MARIJEAN M. PETERSON

 

EDUCATION

 

Master of Science. 1996. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Horticulture.  

Thesis: Germination and Early Seedling Development of Tall Fescue, Switchgrass, and Smooth Bromegrass as Influenced by 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene and 4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene.

Advisors: Dr. Garald Horst and Dr. Patrick Shea.

 

Bachelor of Science. 1993. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Major: Soil Science.

 

 

EXPERIENCE

 

Lab Manager/Chemist. (2007-Present). Winter Maintenance and Effects Program Group. Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.

·         manage laboratory resources for ongoing research projects.

·         manage and maintain equipment, instruments, and supply inventory for the laboratory.

·         assist with ongoing research projects.

 

Research Associate. (2004-2006). Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.

·         supervised laboratory personnel conducting chemical ecology and plant-insect interaction research on wheat stem sawfly and biological control research.

·         managed and maintained equipment and supplies for laboratory research.

 

Independent Kitchen Consultant. (2003-2005). The Pampered Chef, Bozeman, MT.

·         managed in-home sales business specializing in kitchen tools.

·         offered customer service.

·         taught cooking classes with an emphasis in ethnic cuisines.

 

Technical and Medical Writer. (1999-2000). Eli Lilly and Company/Kelly Scientific Resources, Indianapolis, IN.

·         assisted pioglitazone (Actosä) product team in protocol, informed consent document, and risks profile development.

·         managed pioglitazone (Actosä) product team documents and submissions.

·         reviewed and revised documents produced by the pioglitazone (Actosä) product team.

 

Research Technician. (1998-1999). Dow AgroSciences/Kelly Scientific Resources, Indianapolis, IN.

·         characterized degradations of early phase discovery compounds in soil.

·         conducted soil aerobic degradations and extractions for Phase I and II discovery compounds.

·         assayed and evaluated soil for microbial activity and viability.

·         conducted subcritical fluid extractions and immunoassay tests for picloram in soil.

 

Chemist. (1996-1997). Midwest Laboratories, Inc., Omaha, NE.

·         conducted plant, animal feed, and food digestions for analysis of essential minerals.

·         prepared air, water, soil, and sludge samples for metals analysis.

·         conducted biological oxygen demand determinations.

 

Graduate Research Assistant. (1994 -1996). Department of Horticulture. Munitions Remediation Research Team. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Project Leaders: Dr. Garald Horst, Dr. Patrick Shea, Dr. Steve Comfort, and Dr. William Powers.

·         prepared soil and leachate samples for high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and scintillation counting analyses.

·         determined pesticide rates, fertilizer rates, and evapotranspiration losses.

·         analyzed data and wrote technical reports and manuscripts.

·         supervised hourly research technicians in laboratory and greenhouse research.

·         prepared sterile tissue culture media and propagated grass plants.

·         determined germination rates and grass seedling development.

 

Laboratory and Field Research Technician. (1990-1993). Department of Entomology. Insect Ecology and Plant Ecophysiology Project. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Project Leader: Dr. Leon G. Higley.

·         provided technical assistance to project leader and graduate students with basic and applied research involving insect ecology and plant physiological responses to insect injury.

·         involved with insect rearing, plant physiology research, consumption studies, insect biology research, and plant pathology research.

·         supervised summer technicians in both laboratory and field research.

·         assisted with tiger beetle conservation research in saline wetlands.

 

Laboratory and Field Research Technician. (May 1993 to Aug. 1993). Department of Agricultural Meteorology and Climatology. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Project Leader: Dr. Shashi Verma.

·         provided technical assistance to graduate students with basic and applied research involving micrometeorological characterizations of crops and soils.

·         involved with data collection, including staging of crop plants, soil sampling, gravimetric soil moisture sampling, and CO2 flux measurements.

 

JOURNAL ARTICLES

 

Peterson, M.M., G.L. Horst, P.J. Shea, S.D. Comfort, R.K.D. Peterson. 1996. TNT and 4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene Influence on Germination and Early Seedling Development of Tall Fescue. Environmental  Pollution 93:57-62.

 

Li, Z.M., M.M. Peterson, S.D. Comfort, G.L. Horst, P.J. Shea, B.T. Oh. 1997. Remediating TNT-contaminated Soil by Soil Washing and Fenton Oxidation. The Science of the Total Environment 204:107-15.

 

Peterson, M.M., G.L. Horst, P.J. Shea, and S.D. Comfort. 1998. TNT Affects Germination and Seedling Development of Switchgrass and Smooth Bromegrass. Environmental Pollution 99:53-59.

 

PAPERS PRESENTED

 

Influence of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene on Seedling Development of Bromus inermis Leyess. 1996. M.M. Peterson, G.L. Horst, P.J. Shea, S.D. Comfort. National American Society of Agronomy Meeting.

 

Response of Tall Fescue and Switchgrass Germination and Seedling Development After Exposure to 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT). 1995. M.M. Peterson, G.L. Horst, P.J. Shea, S.D. Comfort, R.K.D. Peterson. National American Society of Agronomy Meeting.

 

Practical Approaches to Remediating TNT-Contaminated Soil by Fenton Oxidation. 1995. Z.M. Li, M.M. Peterson, S.D. Comfort, P.J. Shea, G.L. Horst. Five Hazardous Substance Research Centers' Conference.

 

Effects of TNT and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene on Tall Fescue Germination and Early Seedling Development.  M.M. Peterson, G.L. Horst, P.J. Shea, and S.D. Comfort. 1995.  Conference on Hazardous Waste Research.

 

Practical Approaches to Remediating TNT-Contaminated Soil by Fenton Oxidation.  Z.M. Li, M.M. Peterson, S.D. Comfort, P.J. Shea, and G.L. Horst. 1995. Conference on Hazardous Waste Research.

 

TNT Affects Tall Fescue Germination and Early Seedling Development.  M.M. Peterson, G.L. Horst, P.J. Shea, and S.D. Comfort. 1995.  Nebraska Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting.

 

SEMINARS

 

Germination and Early Seedling Development of  Tall Fescue, Switchgrass, and Smooth Bromegrass as Influenced by 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene and 4-Amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene. M.S. Thesis Seminar. 1996. Department of Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

 

Influence of TNT on Seedling Development of Panicum virgatum L. and Bromus inermis Leyss. 1996. Department of Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

 

Use of Cool and Warm-Season Grasses as Phytoremediators of 2, 4, 6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT). 1995. Department of Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

 

Mathematics of Turfgrass Maintenance. 1995. Nebraska Turfgrass Conference.

 

Phytoremediation of 2, 4, 6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) using Cool- and Warm-Season Grasses. 1994. Department of Agronomy, Weed Science Panel, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

 

Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society, Associate Member, 1995.

Pi Alpha Xi, Alpha Gamma Chapter, 1995.

Mary and Charles C. Cooper and Emma I. Sharpless Fellowship, 1994.

Dean's List, Spring Semester 1993, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Graduate Women in Science Award, 1993.

William A. and Edith R. Rockie Soil Science Scholarship, 1992-1993.

Alpha Zeta Honorary Agricultural Fraternity, 1992.

Soil and Water Conservation Society Scholarship, 1991-92.

Robert A. Olson Soil Science Scholarship, 1992.

Chittenden Scholarship, 1992-1995.

 

ACTIVITIES

 

President, Horticulture Graduate Student Association, UNL, 1996.

Turfgrass Journal Club Chair, Horticulture Department, UNL, 1995-96.

Graduate Representative, Horticulture Department Social Club, 1995.

Nebraska Turfgrass Field Day, 1994.

Nebraska State Fair. Environmental Significance of Turfgrasses, 1994.

 

SPECIALIZED SKILLS

 

Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometry  Subcritical Fluid Extraction Techniques

Radiation Techniques                                         High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Immunoassay Techniques                                  Soil Chemical and Physical Determinations

Soil Microbial Enzyme Techniques                      Soil Survey and Sampling Techniques