMaster University	GEOG 1HA3, Human Geographies: Society & Culture, 2009-10	T.A.
McMaster University	EARTH/ENVIR SC 3B03, Ecosystems and Climate Change, 2009-10	T.A.
McMaster University	GEOG 3EE3, Energy and Society, 2009-10	T.A.

 

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Affiliations

• International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME)
• American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• Canadian Society of Microbiology (CSM)

 

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Research

Research Interests:

• Carbon cycling  
• Environmental microbiology
• Isotope geochemistry
• Bioremediation

Thesis Summary:

Petroleum hydrocarbons are ubiquitous in the environment through leakage from storage tanks, improper disposal and accidental spills such as the recent Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by microorganisms is one of the most effective methods used to remediate environmental systems. Unfortunately, mechanisms and interactions controlling the growth and activity of microbes in contaminated environments are not always well understood.  Moreover, microbial communities in nature are composed of species from all three domains (bacteria, archaea, eukarya) which can result in competition, synergistic interactions and cycling of nutrients and carbon.

For my doctoral project, I am assessing the role and contribution of all three microbial domains to the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the natural environment. I am attempting to identify the specific role of each domain during biodegradation and understanding the significance of this role (whether it be direct or indirect) to biodegradation. My research project combines geochemical and molecular techniques along with carbon isotope approaches (13C, 14C) to assess community structure, carbon sources and cycling at three contaminated field sites in Ontario as well as salt marshes in Louisiana that were impacted by the recent Deepwater Horizon oil spill. My research will aid in assessing the potential for intrinsic biodegradation at contaminated sites and optimize the use of microorganisms as a natural remediation tool.

 

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Service

• Student Mentor, Youth Engaging in Science  (2010 to present)
• Executive Committee Member, Women in Science and Engineering (2009 to present)
• Graduate Representative, School of Geography and Earth Sciences (2009 to 2010)

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