ARI M. FERRO, Ph.D.
President, Phytokinetics, Inc.
Education
Ph.D. Biochemistry, University of Utah, 1973
M.S. Biology, University of Utah, 1967
B.S. Molecular and Genetic Biology, University of Utah, 1966
Post Doctoral Experience
Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, 1975-77
Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Germany, 1974-75
Professional Experience
President, Phytokinetics, Inc., 1994 to present.
Adjunct Associate Professor, Dept. of Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology, Utah State University, 1996 to present. Phytokinetics, Inc. was founded to commercialize phytoremediation as a cost-effective alternative to conventional remediation strategies. The company was initiated based on the very encouraging bench-scale results conducted by Dr. Ferro and his colleagues at Utah State University. Phytokinetics is a privately held corporation which has a cooperative agreement with USU and has been involved in EPA sponsored programs to demonstrate the efficacy of phytoremediation (the SITE Emerging Technology and Demonstration Programs and an SBIR award). The company has succeeded in obtaining contracts to conduct large-scale clean-ups, small-scale field demonstrations, greenhouse studies, and mass-balance experiments using radiolabeled compounds. In addition to the EPA, major clients have included Parsons ES, demaximis, Chevron and Exxon. Phytokinetics is currently generating data in field and greenhouse studies which demonstrate the efficacy of phytoremediation for soils and groundwater.
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Utah, 1992-1994.
A molecular biological approach (DNA sequence analysis) was used to ascertain the phylogenetic relationships among bacterial isolates recovered from the deep subsurface. This project was part of the DOE’s deep subsurface microbiology project as contracted by Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories.
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Utah, 1984-1989.
Project Leader, Becton Dickinson Immunodiagnostics, 1978-1980.
Selected Publications
Ferro, A.M., B. Chard, M. Gefell, B. Thompson, and R. Kjelgren. 2000. Phytoremediation of organic solvents in groundwater: Pilot study at a Superfund site. In: Proceedings of the Second International Conference, Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds, Battelle Press (in press).
Ferro, A.M., S.A. Rock, J.Kennedy, J.J. Herrick, and D.L. Turner. 1999. Phytoremediation of soils contaminated with wood preservatives: Greenhouse and field evaluations. Internat. J. Phytoremed. (1:289-306).
Ferro, A.M., J. Kennedy, R. Kjelgren, J. Rieder, and S. Perrin. 1999. Toxicity assessment of volatile organic compounds in poplar trees. Internat. J. Phytoremed. 1:9-17.
Ferro, A.M., J.P. Rieder, J. Kennedy and R. Kjelgren. 1997. Phytoremediation of groundwater using poplar trees. In: Phytoremediation. C.A. Thibeault and L.M. Savage (eds.), pp. 201-212. International Business Communications, Inc., Southborough, MA.
Ferro, A., J. Kennedy, W. Doucette, S. Nelson, G. Jauregui, B. McFarland, B. Bugbee. 1997. Fate of benzene in soils planted with alfalfa: Uptake, volatilization, and degradation. In: Phytoremediation of Soil and Water Contaminants. ACS Symposium Series No. 664. E.L. Kruger, T.A. Anderson, and J.R. Coats (eds.), pp. 223-237. American Chemical Society: Washington, D.C.
Ferro, A.M., J. Kennedy, D. Knight. 1997. Greenhouse-scale evaluation of phytoremediation for soils contaminated with wood preservatives. In: In Situ and On-site Bioremediation: The Fourth International Symposium Proceedings, Volume 3. B.C. Alleman and A. Leeson (Symposium Chairs), pp. 309-314. New Orleans, LA. Battelle, Columbus, OH.
Smart, D.R., A. Ferro, K. Ritchie, B.G. Bugbee. 1995. On the use of antibiotics to reduce rhizoplane microbial populations in root physiology and ecology investigations. Physiol. Plant. 95:533-540.
Ferro, A.M., L. Stacishin, W.J. Doucette, B. Bugbee. 1994. Crested wheatgrass accelerates the degradation of pyrene in soil. . In: Emerging Technologies in Hazardous Waste Management VI. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Division, Special Symposium, p.67 American Chemical Society 19-2. Atlanta, GA.
Ferro, A.M., R.C. Sims, and B. Bugbee. 1994. Hycrest crested wheatgrass accelerates the degradation of pentachlorophenol in soil. J. Environ. Qual. 23:272-279.
Selected Non-environmental Publications
Higgins, N.P., A.M. Ferro, and B.M. Olivera. 1990. DNA topoisomerase modification. In: DNA Topology and Its Biological Effects. N.R. Cozzarelli and J.C. Wang (eds.), pp. 361-370, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Ferro, A.M., and B.M. Olivera. 1987. Intracellular pyridine nucleotide degradation and turnover. In: Coenzymes and Cofactors, Vol. 2B. D. Dolphin, R. Poulson, and O. Avramovic (eds.), pp. 25-77, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Ferro, A.M., M.C. McElwain, and B.M. Olivera. 1984. Poly(ADP-ribosylation) of DNA topisomerase I: A nuclear response to DNA-strand interruptions. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 49:683-690.
Ferro, A.M., L.H. Thompson, and B.M. Olivera. 1984. Poly(ADP-ribosylation) of DNA topisomerase I in different cell lines. In: Proteins Involved in DNA Replication. U. Hubscher and S. Spadari (eds.), pp. 441-447, Plenum Press.
Ferro, A.M., and B.M. Olivera. 1984. Poly(ADP-ribosylation) of DNA topisomerase I from calf thymus. J. Biol. Chem. 259:547-554.
Ferro, A.M., N.P. Higgins, and B.M. Olivera. 1983. Poly(ADP-ribosylation) of DNA topisomerase. J. Biol. Chem. 258:6000-6003.