Joe Duris

I received my BS in Biomedical Science in 1998 and my MS in Biological Science with a focus on Environmental Microbiology from Western Michigan University 2002.  I started my career in the U.S. Geological Survey at the Michigan Water Science Center in Lansing, MI where I worked for 14 years before moving to the Pennsylvania Water Science Center in 2016.

Early in my career I worked in a molecular biology lab developing and applying PCR, ELISA, and growth assays to detect fecally-derived bacterial pathogens in water, sediment, and manure from various sources (agricultural drainage, stream water, bed sediment, agricultural soil, manure, etc). The assays developed during this time were extensively applied to understand the relation between land-use and pathogenic bacteria in agricultural settings and to determine the relation of pathogens to trace-organic chemicals of emerging concern that co-occur in the environment in many settings. In the middle 2000s, I began working on a USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Surface Water Status and Trends site. During this time, in addition to learning and applying various standard USGS water-quality methods and principles, I was involved in pilot studies evaluating the relation of mercury and antibiotic resistance, as well as assessing the status of a network of streams in Michigan for a variety of pesticides. Since then, I have worked extensively with both organic and inorganic water chemistry and have lead and been involved in multiple studies evaluating the correlation and effect of altered water chemistry on the number, type, and function of environmental and fecally-derived pathogenic bacteria.

In 2011, I became the Michigan Water Science Center’s Water Quality Specialist where I helped develop larger monitoring programs and oversaw the study design, data quality, and reporting for several local and regional USGS water-quality studies around the state and region. Throughout my time at the USGS I have been actively involved in the USGS Toxics Substances Hydrology program in evaluating the occurrence, fate, and transport of fecally-derived pathogens and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Currently, my research interests include understanding how human practices, including agriculture and urbanization, affect the occurrence, distribution, fate, and transport of nutrients, sediment, trace organic compounds, and pathogenic bacteria in surface water, and how trace contamination affects the microbial ecology of unique environments, especially as they relate to human and environmental health.  I am currently active on the USGS team that is researching the formation and toxicity of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes.

Publications

Duris, J.W., 2002, Microbial community structure in hydrocarbon impacted sediment associated with anomalous geophysical signatures:

Duris, J.W., and Beeler, S., 2008, Fecal-indicator bacteria and Escherichia coli pathogen data collected near a novel sub-irrigation water-treatment system in Lenawee County, Michigan, June-November 2007: Open-File Report 2008–1025, accessed at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20081025.

Duris, J.W., and Haack, S.K., 2005, Water-Quality Data, Huron County, Michigan 2004: DTIC Document.

Duris, J.W., Haack, S.K., and Fogarty, L.R., 2009, Gene and antigen markers of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli from Michigan and Indiana river water: Occurrence and relation to recreational water quality criteria: Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 38, no. 5, p. 1878–1886.

Duris, J.W., Reeves, H.W., and Kiesler, J.L., 2004, Atrazine concentrations in stream water and streambed sediment pore water in the St. Joseph and Galien River basins, Michigan and Indiana, May 2001-September 2003: DTIC Document.

Duris, J.W., Reif, A.G., Donna A. Crouse, and Isaacs, N.M., 2013, Factors related to occurrence and distribution of selected bacterial and protozoan pathogens in Pennsylvania streams: Water Research, v. 47, no. 1, p. 300–314.

Duris, J.W., Reif, A.G., Olson, L.E., and Johnson, H.E., 2011, Pathogenic Bacteria and Microbial-Source Tracking Markers in Brandywine Creek Basin, Pennsylvania and Delaware, 2009–10: US Geological Survey.

Duris, J.W., Rossbach, S., Atekwana, E.A., and Werkema Jr, D., 2003, Microbial community structure in a shallow hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer associated with high electrical conductivity, in EGS-AGU-EUG Joint Assembly, p. 14279.

Allen, J.P., Atekwana, E.A., Atekwana, E.A., Duris, J.W., Werkema, D.D., and Rossbach, S., 2007, The microbial community structure in petroleum-contaminated sediments corresponds to geophysical signatures: Applied and environmental microbiology, v. 73, no. 9, p. 2860–2870.

Atekwana, E.A., Atekwana, E.A., Werkema, D.D., Allen, J.P., Smart, L.A., Duris, J.W., Cassidy, D.P., Sauck, W.A., and Rossbach, S., 2004a, Evidence for microbial enhanced electrical conductivity in hydrocarbon‐contaminated sediments: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 31, no. 23.

Atekwana, E.A., Atekwana, E.A., Werkema, D.D., Allen, J.P., Smart, L.A., Duris, J.W., Cassidy, D.P., Sauck, W.A., and Rossbach, S., 2004b, Hydrology and Land Surface Studies-L23501-Evidence for inicrobial enhanced electrical conductivity in hydrocarbon-contaminated sediments (DOI 10.1029/2004GLO21359): Geophysical Research Letters, v. 31, no. 23.

Atekwana, E.A., Werkema Jr, D.D., Duris, J.W., Rossbach, S., Atekwana, E.A., Sauck, W.A., Cassidy, D.P., Means, J., and Legall, F.D., 2004c, ELECTRICAL AND ELECTROMAGNETIC METHODS-In-situ apparent conductivity measurements and microbial population distribution at a hydrocarbon-contaminated site: Geophysics, v. 69, no. 1, p. 56–63.

Atekwana, E.A., Werkema Jr, D.D., Duris, J.W., Rossbach, S., Atekwana, E.A., Sauck, W.A., Cassidy, D.P., Means, J., and Legall, F.D., 2004d, In-situ apparent conductivity measurements and microbial population distribution at a hydrocarbon-contaminated site: Geophysics, v. 69, no. 1, p. 56–63.

Bradley, P.M., Barber, L.B., Clark, J.M., Duris, J., Foreman, W., Furlong, E.T., Givens, C.E., Hubbard, L.E., Hutchinson, K.J., Journey, C.A., Keefe, S.H., and Kolpin, D.W., 2016, Pre/post-closure assessment of groundwater pharmaceutical fate in a wastewater‑facility-impacted stream reach: Science of the Total Environment, v. 568, p. 916–925.

Bradley, P.M., Barber, L.B., Duris, J.W., Foreman, W.T., Furlong, E.T., Hubbard, L.E., Hutchinson, K.J., Keefe, S.H., and Kolpin, D.W., 2014a, Riverbank filtration potential of pharmaceuticals in a wastewater-impacted stream: Environmental Pollution, v. 193, p. 173–180.

Bradley, P.M., Barber, L.B., Duris, J.W., Foreman, W.T., Furlong, E.T., Hubbard, L.E., Hutchinson, K.J., Keefe, S.H., and Kolpin, D.W., 2014b, Surface-Water to Groundwater Transport of Pharmaceuticals in a Wastewater-Impacted Stream in the US, in AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts:, p. 875.

Brennan, A.K., Hoard, C.J., Duris, J.W., Ogdahl, M.E., and Steinman, A.D., 2016, Water quality and hydrology of Silver Lake, Oceana County, Michigan, with emphasis on lake response to nutrient loading: US Geological Survey.

Brennan, A.K., Johnson, H.E., Totten, A.R., and Duris, J.W., 2015, Occurrence and Distribution of Fecal Indicator Bacteria and Gene Markers of Pathogenic Bacteria in Great Lakes Tributaries, March-October 2011: US Geological Survey.

Brigham, M.E., Duris, J.W., Wentz, D.A., Button, D.T., and Chasar, L.C., 2008, Total mercury, methylmercury, and ancillary water-quality and streamflow data for selected streams in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Florida, 2002-06: Geological Survey (US).

Cassidy, D.P., Hudak, A.J., Werkema, D.D., Atekwana, E.A., Rossbach, S., Duris, J.W., Atekwana, E.A., and Sauck, and W.A., 2002, In situ rhamnolipid production at an abandoned petroleum refinery: Soil and sediment contamination, v. 11, no. 5, p. 769–787.

Chaudhary, A., Haack, S.K., Duris, J.W., and Marsh, T.L., 2009, Bacterial and archaeal phylogenetic diversity of a cold sulfur-rich spring on the shoreline of Lake Erie, Michigan: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, v. 75, no. 15, p. 5025–5036.

Drexler, J.Z., Johnson, H.E., Duris, J., and Krauss, K.W., 2014, Marsh Soils as Potential Sinks for Bacteroides Fecal Indicator Bacteria, Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, Georgetown, SC, USA: Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, v. 225, no. 2, p. 1–7.

Fogarty, L.R., and Duris, J.W., 2007, Screening for the Pesticides Atrazine, Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, Metolachlor, and Simazine in Selected Michigan Streams, March-November 2005: Geological Survey (US).

Fogarty, L.R., Duris, J.W., and Aichele, S.S., 2005, Preliminary survey of antibiotic-resistant fecal indicator bacteria and pathogenic Escherichia coli from river-water samples collected in Oakland County, Michigan, 2003: Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5058, accessed at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20055058.

Fogarty, L.R., Duris, J.W., Crowley, S.L., and Hardigan, N., 2007, Antibiotic-Resistant Fecal Bacteria, Antibiotics, and Mercury in Surface Waters of Oakland County, Michigan, 2005-2006: US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey.

Francy, D.S., Stelzer, E.A., Duris, J.W., Brady, A.M., Harrison, J.H., Johnson, H.E., and Ware, M.W., 2013, Predictive models for Escherichia coli concentrations at inland lake beaches and relationship of model variables to pathogen detection: Applied and environmental microbiology, v. 79, no. 5, p. 1676–1688.

Givens, C.E., Kolpin, D.W., Borchardt, M.A., Duris, J., Moorman, T.B., and Spencer, S.K., 2016, Detection of hepatitis E virus and other livestock-related pathogens in Iowa streams: Science of the Total Environment, v. 566–567, p. 1042–1051.

Haack, S.K., and Duris, J.W., 2008, Chemical and microbiological water quality of subsurface agricultural drains during a field trial of liquid dairy manure effluent application rate and varying tillage practices, Upper Tiffin Watershed, southeastern Michigan: Open-File Report 2008–1189, accessed at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20081189.

Haack, S.K., and Duris, J.W., 2013, Dynamics of fecal indicator bacteria, bacterial pathogen genes, and organic wastewater contaminants in the Little Calumet River–Portage Burns Waterway, Indiana: Journal of Great Lakes Research, v. 39, no. 2, p. 317–326.

Haack, S.K., Duris, J.W., Fogarty, L.R., Kolpin, D.W., Focazio, M.J., Furlong, E.T., and Meyer, M.T., 2009a, Comparing wastewater chemicals, indicator bacteria concentrations, and bacterial pathogen genes as fecal pollution indicators: Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 38, no. 1, p. 248–258.

Haack, S.K., Duris, J.W., Fogarty, L.R., Kolpin, D.W., Focazio, M.J., Furlong, E.T., and Meyer, M.T., 2009b, Comparing wastewater chemicals, indicator bacteria concentrations, and bacterial pathogen genes as fecal pollution indicators: Journal of environmental quality, v. 38, no. 1, p. 248–258.

Haack, S.K., Duris, J.W., Kolpin, D.W., Focazio, M.J., Meyer, M.T., Johnson, H.E., Oster, R.J., and Foreman, W.T., 2016, Contamination with bacterial zoonotic pathogen genes in US streams influenced by varying types of animal agriculture: Science of The Total Environment, v. 563, p. 340–350.

Haack, S.K., Duris, J.W., Kolpin, D.W., Fogarty, L.R., Johnson, H.E., Gibson, K.E., Focazio, M., Schwab, K.J., Hubbard, L.E., and Foreman, W.T., 2015, Genes indicative of zoonotic and swine pathogens are persistent in stream water and sediment following a swine manure spill: Applied and environmental microbiology, v. 81, no. 10, p. 3430–3441.

Hager, C., Atekwana, E.A., Gorby, Y.A., Duris, J.W., Allen, J.P., Atekwana, E.A., Ownby, C., and Rossbach, S., 2007, Are Microbial Nanowires Responsible for Geoelectrical Changes at Hydrocarbon Contaminated Sites?, in AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts:, p. 5.

Hoard, C.J., Holtschlag, D.J., Duris, J.W., James, D.A., and Obenauer, D.J., 2012, Comparison of Streamflow and Water-Quality Data Collection Techniques for the Saginaw River, Michigan: US Geological Survey.

Hubbard, L.E., Keefe, S.H., Kolpin, D.W., Barber, L.B., Duris, J., Hutchinson, K.J., and Bradley, P.M., 2016, Understanding the hydrologic impacts of wastewater treatment plant discharge to shallow groundwater: before and after plant shutdown: Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, v. 2, p. 864–874.

Werkema, D.D., Atekwana, E.A., Atekwana, E.A., Duris, J., Rossbach, S., Allen, J., Smart, L., and Sauck, W.A., 2004, Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2004:

Werkema Jr, D.D., Atekwana, E.A., Atekwana, E.A., Duris, J., Rossbach, S., Allen, J., Smart, L., and Sauck, W.A., 2004, Laboratory and field results linking high bulk conductivities to the microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons, in 17th EEGS Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems.: