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Investigating the effect of oil spills
on the environment and public health.
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Wei-Chun Chin

University of California Merced

School of Engineering

5200 N. Lake Road
Science & Engineering 2, Suite 315
Merced, CA  95343  

wchin2@ucmerced.edu

Project List:

Aggregation and Degradation of Dispersants and Oil by Microbial Exopolymers 2 (ADDOMEx-2): Towards a synthesis of process and pathways of marine oil snow formation

Year 8-10 Research Grants (RFP-VI)Role: Co-Principal Investigator, Task Co-Lead

Aggregation and Degradation of Dispersants and Oil by Microbial Exopolymers (ADDOMEx)

Year 5-7 Consortia Grants (RFP-IV)Role: Co-Principal Investigator, Task Co-Lead, Task Co-Lead

Publications & Presentations:

Journal Articles - 20

2021

Chen, C. - S., Shiu, R. - F., Hsieh, Y. - Y., Xu, C., Vazquez, C. I., Cui, Y., et al. (2021). Stickiness of extracellular polymeric substances on different surfaces via magnetic tweezers. Science of The Total Environment, 757, 143766.
Quigg, A., Santschi, P. H., Xu, C., Ziervogel, K., Kamalanathan, M., Chin, W. - C., et al. (2021). Aggregation and Degradation of Dispersants and Oil by Microbial Exopolymers (ADDOMEx): Toward a Synthesis of Processes and Pathways of Marine Oil Snow Formation in Determining the Fate of Hydrocarbons. Front. Mar. Sci., 8, E642160.
Sun, L., Xu, C., Lin, P., Quigg, A., Chin, W. - C., & Santschi, P. H. (2021). Photo-oxidation of proteins facilitates the preservation of high molecular weight dissolved organic nitrogen in the ocean. Marine Chemistry, 229, 103907.

2020

Santschi, P. H., Xu, C., Schwehr, K. A., Lin, P., Sun, L., Chin, W. - C., et al. (2020). Can the protein/carbohydrate (P/C) ratio of exopolymeric substances (EPS) be used as a proxy for their 'stickiness' and aggregation propensity? Marine Chemistry, 218, 103734.
Shiu, R. - F., Chiu, M. - H., Vazquez, C. I., Tsai, Y. - Y., Le, A., Kagiri, A., et al. (2020). Protein to carbohydrate (P/C) ratio changes in microbial extracellular polymeric substances induced by oil and Corexit. Marine Chemistry, 223, 103789.
Shiu, R. - F., Vazquez, C. I., Chiang, C. - Y., Chiu, M. - H., Chen, C. - S., Ni, C. - W., et al. (2020). Nano- and microplastics trigger secretion of protein-rich extracellular polymeric substances from phytoplankton. Science of The Total Environment, 748, 141469.
Shiu, R. - F., Vazquez, C. I., Tsai, Y. - Y., Torres, G. V., Chen, C. - S., Santschi, P. H., et al. (2020). Nano-plastics induce aquatic particulate organic matter (microgels) formation. Science of The Total Environment, 706, 135681.

2019

Chiu, M. - H., Vazquez, C. I., Shiu, R. - F., Le, C., Sanchez, N. R., Kagiri, A., et al. (2019). Impact of exposure of crude oil and dispersant (Corexit) on aggregation of extracellular polymeric substances. Science of The Total Environment, 657, 1535–1542.
Kamalanathan, M., Chiu, M. - H., Bacosa, H., Schwehr, K., Tsai, S. - M., Doyle, S., et al. (2019). Role of Polysaccharides in DiatomThalassiosira pseudonanaand its Associated Bacteria in Hydrocarbon Presence. Plant Physiol., 180(4), 1898–1911.
Sun, L., Chin, W. - C., Chiu, M. - H., Xu, C., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., et al. (2019). Sunlight induced aggregation of dissolved organic matter: Role of proteins in linking organic carbon and nitrogen cycling in seawater. Science of The Total Environment, 654, 872–877.
Xu, C., Chin, W. - C., Lin, P., Chen, H., Chiu, M. - H., Waggoner, D. C., et al. (2019). Comparison of microgels, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) determined in seawater with and without oil. Marine Chemistry, 215, 103667.
Xu, C., Lin, P., Zhang, S., Sun, L., Xing, W., Schwehr, K. A., et al. (2019). The interplay of extracellular polymeric substances and oil/Corexit to affect the petroleum incorporation into sinking marine oil snow in four mesocosms. Science of The Total Environment, 693, 133626.

2018

Bacosa, H. P., Kamalanathan, M., Chiu, M. - H., Tsai, S. - M., Sun, L., Labonté, J. M., et al. (2018). Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) producing and oil degrading bacteria isolated from the northern Gulf of Mexico. PLoS ONE, 13(12), e0208406.
Schwehr, K. A., Xu, C., Chiu, M. - H., Zhang, S., Sun, L., Lin, P., et al. (2018). Protein: Polysaccharide ratio in exopolymeric substances controlling the surface tension of seawater in the presence or absence of surrogate Macondo oil with and without Corexit. Marine Chemistry, 206, 84–92.
Sun, L., Chiu, M. - H., Xu, C., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., Bacosa, H., et al. (2018). The effects of sunlight on the composition of exopolymeric substances and subsequent aggregate formation during oil spills. Marine Chemistry, 203(June 2018), 49–54.
Xu, C., Zhang, S., Beaver, M., Lin, P., Sun, L., Doyle, S. M., et al. (2018). The role of microbially-mediated exopolymeric substances (EPS) in regulating Macondo oil transport in a mesocosm experiment. Marine Chemistry, 206, 52–61.
Xu, C., Zhang, S., Beaver, M., Wozniak, A., Obeid, W., Lin, Y., et al. (2018). Decreased sedimentation efficiency of petro- and non-petro-carbon caused by a dispersant for Macondo surrogate oil in a mesocosm simulating a coastal microbial community. Marine Chemistry, 206, 34–43.

2017

Chiu, M. - H., Garcia, S. G., Hwang, B., Claiche, D., Sanchez, G., Aldayafleh, R., et al. (2017). Corexit, oil and marine microgels. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 122(1-2), 376–378.
Sun, L., Xu, C., Zhang, S., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., Quigg, A., et al. (2017). Light-induced aggregation of microbial exopolymeric substances. Chemosphere, 181, 675–681.

2016

Quigg, A., Passow, U., Chin, W. - C., Xu, C., Doyle, S., Bretherton, L., et al. (2016). The role of microbial exopolymers in determining the fate of oil and chemical dispersants in the ocean: Interactions of microbial exopolymers in oil and chemical dispersants. Limnol. Oceanogr., 1(1), 3–26.

Conference Presentations - 25

2020

Santschi, P., Xu, C., Schwehr, K. A., Lin, P., Sun, L., Chin, W. - C., et al. (2020). Can the protein/carbohydrate (P/C) ratio of exopolymeric substances (EPS) be used as a proxy for its 'stickiness' and other biophysical properties? In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020. San Diego, CA : 02/16/20-02/21/20.

2019

Chin, W. - C. (2019). Oil spill and microbial extracellular polymeric substances. In 2019 International Conference on Environmental Quality Concern, Control, and Conservation. Kaohsiung, Taiwan : 05/23/19-05/25/19.
Chin, W., Vazquez, C., Tsai, S., Xu, C., Kamalanathan, M., Bacosa, H., et al. (2019). Impacts of Crude Oil and Corexit on Extracellular Polymeric Substances: Their Production and Chemical Composition. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19.
Lin, P., Xu, C., Passow, U., Chin, W., Chen, H., Chiu, M., et al. (2019). Comparison of Exopolymeric Substances (EPS), Transparent Exopolymeric Particles (TEP) and Microgels in Mesocosms and Batch Experiments with Macondo Oil Water Accommodated Fraction. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19: Poster.
Sun, L., Chin, W., Chiu, M., Xu, C., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., et al. (2019). Sunlight Induced Aggregation of Dissolved Organic Matter in Seawater: Role of Proteins in Biologically Mediated Processes. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19.
White, A. R., Jalali-Mousavi, M., Bacosa, H. P., Xu, C., Chin, W., Schwehr, K. A., et al. (2019). Drastic Differences in Aggregation on a Rising Oil Droplet Caused by Different EPS. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19.

2018

Bacosa, H., Kamalanathan, M., Chiu, M. - H., Tsai, S. - M., Sun, L., Schwehr, K. A., et al. (2018). Exopolymeric substance (EPS) production by bacterial isolates from the northern Gulf of Mexico in response to WAF, CEWAF and Corexit. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18: Poster.
Bergen, C., Yard, A., Schwehr, K. A., Xu, C., Chiu, M. - H., Zhang, S., et al. (2018). Protein/polysaccharide ratio in exopolymeric substances controlling the surface tension of seawater in the presence or absence of oil and/or Corexit. In 2018 Texas A&M University at Galveston Student Research Symposium. Galveston, TX : 04/17/18-04/19/18: Poster.
Chiu, M., -H., Goshia, T., Tsai, S. - M., Le, A. D., Kagiri, A., Ramos, J., et al. (2018). Corexit and Oil Can Alter Aggregation of Extracellular Polymeric Substances . In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18: Poster.
Mapes, S., Kamalanathan, M., Chiu, M. - H., Bacosa, H., Schwehr, K., Bretherton, L., et al. (2018). Role of polysaccharide secretion by diatoms during an oil spill in the context of bacteria-diatom interaction. In Gulf of Mexico Graduate Student Symposium 2018. Dauphin Island, AL : 03/02/18-03/04/18: Poster.
Santschi, P. H., Passow, U., Chin, W. - C., Chiu, M. - H., Xu, C., Lin, P., et al. (2018). Comparison of Exopolymeric Substances (EPS) with Transparent Exopolymeric Particles (TEP) and Microgels in Mesocosms. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18: Poster.
Schwehr, K. A., Chiu, M. - H., Kamalanathan, M., Xu, C., Sun, L., Lin, P., et al. (2018). Insights on Marine Oil Snow or Emulsion Formation from Protein-Polysaccharide Interactions with Oil and Dispersant from Surface Tension and Microscopy. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2018. Portland, OR : 02/11/18-02/16/18.
Sun, L., Chiu, M. - H., Xu, C., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., Bacosa, H., et al. (2018). The effects of sunlight on the composition of exopolymeric substances affecting the aggregates formation during oil spills. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2018. Portland, OR : 02/11/18-02/16/18: Poster.
Sun, L., Chiu, M. - H., Xu, C., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., Bocosa, H., et al. (2018). The effects of sunlight on the composition of exopolymeric substances affecting aggregate formation during oil spills. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18: Poster.
White, A. R., Jalali, M., Bacosa, H., Kamalanathan, M., Sun, L., Xu, C., et al. (2018). The effect of EPS composition on the aggregate formation on a crude oil drop interface. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18: Poster.
Yard, A., Passow, U., Chin, W. - C., Chiu, M. - H., Xu, C., Lin, P., et al. (2018). Comparison of Exopolymeric Substances (EPS) with Transparent Exopolymeric Particles (TEP) in Mesocosms Contaminated with Oil. In 2018 Texas A&M University at Galveston Student Research Symposium. Galveston, TX : 04/17/18-04/19/18: Poster.

2017

Chiu, M., Khan, A., Garcia, S. S., Kagiri, A. W., Sibal, A., Yang, J. L., et al. (2017). Effect of Oil Spill on Marine Microbe Exopolymeric Substances Release. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2017. New Orleans, LA : 02/06/17-02/09/17.
Chiu, M., Zhang, S., Xu, C., Passow, U., Santschi, P., Quigg, A., et al. (2017). Potential Impact of Corexit on Marine Microgels. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2017. New Orleans, LA : 02/06/17-02/09/17: Poster.
Kamalanathan, M., Chiu, M. - H., Bacosa, H., Schwehr, K. A., Bretherton, L., Santschi, P. H., et al. (2017). The mystery behind polysaccharide secretion by phytoplankton during an oil spill. In 2nd Annual Texas A&M Postdoctoral Research Symposium. College Station, TX : 09/20/17-09/20/17.
Passow, U., Sweet, J., Chiu, M., Chin, W., Zhang, S., Xu, C., et al. (2017). The Role of Corexit for the Formation of Sinking Marine Oil Snow. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2017. New Orleans, LA : 02/06/17-02/09/17.
Sun, L., Xu, C., Zhang, S., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., Quigg, A., et al. (2017). Light-induced Aggregation of Bacterial Exopolymeric Substances. Gulf of Mexico. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2017. New Orleans, LA : 02/06/17-02/09/17: Poster.

2016

Agueda, O., Beaver, M., Xu, C., Zhang, S., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., et al. (2016). Relationships between surface tension and chemical composition of exopolymeric substances (EPS) in the presence of water accommodated fraction (WAF) and Corexit in two contrasting environments: open ocean versus coastal ocean. In American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Meeting 2016 (ACS SWRM-2016). Galveston, TX : 11/10/16-11/13/16.
Sun, L., Xu, C., Zhang, S., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., Quigg, A., et al. (2016). Light-induced Aggregation of Bacterial Exopolymeric Substances. In American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Meeting 2016 (ACS SWRM-2016). Galveston, TX : 11/10/16-11/13/16.
Sun, L., Xu, C., Zhang, S., Lin, P., Schwehr, K. A., Quigg, A., et al. (2016). Light-induced Aggregation of Bacterial Exopolymeric Substances. In Inaugural Texas A&M Postdoctoral Research Symposium. College Station, TX : 09/21/16.
Xu, C., Zhang, S., Beaver, M., Lin, P., Sun, L., Schwehr, K. A., et al. (2016). Effects of Water-Accommodated Fraction (WAF) of Macondo Oil and Corexit on Formation of Marine Snow and Their Fate in Mesocosm Experiments. In American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Meeting 2016 (ACS SWRM-2016). Galveston, TX : 11/10/16-11/13/16.