Jason M. Tor

I am an Associate Professor of Microbiology in the School of Natural Science at Hampshire College. My research and teaching focuses on geomicrobiology and life in space.

Education
Ph.D. – Microbiology – University of Massachusetts – Amherst Thesis: Anaerobic Metabolism of organic compounds by hyperthermophilic microorganisms. Advisor: Derek R. Lovley

M.S. – Soil Microbiology – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Thesis: Trifluralin degradation under microbiologically induced nitrate and Fe(III) reducing conditions. Advisor: Gerald K. Sims

B.S. – Soil Science – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Thesis: Effects of acetolactate synthase inhibitors on nitrifying bacteria. Advisor: Gerald K. Sims

Courses
Spring, 2010 NS-0290 Food Microbiology NS-0396 Zymurgy

Previous Courses

NS-0216 Compost Science and Sustainable Soil Fertility NS-0232 Microbial Ecology NS-118T Soil: Science and Society NS-0146 How Microbes Rule the World NS-0257 The Microbial Farm NS-0379 Research in Environmental Microbiology NS-0152 Infections of Leisure NS-0228 Living on the Edge: Microbial Life in Extreme Environments NS-0256 Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry NS-0262 Biochemistry NS-0142 The Unknown Microbial Majority NS-0252 Geomicrobiology NS-0119 Culturing the Unculturable NS-0256 Soil Science NS-0170 Kitchen Ecology NS-0264 Environmental Microbiology NS-0290 Food Microbiology NS-0396 Zymurgy

Research
My research is currently focused on the geomicrobiology of life in extreme environments. Current projects in my laboratory are directed at describing the microbial contributions to rock varnish formation, hypolithic communities, and sulfate reduction in alkaline hypersaline environments.

Grants
Tor, JM. 2008. Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation. Sabbatical Support for Geomicrobiology Research in Death Valley National Park. Awarded: $5,600.00

Jarvis, C.J. and Tor, J.M. 2006. National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education. CCLI: Discovering Science through Fermentation: Equipment for an Investigative Approach. Proposal #0633121. Awarded: $25,805.00

Tor, JM and Jarvis, CJ. 2004. National Science Foundation, Division of Biological Infrastructure. MRI: Acquisition of a Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorter and an Ultracentrifuge for Collaborative Research and Teaching at Hampshire College. Proposal #0618476. Awarded: $44,480.00

Professional Affiliations
American Society for Microbiology American Association for the Advancement of Science International Society for Microbial Ecology American Cheese Society

Contact Information
Jason M. Tor, Ph.D. School of Natural Science Hampshire College 893 West St. Amherst, MA 01002 Office: 413-559-5323 FAX: 413-559-5448 jtor@hampshire.edu