NASA Logo Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology View the NASA Portal
NASA Banner
NASA Banner
NASA Banner
JPL HOME EARTH SOLAR SYSTEM STARS & GALAXIES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NASA Banner
JPL Science
JPL Science Division Home
Center for Climate Sciences Center for Climate Sciences
Planetary Science Planetary Science
Earth and Planetary Atmospheres
Geophysics & Planetary Geosciences
Asteroids, Comets & Satellites
Planetary Chemistry and Astrobiology
Planetary Ices
People
Projects
Climate, Oceans and Solid Earth Sciences Climate, Oceans and Solid Earth Sciences
Astrophysics & Space Sciences Astrophysics & Space Sciences
Earth Atmospheric Science Earth Atmospheric Science
Directorate Science Affiliates Directorate Science Affiliates
Open Postdoc Positions Open Postdoc Positions
Brochures Brochures
 Planetary Ices: People
Randall Mielke's Picture
Address:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 183-301
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
Phone:
818.393.6957
Fax:
818.393.4445
Email:

Randall Mielke

Education
  • Ph.D. candidate, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA (estimated graduation June 2011)
  • M. S. in Biology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. (2001)
  • M. S. in Chemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. (1998)
  • B. A. in Biology, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA. (1992)
  • B. A. in Chemistry, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA. (1992)
Research Interests
  • Microbial-mineral interaction from extreme environmental ecosystems
  • "Acidothiobacillus ferrooxidans" colonization of pyrite and isotopic shifts of generated sulfates
  • Understanding Hadean Oceans hydrothermal vents and their generation of simple organics
  • Nanoparticle toxicity to bacteria and higher life forms
  • Biofilm characterization on Marine plastic debris
Professional Experience
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory - NASA (2001 to Present)
    • Geomicrobiologist
    • Electron Microscopist
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (2005 to Present)
    • MEIAF Manager, (2005 to Present)
    • Graduate Student (2008 to Present)
  • Northern Arizona University (1996 to 2001)
    • Instructor (Laboratory)
    • Research Assistant
    • Graduate Student
  • Northland Pioneer College (1993 to 1998)
    • Associate Faculty
  • Sweetwater Environmental Biologist (1988 to 1992)
    • Environmental Biologist
  • Multiple Peptide Systems (1988 to 1989)
    • Laboratory Technician
Selected Publications
  1. Allison M. Horst, A.C. Neal, R.E. Mielke, P.R. Sislian, W.H. Suh, L. Mäaädler, G.D. Stucky, and P.A. Holden. "Pseudomonas aeruginosa" PG201 disperses TiO2 nanoparticle agglomerates. Environmental Science & Technology, May 2010, accepted with revisions.
  2. Rebecca Werlin, JH. Priester, RE. Mielke, S. Jackson, PK. Stoimenov, GD. Stucky, G. Cherr, E. Orias, and PA. Holden. Robust biomagnification of CdSe quantum dots in a simple experimental microbial food chain. Nature, May 2010, accepted with revisions.
  3. Randall E. Mielke, P.R. Wilson, M. Coleman, I. Kanik and M.J. Russell. Design, Fabrication and Test of a Hydrothermal Reactor for Origin-Of-Life Experiments. Astrobiology, May 2010, accepted with revisions.
  4. Clarke, S., R.E. Mielke, A. Aneal, P.A. Holden, J.L. Nadeau. Bacterial and Mineral Elements in an Arctic Biofilm: A Correlative Study Using Fluorescence and Electron Microscopy. Microscopy & Microanalysis, 16(2) 99133, 1-13, 2010.
  5. Dumas, E-M, V. Ozenne, R.E. Mielke, J.L. Nadeau. Toxicity of CdTe Quantum dots in bacterial strains. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Apr. 2009.
  6. Niederberger, T.D., N.N. Perreault, J.R. Lawrence, J.L. Nadeau, R.E. Mielke, C. W. Greer, D. T. Andersen, and L. G. Whyte. Novel sulfur-oxidizing streamers thriving in perennial cold saline springs of the Canadian High Arctic. Environmental Microbiology, 11(3), 616-629, 2009.
  7. Priester J.H., P.K. Stoimenov, R.E. Mielke, S.M. Webb, C. Ehrhardt, J.P. Zhang, G.D. Stucky, P.A. Holden. Effects of Soluble Cadmium Salts Versus CdSe Quantum Dots on the Growth of Planktonic "Pseudomonas aeruginosa". Environmental Science & Technology, Jan. 2009.
  8. Rohrssen, M., R.E. Mielke, B. Brunner, M. Coleman. A method for simultaneous oxygen and hydrogen isotope analysis of water of crystallization in hydrated minerals. Analytical Chemistry, 80, 7084-7089, Sep. 2008.
  9. Brunner, B., J-Y. Yu, R.E. Mielke, J.A. MacAskill, S. Madzunkov, T.J. McGenity, M. Coleman. Different isotope and chemical patterns of pyrite oxidation related to lag and exponential growth phases of "Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans" reveal a microbial growth strategy. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, EPSL-270, 63-72, Mar. 2008.
  10. Douglas, S., W. Abbey, R. Mielke, P. Conrad, I. Kanik. Textural and mineralogical biosignatures in an unusual microbialite from Death Valley, California. Icarus, 193: 620-636, 2008.
  11. Jae-Young Yu, Y. Park, R.E. Mielke, M.L. Coleman. Sulfur and oxygen isotopic compositions of the dissolved sulphate in the meteoric water in Chuncheon, Korea. Geosciences Journal, Vol. 11, No. 4, 357 − 367, Dec. 2007.
  12. Christensen, L.E., B. Brunner, K.N. Truong, R.E. Mielke, C.R. Webster, M. Coleman. Measurement of Sulfur Isotope Compositions by Tunable Laser Spectroscopy of SO2. Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 79, No. 24, 9261-9268, Dec. 2007.
  13. Kappler, A., B. Schink, D.K. Newman. Fe(III) mineral formation and cell encrustation by the nitrate-dependent Fe(II)-oxidizer strain BoFeN1. Geobiology, Vol. 3, 235-245, Dec. 2005. TEM & ESEM images produced by R.E. Mielke.
  14. Lies, D.P., M.E. Hernandez, A. Kappler, R.E. Mielke, J.A. Gralnick, D.K. Newman. "Shewanella oneidensis" MR_1 uses overlapping pathways for iron reduction at a distance and by direct contact under conditions relevant for biofilms. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71 (8): 4414-4426, Aug. 2005.
  15. Jiao, Y., A. Kappler, L.R. Croal, D.K. Newman. Isolation and characterization of a genetically tractable photoautotrophic Fe(II)-oxidizing bacterium, "Rhodopseudomonas palustris" strain TIE-1. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 71, No. 8, 4487-4496, Aug. 2005. TEM images produced by R.E. Mielke.
  16. Pace, DL, R.E. Mielke, G. Southam, T.L. Porter. Scanning force microscopy studies of the colonization and growth of "Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidan"s on the surface of pyrite minerals. Scanning, Vol. 27 No. 3, 136-140, 2005.
  17. Kloepfer, J.A., R.E. Mielke, and J.L. Nadeau. Uptake of CdSe and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots into bacteria via purine-dependent mechanisms. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 71, No. 5, 2548-2557, May 2005.
  18. Kappler, A. and D.K. Newman. Formation of Fe(III)-minerals by Fe(II)-oxidizing photoautotrophic bacteria. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 68, No. 6, 1217-1226, 2004. TEM images produced by R.E. Mielke.
  19. Kloepfer, J.A., R.E. Mielke, and J.L. Nadeau. CdSe quantum dot internalization by "Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia col"i. Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 5361, 133-141, 2004, Invited Paper.
  20. Gorlenko, V., A. Tsapin, Z. Namsaraev, T. Teal, T. Tourova, D. Engler, R.E. Mielke and K. Nealson. "Anaerobranca californiensis" sp. nov. an anaerobic alkalithermophilic fermentative bacterium, isolated from hot spring on Mono Lake. IJSEM (029009). Nov. 28, 2003.
  21. Kloepfer, J.A., R.E. Mielke, M.S. Wong, K.H Nealson, G.Stucky, and J.L Nadeau. Quantum dots as strain- and metabolism- specific microbiological labels. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 4205-4213, Jul. 2003.
  22. Mielke, R.E., D.L. Pace, T. Porter, and G. Southam. A critical stage in the formation of acid mine drainage: Colonization of pyrite by "Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans" under pH-neutral conditions. Geobiology, 1, 81-90, 2003.
  23. ENGenious. Cover Image, Bacteria nests: micro scale pattern formation of desiccated carbon nanotube carpets, after immersion in solutions containing bacterial spores ("Bacillus pumilus"). Spring 2002.
  24. Mielke, R.E. The colonization of pyrite by "Thiobacillus ferrooxidans" under pH neutral conditions. Master of Science in Biology, Northern Arizona University, December 2001.
  25. Kelley, C., R.E. Mielke, D. Dimaquibo, A.J. Curtis, and J.G. Dewitt. Adsorption of Eu(III) onto roots of Water Hyacinth. Environmental Science and Technology. 33: 1439-1443, 1999.
  26. Mielke, R.E. Adsorption of Europium Ions by Water Hyacinth. Master of Science in Chemistry, Northern Arizona University, May 1998.

Group Home Page
People in this Group
Group Projects
JPL Privacy Statement Sitemap Email Contact Form
FIRST GOV NASA Home Page   Site Manager: Mona Jasnow
  Webmaster: David Martin
  Privacy/Copyright