John Kilbane Research Professor of Biology
	B.S.:	The Ohio State University
	Ph.D.:	Tufts University
	e-mail:	kilbane@iit.edu

Professional Interests

My research focuses on applying biotechnology to solve various problems in the energy industry. Research topics include the isolation and characterization of microbial cultures with unique biochemical abilities, biodesulfurization of petroleum, using genetic engineering and metabolic engineering to develop improved biocatalysts, bioconversion of organic material into methane, ethanol or biodiesel, genetic expression studies in Rhodococcus, Thermus, and methanotrophs, development of genetic tests to detect and quantify microorganisms associated with corrosion, development of novel techniques to characterize and access microbial biodiversity, and the bioremediation of contaminated soil and water.

Representative Publications

• "Microbial Biocatalysts to Upgrade Fossil Fuels", Kilbane II, J.J. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 17: 305-314 (2006). "Rapid Detection and High-Resolution Discrimination of the Genus Streptomyces Based on 16S-23S rDNA Spacer Region and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis", Park, H.-S., and J.J. Kilbane II. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology 33: 289-297 (2006). "New Method to Characterize Microbial Diversity Using Flow Cytometry", Park, H.-S., R. Schumacher, and J.J. Kilbane II. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology 32: 94-102 (2005). "Quantifying the Contribution of Various Bacterial Groups to Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion", Kilbane II, J.J., B. Bogan, and B. Lamb. Corrosion2005, Paper 05491, NACE International, Houston, TX pp. 1-9 (2005).
  
  

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