Faculty/Staff Profile

Sharon G Berk

Professor

Department: Center for Management, Utilization, and Protection of Water Resources
Prescott Hall (PRSC) 435
PO Box: 5033
(931) 372-3451

More Information

Education

  • Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Maryland (1978)
  • M.S., Zoology, University of Maryland (1974)
  • B.S., Biology, University of Illinois (1972)

Dr. Berk's Research Specialty Areas

  • Legionella-protozoa interactions
  • Development of new microbial aquatic toxicity assays
  • Protozoan-bacterial trophic interactions
  • Detection of novel human pathogens associated with amoebae

Click the links below for video clips of Dr. Berk's research. (Note: Images require QuickTime Player that can be downloaded at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.)

Current or Recent Research Projects

Animal Model Testing for Novel Pathogens Infecting Amoebae from Cooling Tower Water (with J.H. Gunderson). Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Characterization of a Naturally Occurring Amoeba-Resistant Bacteria from Water Samples (with J.H. Gunderson). Funded by Middle Tennessee State University via the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Environmental Distribution and Disease Potential of New Legionella-like Bacteria as a Function of Environmental Variables (with J.H. Gunderson and N. Uddin). Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Interactions of Salmonella enterica and E. coli 0157:H7 with Protozoa from Fresh Produce. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Microbial Ecology of Food-borne Pathogens—Role of Protozoa in Pathogen Survival and Maintenance in the Environment. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Strengthening Agricultural and Environmental Education at Tennessee State University:  Student Experiential Training (with G.K. Stearman).  Funded by Tennessee State University via the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Apply Now