James 'Jake' McKinlay

After graduating from UBC I entered the professional MSc program at Michigan State University. With Prof. Greg Zeikus, I researched how electrons can be harvested from bacteria to reduce metals and produce electricity. Separately, I spent a Summer as an intern at Pfizer in Groton, CT identifying microbes that could carry out specific steps in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. I stayed on at MSU to work towards a PhD with Prof. Zeikus and Prof. Claire Vieille. I used stable isotopes to examine the metabolism of a bacterium that can convert sugars into a precursors for industrial resins and solvents, with the potential to augment or even replace a petrochemical industry with one based on renewable resources. After obtaining my PhD I moved to Seattle to conduct postdoctoral research with Prof. Caroline Harwood at the University of Washington. There I studied a bacterium that can convert light and agricultural waste into hydrogen gas, a potential biofuel. In 2011 I was hired into my current faculty position in the Department of Biology at Indiana University. I run a research lab where we coax bacteria to feed each other and form simple cooperative communities that do useful things, like making biofuels. I also teach undergraduate and graduate courses in microbiology. Throughout, I have used my skills as an illustrator in my research and teaching. I am currently working on an illustrated storyline to share the wonders of the microbial world with learners of all ages. Highlights are posted to my twitter page as it comes together.