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116 Fairlawn Gardens, Apt. 5
Martinsburg, WV 25401
Teacher
Jefferson High School
Email: kflemin3@hotmail.com
B.S., Environmental Microbiology,
1994, West Virginia University
M.S. degree, 1999, West Virginia University
I
worked in the lab as a graduate student in Environmental Microbiology. My M.S.
research examined the functional diversity and life history traits of arbuscular
fungi present in disturbed soils, especially those from coal mining operations.
I was able to establish eleven native fungi in monospecific culture and to test
their relative effectiveness by growth benefit to a mycotrophi8c assay host,
red clover. I also followed which of these fungi dominated in apple and grape
roots in the field over two growing seasons using root trap cultures. I also
examined the relationship between sporulation and colonization of select species
of AM fungi using phosphorus levels to regulate degree of colonization and spore
formation. Manuscripts reporting the results of all this work currently are
in preparation.
In
August of 1999, I got married to Jim Fleming and went to work as a laboratory
technician for two other faculty in Environmental Microbiology, Drs. Gary Bissonnette
and Alan Sexstone. Even though I had different supervisors, I still worked in
the same lab where I had done my research (shared by Morton and Sexstone). After
two years in this position, I learned a great deal about those other
microbes (mostly bacteria). Then I decided to switch to work I enjoy above all
else: teaching. Jim and I were offered teaching positions in Wheeling, West
Virginia at Jefferson High School. I'm a 10th grade science teacher, and I teach
CATS 10, or Coordinated and Thematic Science. This covers chemistry, physics,
biology, and earth science. Jim teaches CATS 10 as well as Advanced Placement
Biology. We both now are working in fields we love and more important, we are
able to do it together!