Characterization of multiple trichloroethene, cis-dichloroethene and 1,1-dichloroethene degrading propanotrophic communities ↗
Faghihinezhad, M., Eshghdoostkhatami, Z., & Cupples, A. M. Journal of Environmental Management, 408, 129957.
Research and recognition
Peer-reviewed research, presentations, and recognition.
Published work and professional contributions across environmental microbiology, bioremediation, and water systems.
01 / Publications
Peer-reviewed journal papers
Characterization of propanotrophic enrichments from agricultural soils capable of 1,4-dioxane biodegradation to sub-μg/L levels ↗
Eshghdoostkhatami, Z., Li, Z., Faghihinezhad, M., & Cupples, A. M. Science of the Total Environment, 1005, 180824.
Identification of the dominant methanotrophs in trichloroethene degrading enrichment cultures from multiple sources ↗
Faghihinezhad, M., Eshghdoostkhatami, Z., Bernstein, A., & Cupples, A. M. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 499, 140268.
Biodegradation rates of low concentrations of 1,4-dioxane in impacted site sediments and agricultural soils and an investigation of the microorganisms and genes involved ↗
Li, Z., Eshghdoostkhatami, Z., & Cupples, A. M. Environmental Pollution, 381, 126513.
Occurrence of Rhodococcus sp. RR1 prmA and Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 prmA across microbial communities and their enumeration during 1,4-dioxane biodegradation ↗
Eshghdoostkhatami, Z., & Cupples, A. M. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 219, 106908.
02 / Book chapter
Wastewater and sludge reuse
Eshghdoostkhatami, Z. (2026). “Policy framework for wastewater and sludge reuse: Existing directives and future recommendations” ↗. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry. Springer Nature. Published online February 13, 2026.
03 / Selected presentations
Sharing research with scientific and applied audiences
“Characterization of co-metabolic 1,4-dioxane degrading enrichment cultures during growth on propane, 1-propanol or 2-propanol.” Poster and five-minute presentation; Third Place Student Poster Award.
“An examination of growth-supporting substrates for the co-metabolic biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane.” Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“Development of propanotrophic cultures for 1,4-dioxane biodegradation and identification of the propane monooxygenases involved.” Platform presentation.
“A newly designed quantitative PCR assay implicates a Rhodococcus sp. RR1 prmA-like gene in 1,4-dioxane metabolism.” Poster.
04 / Recognition
Awards and fellowships
Michigan State University Graduate School. Awarded in 2026 to support doctoral research in water and sustainability.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University.
Battelle International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds.
NSF-supported research on propanotrophs and groundwater contaminants.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University.