Raina Maier

Education: 

• Ph.D., Microbiology, 1988, Rutgers University
• B.A., Biology/Chemistry, 1979, University of Minnesota

Raina M Maier, PhD, is a Professor of Environmental Microbiology in the Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science and Director of the University of Arizona NIEHS Superfund Research Program. She also serves as Director of the University of Arizona Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining and as Deputy Director of the TRIF Water Sustainability Program. Dr. Maier is internationally known for her work on microbial surfactants (biosurfactants) including discovery of a new class of biosurfactants and of novel applications for these unique materials in remediation and green technologies. She is also recognized for her work on the relationships between microbial diversity and ecosystem function in oligotrophic environments such as carbonate caves, the Atacama desert, and mine tailings. 

Environmental research interests - Dr. Maier investigates of the ability of bacteria to survive in extremely oligotrophic environments and development of a fundamental understanding of the biological factors and processes influencing the transport and fate of bacteria and contaminants in the environment. Also the study of microbial surfactants (biosurfactants) including discovery of new biosurfactants, elucidation of the role of biosurfactants in microbial survival, and the development of potential biomedical and environmental applications for these fascinating molecules.