A Conversation With Michelle Lorah
Dr. Michelle Lorah is a Research Hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center where she leads the Fate and Bioremediation Team. Michelle has a central role in PFAS research at the USGS as a co-lead for the national PFAS Integrated Science Team under the Environmental Health Program. Michelle has extensive experience in studying biodegradation processes, determining environmental factors controlling fate of contaminants in different environments, and developing bioremediation technologies. She received a Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry through the Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences Program at the University of Maryland, M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia, and B.S. in Geosciences with a minor in Marine Science from Penn State.
Could you provide a brief, high-level overview of some of your current research projects?
PFAS, PFAS, and more PFAS… We are still conducting research on bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, including at a TCE DNAPL site, but much of our research has been directed at understanding PFAS occurrence and fate in the environment under different hydrogeologic and environmental conditions, as well as with PFAS mixtures from different PFAS source types. A large part of my research on PFAS fate has been on evaluating biodegradation under natural conditions and the potential to apply the WBC-2 culture to enhance degradation for bioremediation applications.
What inspired you to focus on PFAS and bioremediation in your research? What other contaminants are interesting to you?
PFAS research was the next challenge in a series of halogenated contaminants. It made sense to try to apply what we have learned over the years for chlorinated contaminants to PFAS. The widespread occurrence and national concern for effects of this contamination is a strong driver for investigation of potential solutions.
Why do you think the WBC-2 KB-1 Plus culture is so special?
I think what makes the WBC-2 culture unique is the diversity that it still contains after 20 some years of growing in a laboratory and its apparent resilience to changes in environmental conditions.
Can you share a moment in your career when your research made a real-world impact?
The first moment in my career when I thought we could make a difference with biodegradation was seeing field data from the first pilot test application of WBC-2 that we did. A passive flow through barrier constructed over a seep area in a wetland and inoculated with WBC-2 was successful in biodegrading a mix of chlorinated solvents.
What advice would you give to students and others hoping to pursue a career in environmental science?
Stay curious and never underestimate microbes.
How do you stay hopeful and motivated in the face of such challenging environmental issues?
Discussions with colleagues and reading the great science continuously being published.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your job?
Yoga, bird-watching, hiking, reading, and family time.
