Current Research Interests

Development of tools and approaches for ecological risk assessment of contaminants in order to better assess the likely impacts on human health and the environment. (heavy metals and hydrocarbons)
Identification of novel proteins with an ability to detoxify hexavalent chromium.
Application of molecular techniques to study microbial community compositions of soils impacted with hydrocarbon contamination

Research Expertise

• Environmental microbiology
• “Activated sludge” wastewater treatment (EBPR)
• Use of molecular techniques to examine microbial populations. Specific techniques include:
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and specific primer design.
• DNA, RNA and protein extraction from environmental samples and pure cultures.
• Clone library generation (16S rRNA, and gene-cassette).
• Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE).
• Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamode gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).
• Fluorescence in situ Hybridisation (FISH) and 16S rRNA targeted oligonucleotide probe design.
• Bacterial cell culture.
• Epifluorescence microscopy and image analysis.

Recent Professional Experience

• Research Officer – La Trobe University, Bundoora 2005-2006.

Academic Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy (Microbiology) La Trobe University 2005
• Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) La Trobe University 2000

Publications Summary

Dr Beer’s publications to date have involved the identification and examination of microbial populations associated with waste-water treatment, more specifically “activated sludge”.

1. Ahn, J., S. Schroeder, M. Beer, S. McIlroy, R. C. Bayly, J. W. May, G. Vasiliadis and R. J. Seviour (2007). "Ecology of the Microbial Community Removing Phosphate from Wastewater under Continuously Aerobic Conditions in a Sequencing Batch Reactor." Appl Environ Microbiol. (in press, published online).
2. Beer, M. and R. J. Seviour (2006). "Gene cassette-associated sequences from phosphorus and non-phosphorus removing microbial communities in aerobic:anaerobic sequencing batch reactors." Water Sci Technol 54(1): 55-61.
3. Beer, M., H. M. Stratton, P. C. Griffiths and R. J. Seviour (2006). "Which are the polyphosphate accumulating organisms in full-scale activated sludge enhanced biological phosphate removal systems in Australia?" J Appl Microbiol 100(2): 233-43.
4. Sadeghifard, N., V. Gurtler, M. Beer and R. J. Seviour (2006). "The mosaic nature of intergenic 16S-23S rRNA spacer regions suggests rRNA operon copy number variation in Clostridium difficile strains." Appl Environ Microbiol 72(11): 7311-23.
5. Seviour, E. M., K. Eales, L. Izzard, M. Beer, E. L. Carr and R. J. Seviour (2006). "The in situ physiology of "Nostocoida limicola" II, a filamentous bacterial morphotype in bulking activated sludge, using fluorescence in situ hybridization and microautoradiography." Water Sci Technol 54(1): 47-53.
6. Beer, M., Y. H. Kong and R. J. Seviour (2004). "Are some putative glycogen accumulating organisms (GAO) in anaerobic: aerobic activated sludge systems members of the alpha-Proteobacteria?" Microbiology 150(Pt 7): 2267-75.
7. Beer, M., E. M. Seviour, Y. Kong, M. Cunningham, L. L. Blackall and R. J. Seviour (2002). "Phylogeny of the filamentous bacterium Eikelboom Type 1851, and design and application of a 16S rRNA targeted oligonucleotide probe for its fluorescence in situ identification in activated sludge." FEMS Microbiol Lett 207(2): 179-83.
8. Kong, Y. H., M. Beer, G. N. Rees and R. J. Seviour (2002). "Functional analysis of microbial communities in aerobic-anaerobic sequencing batch reactors fed with different phosphorus/carbon (P/C) ratios." Microbiology 148(Pt 8): 2299-307.
9. Kong, Y. H., M. Beer, R. J. Seviour, K. C. Lindrea and G. A. Rees (2002). "Role of "G-bacteria" in anaerobic substrate uptake in a SBR with no phosphorus removal." Water Sci Technol 46(1-2): 171-8.
10. Kong, Y. H., M. Beer, R. J. Seviour, K. C. Lindrea and G. N. Rees (2001). "Structure and functional analysis of the microbial community in an aerobic: anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with no phosphorus removal." Syst Appl Microbiol 24(4): 597-609.