Events & Outreach

PEI Faculty Seminar: “Forever Chemicals No More: Harnessing the Novel Feammox Bacterium for PFAS Defluorination”

Peter Jaffé, the William L. Knapp ’47 Professor of Civil Engineering and professor of civil and environmental engineering, will present “Forever Chemicals No More: Harnessing the Novel Feammox Bacterium for PFAS Defluorination.” This event will be held online via Zoom webinar — register online in advance to receive a webinar link.

Jaffé will recount his research group’s discovery of the novel bacterium Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6, which has the surprising ability to degrade the group of chemical pollutants known as per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). Dubbed “forever chemicals” for their incredible molecular stability, these compounds are found in many consumer products and are associated with various health effects, including cancer. Yet, Jaffé’s research has shown that A6 can break PFAS’ chemical bonds through a process called Feammox. Jaffé will discuss his ongoing work, how a specific gene expression gives A6 its power, and how the bacterium could be harnessed to clean up water, soil and sediments contaminated by PFAS.

Bess Ward, the William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences and the Princeton Environmental Institute, will lead a discussion and Q&A after the main presentation.

Jaffé is the second speaker in the Fall 2020 PEI Faculty Seminar Series, which is open to the public. Additional speakers and dates in this series are:

Sept. 15

“Eco-Swarāj: Can India Achieve Environmental Self-Rule?”
Meera Subramanian, 2019-20 PEI Barron Visiting Professor in the Environment and the Humanities

Nov. 3

“Monster. A Fugue in Fire and Ice”
Anne McClintock, the A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies

Dec. 1

“Understanding Species Responses to Climate Change: The Role of Population and Community Ecology”
Jonathan Levine, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology