Author Archives: Christopher Sales

Postdoctoral positions in microbial engineering for the development of nature-inspired
infrastructure materials at Drexel University

The Sales Laboratory is seeking outstanding candidates for multiple open postdoctoral positions. Special consideration is taken for candidates with a multidisciplinary background, specifically in microbial sciences and nature-inspired materials engineering. Ideal candidates will have demonstrated expertise in applied microbiology and genetic engineering of bacteria and/or fungi. Focus is placed on candidates who have experience working in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary research group.

The successful candidates will work on engineering microbial systems for restoring aged and damaged concrete materials. Specifically, the candidates will contribute to the development of bacterial-fungal processes for vascularization, crack-healing, and corrosion mitigation strategies in concrete.

The candidates will work with the Sales Laboratory and in strong collaboration with other professors and research groups at Drexel University, including the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Sciences (CAEE), Material Sciences and Engineering (MSE), and Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics (MEM), as well as at other academic institutions and government agencies involved in the project. 

 

Required Qualifications:
• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or
related field.
• Research experience in applied microbiology and/or genetic engineering of bacteria/fungi

 

How to apply:

If you are interested in this position and feel you meet the above requirements, please use this link to apply: https://careers.drexel.edu/en-us/job/500417/postdoctoral-scientist

If you have any inquiries regarding this opportunity to Professor Christopher Sales at chris.sales@drexel.edu. Recruitment will remain open until all positions are filled.

Contact:
Professor Christopher Sales – chris.sales@drexel.edu
Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Drexel University
3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104

Picture: Drexel-LSAMP Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Sales was honored to be the STEM Faculty Spotlight for Drexel’s LSAMP event last night. He enjoyed meeting and interacting with so many young, bright, and diverse STEM students at Drexel. The event was organized by Marisol Rodriguez-Mergenthal (Director of LSAMP at Drexel) and was setup similar to “Inside the Actor’s Studio”, in which she asked Dr. Sales a number of questions on his journey as a STEM professor.

Dr. Sales wishes all of the students he met (most of whom are pictured above) great success at Drexel and beyond!

 

Dr. Sales and graduate student Kaitie Sniffen took a trip to Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square for their Food Animal Day on April 5. We were able to check out the operation of the Marshak Dairy and collect samples from their lagoon for our collaboration with some Penn Vet professors and researchers to come up with novel algal biotechnologies to treat dairy cow wastewater.

Check out these cute calves we saw on our visit.

Announcement: Drexel University – IExE Speaker Series – Gov. Bill Ritter on a Clean Energy Economy (April 8)

APRIL 8, 2014 – 3:30 PM | 3RD FLOOR ATRIUM

Bossone Research Center | 3140 Market Street | Philadelphia, PA 19104

Conversation between Dean Hughes, Founding Director of the Institute for Energy and the Environment (IExE) and former Gov. Bill Ritter Jr., the Director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University. The inaugural IExE Speaker Series will be held on Tuesday April 8th at 3:30 pm in the 3rd Floor Atrium of the Bossone Research Center. 

The Center for the New Energy Economy works directly with governors, legislators, regulators, and policymakers to provide technical assistance in creating policies and practices that will facilitate America’s transition to a clean-energy economy. 

Ritter was elected as Colorado’s 41st governor in 2006. During his 4 year term, Ritter established Colorado as a national and international leader in clean energy by building a New Energy Economy in the state. As a result of that work, Colorado created thousands of new jobs and established hundreds of new companies. In total, Governor Ritter signed 57 clean energy bills into law including a 30% Renewable Portfolio Standard and the nation’s first statutory plan to convert aging coal units to natural gas. 

Ritter is a member of the Board of the Directors of the Energy Foundation; and also a Senior Fellow and member of the Board of Directors of the Advanced Energy Economy Institute.

Drexel University – Event Details View – IExE Speaker Series – Gov. Bill Ritter on a Clean Energy Economy.

YouTube Vid: Can Microbes Clean Up Our Oily Mess?

Great video for the masses describing the ability of microorganisms to degrade components of oil spills. The bit about synthetic biology being used for bioremediation is a little misleading, as it is not being used in practice yet (at least that I know of).

Can Microbes Clean Up Our Oily Mess? – Instant Egghead #58 – YouTube.

Buy Some T-Shirts for Philippines Typhoon Yolanda Relief Fundraiser

Support Drexel student, Gerre Mac Barcebal, a senior graphic design major in the Westphal College, with her “One Love” campaign to raise money for humanitarian assistance for those affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines. 

ONE LOVE: Philippines Typhoon Yolanda Relief Fundraiser – Online Fundraising | Booster.

ONE LOVE: Philippines Typhoon Yolanda Relief Fundraiser - Online Fundraising | Booster

Read this story in DrexelNow about  Gerre Mac Barcebal efforts:

http://drexel.edu/now/features/archive/2013/December/Philippines-Typhoon-Fundraiser/

Mabuhay, Philippines!


Philadelphia AMP Research Symposium and Mentoring Conference

Christopher Sales was recently invited to be the luncheon / awards ceremony speaker at the 16th Annual Philadelphia AMP Research Symposium and Mentoring Conference on Saturday, November 16, 2013.

The theme of the conference is “Changing the Face of the Scientific Enterprise – Broadening Participation.” The conference will be held at Sheraton University City Hotel, located 36th and Chestnut Streets, in Philadelphia, PA.

Undergraduate students from many LSAMP Alliances across the country are expected to attend. In addition, LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate (BTD) graduate students, as well as students from the national HBCU STEM and National Minority STEM Fellowship Programs will also be in attendance.

Here is the flyer for the conference: 2013 Fall Research Symposium Poster (8.5×11).

To learn more about the Greater Philadelphia Region Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded program, visit http://www.philadelphiaamp.org/index.html.