The proposed research will investigate two microbial communities that are of 
direct relevance to Department of Energy interests. One is the microbial 
community associated with the in situ bioremediation of uranium-contaminated 
groundwater. The second is a microbial community that harvests energy from waste 
organic matter in the form of electricity. These studies will address DOE needs 
for (1) remediation of metals and radionuclides at DOE sites and (2) the 
development of cleaner forms of energy and biomass conversion to energy. Our 
previous studies have demonstrated that the microbial communities involved in 
uranium bioremediation and energy harvesting are both dominated by 
microorganisms in the family Geobacteraceae and that the organisms in this 
family are responsible for uranium bioremediation and electron transfer to 
electrodes. The initial objectives of this study are to (1) describe the genetic 
potential of the Geobacteraceae that predominate in the environments of 
interest; (2) identify conserved patterns of gene expression within the 
Geobacteraceae family in response to a range of environmental conditions; (3) 
begin to identify mechanisms controlling the expression of key genes related to 
survival, growth, and activity in subsurface environments and on electrodes; and 
(4) use the results from subobjectives 1-3 to develop a conceptual model for 
predicting gene expression of Geobacteraceae in the environments of interest. 
This will serve as the basis for a subsequent simulation model of the growth and 
activity of Geobacteraceae in the subsurface and on electrodes.