Graduate Student
Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology,
Cornell University
Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, PhD student
May 2011, BS, Genetics, Ball State University
May 2011, BS, Ecology, Ball State University
Current Graduate Advisor: Christine Smart & Marc Fuchs
Recent and Current Projects
Smart Lab: http://web.pppmb.cals.cornell.edu/smart/lab/Index/research.html
Professional Experience
February 2009 - May 2011. Research assistant. Ball State University (Muncie, IN). Conducted research on the ciliated protozoan Oxtricha fallax. Supervisor: Dr. Robert Hammersmith
Summer 2010. Research Fellowship. United States Environmental Protection Agency (Cincinnati, OH). The microbiological treatment of drinking water for arsenic removal, and the characterization of microbial biofilms on lead drinking water pipes. Supervisor: Dr. Darren Lytle
Summer 2009. Nanobiotechnology Intern. Cornell University (Ithaca, NY). Conducted research at Cornell University and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY, on the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. Supervisors: Dr. Chris Smart and Dr. Harvey Hoch
Awards and Honors
April 2011- Outstanding Senior in Biology (Ball State University)
April 2011- Newell C. Cook Sr. and Jr. Scholarship
November 2010- Rhodes Scholarship Finalist for District 9
May 2009- United States Environmental Protection Agency Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Undergraduate Fellowship
Elected and Appointed Offices
2011-present Graduate Student Association & New Student Committee Member
2011-present Colloquium Committee Chair
Professional Societies and Working Groups
Golden Key International Honour Society
Alpha Lambda Delta (Honor Society)
National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Publications and Presentations
Publications:
1. C. White, M. Tancos, and D. Lytle. 2011. Microbial Community Profile of a Lead Service Line Removed from a Drinking Water Distribution System. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 77: 5557-5561.
2. M. Tancos, C. White, and D. Lytle. 2011. Quantification of Arsenic Oxidase Genes in Drinking Water Treatment Filters. In Preparation.
Presentations:
1. M. Tancos. Poster presentation at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station on the development of oligonucleotide primers for microbial detection via macroarrays and nanomechanical resonator arrays. Presented July 2009.
2. M. Tancos. PowerPoint presentation at Cornell University discussing the development of oligonucleotide primers for microbial detection via nanomechanical resonator arrays. Presented August 2009.