- Chair of Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Fred and Claire Sauer Professor
- Faculty Scientist, Ecology Dept., Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Teaching and Research

Professor Alvarez-Cohen teaching duties include graduate and undergraduate courses in environmental microbiology, environmental biological processes, and environmental engineering.  Current research areas include microbial ecology of bioremediation, biotransformation of environmental contaminants including chlorinated solvents, NDMA, 1,4-Dioxane and PBDEs; and genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and isotopic evaluation of bioremediation communities.

Alvarez-Cohen Research Group

Ongoing research projects include:

• Biodegradation of the Flame Retardants Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers
• Oxygenase-Catalyzed Biodegradation of Emerging Water Contaminants: 1,4-Dioxane and N-Nitrosodimethylamine
• Characterizing and Evolving the Propane Monooxygenase for N-Nitrosodimethylamine Biodegradation and Green Chemistry
• Quantifying Gene Expression to Predict and Optimize Reductive Dechlorination by Dehalococcoides spp.
• Application of Microarrays to Identify Biomarkers of Reductive Dehalogenating-Microbial Communities

Professor Alvarez-Cohen recently co-authored a textbook entitled Environmental Engineering Science, available from John Wiley and Sons. Prof. Alvarez-Cohen, along with Prof. Bill Nazaroff, developed this text through using experience from teaching CE 111, a junior-level undergraduate environmental engineering class at UC Berkeley.

Selected Recent Publications

• Robrock, K.R., M. Coelhan, D.L. Sedlak and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2009, “Aerobic Biotransformation of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) by Bacterial Isolates,” Environmental Science and Technology, 43(15): 5705-5711.

• Tang, Y.J., S. Yi, W.Q. Zhuang, S. H. Zinder, J.D. Keasling, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2009, “Investigation of Carbon Metabolism in “Dehalococcoides Ethenogenes” strain 195 Using Isotopomer and Transcriptomic Analysis,” Journal of Bacteriology, 191(16): 5224-5231.

• Johnson, D. R., A. Nemir, G. L. Andersen, S. H. Zinder and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2009, “Transcriptomic Microarray Analysis of Corrinoid Responsive Genes in Dehalococcoides Ethenogenes Strain 195,” FEMS Microbial Letters, 294(2): 198-206.

• Zeng, X., S.L. Simonich,  K.L. Robrock, P. Korytár, L. Alvarez-Cohen,  and D. F. Barofsky, 2008, “Development and Validation of a Congener Specific Photodegradation Model for PBDEs,” Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 27(12): 2427-2435.
  

• West, K. A., D. R. Johnson, P. Hu, T. Z. DeSantis, E. L. Brodie, P.K.H. Lee, H. Feil, G. L. Andersen, S. H. Zinder and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2008, “Comparative Genomics of “Dehalococcoides ethenogenes” 195 and an Enrichment Culture Containing Unsequenced “Dehalococcoides” Strains,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 74(11): 3533-3540.
  

• Johnson, D. R., E. L. Brodie, A. E. Hubbard, G. L. Andersen, S. H. Zinder, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2008, “Temporal Transcriptomic Microarray Analysis of “Dehalococcoides ethenogenes” Strain 195 during the Transition into Stationary Phase,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 74(9): 2864-2872.
  

• Robrock, K., P. Korytár and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2008, “Pathways for the Anaerobic Microbial Debromination of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers,” Environmental Science and Technology, 42(8): 2845-2852.
  

• Lee, P. K. H., T. W. Macbeth, K. S. Sorenson and L. Alvarez-Cohen. 2008, “Quantifying Genes and Transcripts to Assess the In Situ Physiology of “Dehalococcoides ” spp. in a Trichloroethene-Contaminated Groundwater Site,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 74(9): 2728-2739.
  

• Sharp, J. O., Sales, C.M.,  LeBlanc, J.,  Liu, J., Wood, T. K., Eltis, L.D., Mohn, W. W.  and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2007, “An Inducible Propane Monooxygenase is Responsible for N-nitrosodimethylamine Degradation by Rhodococcus sp. Strain RHA1,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 73(21): 6930-6938.
  

• National Research Council Committee on Metagenomics (LA-C committee member) 2007, “The New Science of Metagenomics: Revealing the Secrets of our Microbial Planet,” National Academy Press, Washington DC.
  

• Mahendra, S., C.J. Petzold, E. E. Baidoo, J. D. Keasling and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2007, “Identification of the Intermediates of in Vivo Oxidation of 1,4-Dioxane by Monooxygenase-Containing Bacteria,” Environmental Science and Technology, 41(21): 7330-7336.
  

• Lee, P. K. H., M. E. Conrad, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2007, “Stable Carbon Isotope Fractionation of Chloroethenes by Dehalorespiring Isolates,” Environmental Science and Technology, 41(12): 4277-4285.
  

• He, J., V. F. Holmes, P. K. H. Lee and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2007, “Influence of Vitamin B12 and Cocultures on the Growth of Dehalococcoides Isolates in Defined Medium,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 73 (9): 2847-2853.
  

• Mahendra, S. and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2006, “Kinetics of 1,4-Dioxane Biodegradation by Monooxygenase-expressing Bacteria,” Environmental Science and Technology, 40 (17): 5435 -5442.
  

• Lee, P. K. H., Johnson, D. R., Holmes, V. F., He, J , and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2006, “Reductive Dehalogenase Gene Expression as a Biomarker for Physiological Activity of Dehalococcoides spp.,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 72 (9):6161-6168.
  
  
• He, J., K. R. Robrock and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2006, “Microbial Reductive Debromination of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs),” Environmental Science and Technology, 40 (14): 4429 -4434.
  
  
• Holmes, V. F., He, J, Lee, P. K. H., and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2006, “Discrimination of Multiple Dehalococcoides Strains in a TCE Enrichment by Quantification of their Reductive Dehalogenase Genes,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 72 (9):5877-5883.
  

• Johnson, D. R., Lee, P. K. H., Holmes, V. F., and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2005, “Transcriptional Expression of the tceA Gene in a Dehalococcoides-Containing Microbial Enrichment,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71 : 7145-7151.
  
  
• Freeborn R. A., V. K. Bhupathiraju, S. Chauhan, K. A. West, B. G. Rahm, R. E. Richardson, L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2005, "Phylogenetic Analysis of TCE-Dechlorinating Consortia Enriched on a Variety of Electron Donors,"Environmental Science and Technology, 39(21): 8358-8368.
  
  
• Johnson, D. R., Lee, P. K. H., Holmes, V. F., and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2005, "An Internal Reference Technique for Accurately Quantifying Specific mRNAs by Real-Time PCR with Application to the tceA Reductive Dehalogenase Gene," Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71(7): 3866-3871.
  
  
• Rahm, B.G., Chauhan, S., Holmes, V.F., Macbeth, T W., Sorenson, K. S., and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2005, "Molecular Characterization of Microbial Populations at Two Sites with Differing Reductive Dechlorination Abilities,"Biodegradation, 17 (6): 523-534.
  
  
• Templeton, A. S., K-H Chu, L. Alvarez-Cohen, and M. E. Conrad, 2005, "Causes of variable Carbon Isotope Fractionation Exhibited by Methane-Oxidizing Bacteria," Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 70(2006): 1739-1752.
  
  
• Sharp, J. O., Wood, T.K. and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2005, "Aerobic Biodegradation of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) by Axenic Bacterial Cultures," Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 89(5): 608-618.
  
  
• Mahendra, S. and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2005, "Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans sp. nov., a Novel Actinomycete that Grows on 1,4-Dioxane," International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 55: 593-598.
  
  
• National Research Council Committee on Source Removal of Contaminants in the Subsurface (LA-C committee member) 2004, "Contaminants in the Subsurface: Source Zone Assessment and Remediation," National Academy Press, Washington DC.
  
  
• Chu, K-H, S. Mahendra, D. L. Song, M. E. Conrad, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2004, "Stable Carbon Isotope Fractionation During Aerobic Biodegradation of Chlorinated Ethenes," Environmental Science and Technology, 38(11): 3126-3130.
  
  
• Deeb, R.A., K.H. Chu, T. Shih, S. Linder, M. Suffett, M. C. Kavanaugh and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2003, "MTBE and Other Oxygenates: Environmental Sources, Analysis, Occurrence and Treatment," Environmental Engineering Science, 20(5): 433-447.
  
  
• Mitch W.A., J.O. Sharp, R.R. Trussel, R.L. Valentine, L. Alvarez-Cohen, and D.L. Sedlak, 2003, "N-Nitrosodimethylamine as a Drinking Water Contaminant: A Review," Environmental Engineering Science, 20(5): 389-404.
  
  
• Richardson, R. E., C. A. James, V. K. Bhupathiraju, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2002, "Microbial Activity in Soils Following Steam Treatment," Biodegradation, 13(4): 285-295.
  
  
• Richardson, R. E., V. K. Bhupathiraju, D. S. Song, T. Goulet, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2002, "Phylogenetic Characterization of Microbial Communities that Reductively Dechlorinate TCE Based upon a Combination of Molecular Techniques," Environmental Science and Technology, 36(12): 2652-2662.
  
  
• Song, D. L., M. E. Conrad, K. S. Sorenson, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2002, "Stable Carbon Isotope Fractionation During Enhanced In-Situ Bioremediation of Trichloroethene," Environmental Science and Technology, 36(10): 2262 -2268.
  
  
• Deeb, R. A., J. O. Sharp, A. Stocking, S. McDonald, K. A. West, M. Laugier, P. J. J. Alvarez, M. C. Kavanaugh and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2002, "Impact of Ethanol on Benzene Plume Lengths: Microbial and Modeling Studies," ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, 128(9): 868-75.
  
  
• Bhupathiraju, V. K., P. Krauter, H-Y. N. Holman, M. E. Conrad, P. F. Daley, A. S. Templeton, J. R. Hunt, M. Hernandez, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2002, "Assessment of in-situ Bioremediation at a Refinery Waste-Contaminated Site and an Aviation Gasoline Contaminated Site," Biodegradation, 13(2): 79-90.
  
  
• Nazaroff, W. W, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2001, "Environmental Engineering Science," 690 pg. textbook, John Wiley and Sons, Collegiate Division, ISBN 0-471-14494-0.
  
  
• Deeb, R.A., A. Stocking, L. Alvarez-Cohen, and M. C. Kavanaugh, 2001, "Biodegradability of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether and Tert-Butyl Alcohol," Chap. 16 in, "Oxygenates in Gasoline, Environmental Aspects," A. F. Diaz and D. L. Drogos Eds., ACS Symposium Series No. 799, American Chemical Society Books, ISBN: 0-8412-3760-3.
  
  
• Alvarez-Cohen, L., and G. E. Speitel, 2001, "Kinetics of Aerobic Cometabolism of Chlorinated Solvents,"Biodegradation, 12(2): 105-126.
  
  
• Deeb, R.A., H-Y Hu, J.R. Hanson, K.M. Scow, and L. Alvarez-Cohen, 2001, "Substrate Interactions in BTEX and MTBE Mixtures by an MTBE-Degrading Isolate," Environmental Science and Technology, 35(2): 312-317.
  
  
  

Links

• Complete Curriculum Vitae
• Alvarez-Cohen Research Group
• Environmental Engineering Group
• Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• UC Berkeley