Benjamin C. Stark , Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

Office: 298 Life Sciences Building
Office Hours: 8-5, M-F
Phone: 312.567.3488
Fax: 312.567.3494
Email: starkb@iit.edu
Web: click here

Expertise

molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, genetic engineering of bacteria, bacterial hemoglobin

Education

B.S. Univ. of Michigan, 1971
M.Ph. Yale University, 1974
Ph.D. Yale University, 1977

Curriculum Vitae

Research & Major Accomplishments

Molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin, a novel bacterial hemoglobin; use of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin to genetically engineer improved biochemical properties of diverse bacteria.

Discovery of the first RNA known to be enzymatic; discovery of enhancement of productivity of recombinant organisms engineered to express the bacterial hemoglobin gene

Current Projects

Investigation of functions of bacterial hemoglobin in genetically engineered bacteria
Engineering of useful bacteria using bacterial hemoglobin to improve growth and productivity
Engineering bacteria for improved biodesulfurization of petroleum

Awards/Honors

1968 William J. Branstrom Freshman Prize, Univ. of Michigan
1969,70,71 James B. Angell Scholar, Univ. of Michigan
1970 Phi Beta Kappa, Univ. of Michigan
1971 Bachelor of Science Degree with high distinction and highest honors in Cellular Biology,
1971 The Phi Sigma Award in Biology, Univ. of Michigan
1971-74 National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
1977-78 National Science Foundation Energy-related Postdoctoral Fellowship
1988 Lewis College (IIT) Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
1988 Lewis College (IIT) Teaching Excellence Award
1988 IIT (university-wide) Teaching Excellence Award
1996 William C. Staszak award, Oak Park Education Foundation, Oak Park, IL
1999 Person of the Millennium, IIT Millennium Project
2013 Honor Award for University Research by the American Academy of Environmental Engineering and Scientists (AAEES)

Patents

Books

Selected Publications

Dennison, S. G., P. O'Brien, S. Gopalkrishnan, and B. C. Stark, "Enhancement of aerobic degradation of benzoate and 2-chlorobenzoate by adapted activated sludge," Microbiol. Research 165, 687-694 (2010).

Anand, A., B. T. Duk, S. Singh, M. Y. Akbas, D. A. Webster, B. C. Stark, and K. L. Dikshit, "Redox mediated interactions of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin [VHb] with OxyR: novel regulation of VHb biosynthesis under oxidative stress," Biochem. J. 426, 271-280 (2010).

Stark, B. C., "Bacterial Genetics," Ency. of Agricult., Food, and Biol. Engin., 2nd Ed., 91-95 (2010).

Sanny, T., M. Arnaldos, S. A. Kunkel, K. R. Pagilla, and B. C. Stark, "Engineering of ethanolic E. coli with the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene enhances ethanol production from both glucose and xylose," Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 88, 1103-1112 (2010).

Stark, B. C., K. L. Dikshit, and K. R. Pagilla, "Recent Advances in Understanding the Structure, Function, and Biotechnological Usefulness of the Hemoglobin from the Bacterium Vitreoscilla," Biotechnol. Lett. 33, 1705-1714 (2011).

Akbas, M. Y., T. Doruk, S. Ozdemir, and B. C. Stark, "Further investigation of the mechanism of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) protection from oxidative stress in Escherichia coli," Biologia 66, 735-740 (2011).

Arnaldos, M., S. A. Kunkel, J. Wang, K. R. Pagilla, and B. C. Stark, "Vitreoscilla hemoglobin enhances ethanol production by Escherichia coli in a variety of growth media," Biomass & Bioenergy 37, 1-8 (2012).

Abanoz, K., B. C. Stark, and M. Y. Akbas, "Enhancement of ethanol production from potato processing waste water by engineering Escherichia coli using Vitreoscilla hemoglobin," Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 55, 436-443 (2012).

Stark, B. C., K. L. Dikshit, and K. R. Pagilla, "The Biochemistry of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin," Computat. Struct. Biotechnol. J. 3, e201210002 (2012).

Ratakonda, S., A. Anand, K. L. Dikshit, B. C. Stark, and A. J. Howard, "Crystallographic structure determination of B10 mutants of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin: role of Tyr29 (B10) in the structure of the ligand binding site," Acta Crystallograp. Sect. F (in press).

Arnaldos, M., S. A. Kunkel, B. C. Stark, and K. R. Pagilla, "Enhanced Heme Protein Expression by Ammonia-Oxidizing Communities Acclimated to Low Dissolved Oxygen Conditions," Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. (in press).

Pan, J., F. Wu, J. Wang, L. Yu, N. H. Khayyat, B. C. Stark, and J. J. Kilbane II, "Enhancement of desulfurization activity by enzymes of the Rhodococcus dsz operon through coexpression of high sulfur peptides and directed evolution," Fuel (in press).

Professional Society Memberships

Editorial Board Service

Professional Society Service

Grants

Community Service

"Global Village" scientist volunteer in Oak Park, IL District 97 schools for over 20 years