Research

Research background

• Marine Inorganic Chemistry and biogeochemistry - the quantification of inorganic elements in marine systems, the biogeochemical cycling of metals and non-metallic inorganic nutrients, and the paleo-ocean reconstruction.
  I studied how the environmental variables may affect intracellular metal stoichiometry in marine phytoplankton, and how it relates to metalloenzymes.
  
• Environmental Bioinorganic Chemistry - the study of the behavior and function of inorganic and organometallic compounds in biological systems.
  I studied the production and exudation of thiol containing small peptides by marine phytoplankton in response to the exposure to environmentally relevant levels of heavy metals, the abiotic and biological degradation of these thiol compounds in natural seawater, and the enzyamtic and genetic control of the production of these compounds.
  
• Organic Pollutant Chemistry - the study of the chemical structure, degradability and toxicity (bioactivity) of organic pollutants in environment.
  I studied the toxicity of selected herbicides and their hydrolysis products to freshwater algae, bacteria and zooplankton, and applied the Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSARs) in predicting toxicity to freshwater algae and zooplankton.
  I also participated in reductive degradation of azo dyes with zero valent iron powder study.

Research interests

• What is the connection between thiol production and intracellular metal contents? How to investigate on molecular and cellular level?
• How to distinguish intracellular and extracellular elements, and build a better model for uptake?
• What enzymes and genes are involved in metal transfer and storage, e.g. Cd, Zn and Cu?
• Does and how does cells synthesize CdS crystals, and how can we use this physiology?
• How would the manufactured nano-particles (CdSe, nano-Fe, nano-C) affect cell growth and physiology?
• How are metals in aerosol dust and nano-particles bioavailable?
• Is coastal water a source or sink of volatile thiol compounds e.g. DMS?
• How can we convert science into technology for environmental pollution prevention, remediation, and sustainable development?

Courses/Teaching

Publications

• Wei, L. P., R. M. Sherrell. 2005, Biological stoichiometry: Are "extracellular" phosphorus and metals on phytoplankton really adsorbed? In prep.
  
• Wei, L. P., R. M. Sherrell. 2005, Changing bioactive metal contents in marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii during cell growth, To be submitted.
• Wei, L. P., R. M. Sherrell. 2005, Effect of CO2 on trace metal contents in marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii, To be submitted.
  
• Wei, L. P., B. A. Ahner. 2005, Sources and sinks of dissolved phytochelatin in natural seawater, Limnology and Oceanography, 50(1):13-22.
  
• Wei, L. P., R. M. Sherrell, 2004, The interplay of pH and CO2 on intracellular metal content in Thalassiosira weissflogii , Eos Tran. AGU, 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract B51D-04.
  
• Wei, L., R. M. Sherrell, 2003,Cadmium as a nutrient in the modern and paleo-ocean: what controls its uptake by phytoplankton? Eos Tran. AGU, 84(52), Ocean Sci. Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS31L-05
  
• Dupont, C. L., T. J. Goepfert, P. Lo, L. P. Wei, B. A. Ahner. 2004, Diurnal cycling of glutathione in marine phytoplankton: Field and culture studies, Limnology and Oceanography, 49 (4):991-996.
  
• Wei, L. P., J. Donat, G. Fones, B. A. Ahner. 2003, Interaction between Cd, Cu and Zn influence particulate phytochelatin concentration in marine phytoplankton: Laboratory results and preliminary field data, Environmental Science and Technology, 37:3609-3618.
  
• Ahner, B. A., L. P. Wei, et al. 2002, Glutathione and other low molecular weight thiols in marine phytoplankton under metal stress, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 232: 93-103.
  
• Wei, L. P., H. X. Yu, J. S. Cao, Y Sun, J. F. Feng, L. S. Wang. 1999, Determination and prediction of partition coefficient and toxicity for sulfonylurea herbicides and their degradation products, Chemosphere, 38 (7) 1713-1719.
  
• Cao, J. S., L. P. Wei, Q. G. Huang, L. S. Wang, S. K. Han. 1999, Reducing degradation of azo dye by zero-valent iron in aqueous solution, Chemosphere, 38(3) 565-571.
  
• Wei, L. P., H. X. Yu, Y Sun, J. F. Fen, L. S. Wang. 1998, The effects of three sulfonylurea herbicides and their degradation products on the green algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Chemosphere, 37 (4) 747-751.
  

Liping's Resume/CV

 Last updated on Jan 5, 2006 by Liping Wei