Earth Sciences Division Staff: Sharon E. Borglin

Biographical Summary

Dr. Borglin received her B. S. degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Davis.  Her M.S. and Ph.D degrees in Mechanical and Environmental Engineering were received from the University of California, Santa Barbara.  Dr. Borglin came to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1996 as a Lawrence Post-Doctoral Fellow, transferring to a Staff Engineering Associate position in 2000.  She also has held an adjunct faculty and senior researcher position and the University of the Pacific since March 2005.  Her areas of specialty are phospholipid fatty acid analysis of algae and bacteria in relationship to water quality, bioremediation, and bioenergy projects, as well as water and air quality monitoring in support of ecosystem enhancement projects and biofuels production.

Research Interests

• Water quality
  • Understanding microbial community structure of biological systems by analyzing Bacterial and Algal Signature lipid biomarkers
  • Fate and transport of endocrine disrupting compounds in agricultural drainage systems and wastewater treatment plants
  • Chemical speciation of selenium in algae
  • Scientific support of Dissolved oxygen TMDL in San Joaquin River

• Bioremediation
  • Detection of chemical changes in phospholipid fatty acids during stress response of metal reducing bacteria
  • Accelerating biodegradation in municipal solid waste landfills
  • Phenotypic characterization of metal reducing bacteria

Education

• PhD  University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Mechanical and Environmental Engineering
  • November 1995
  • Dissertation Title:  The Desorption of Hexachlorobenzene from Detroit River Sediments
• MS  University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Mechanical and Environmental Engineering
  • April 1993
  • Thesis Title:  The Adsorption of Hexachlorobenzene to Detroit River Sediments
• BS  University of California, Davis
  • September 1988
  • Chemistry, minor in Environmental Toxicology

Fellowships and Awards

• Department of Energy Outstanding Mentor, 2002
• Mini-grant, Earth Sciences Division-LBL, 2002
• Lawrence Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1996-1999
• Graduate Dissertation Fellowship, 1995
• Graduate Research Mentorship Program, 1993-1994
• Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, 1992-1993
• Engineering in Training Certificate, (EIT), 1995
• SPOT award for Laboratory Women’s Forum participation, 2004

Volunteer Activities

• Center for Science and Engineering Education, Lawrence Berkeley Nat'l Lab
• Board of Directors, Regional Parks Foundation, Aug 2003-present
• Mentor and Coach, First Lego League Robotics team, 2002 challenge
• Laboratory Women’s Forum, Sept. 2004.