Jennifer Mary DeBruyn

DeBruyn received her bachelor's degree from Queens University in Kingston, ON, Canada. She completed her doctoral studies in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee. DeBruyn was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture before joining the Biosystems Engineering & Soil Sciences Department. She is presently a Full Professor.{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-09-13 |title=DeBruyn Laboratory {{!}} Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science |url=https://bess.tennessee.edu/debruyn-laboratory/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |language=en-US}}

DeBruyn's research focuses on microbial degradation of complex materials. Her doctoral work focused on the degradation of contaminants, using the Chattanooga Creek superfund site{{Cite journal |last1=DeBruyn |first1=Jennifer M. |last2=Chewning |first2=Christopher S. |last3=Sayler |first3=Gary S. |date=2007-08-01 |title=Comparative Quantitative Prevalence of Mycobacteria and Functionally Abundant nidA , nahAc , and nagAc Dioxygenase Genes in Coal Tar Contaminated Sediments |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es070406c |journal=Environmental Science & Technology |language=en |volume=41 |issue=15 |pages=5426–5432 |doi=10.1021/es070406c |pmid=17822112 |bibcode=2007EnST...41.5426D |issn=0013-936X|url-access=subscription }} and Lake Erie{{Cite journal |last1=DeBruyn |first1=Jennifer M. |last2=Mead |first2=Thomas J. |last3=Wilhelm |first3=Steven W. |last4=Sayler |first4=Gary S. |date=2009-05-15 |title=PAH Biodegradative Genotypes in Lake Erie Sediments: Evidence for Broad Geographical Distribution of Pyrene-Degrading Mycobacteria |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es803348g |journal=Environmental Science & Technology |language=en |volume=43 |issue=10 |pages=3467–3473 |doi=10.1021/es803348g |pmid=19544841 |bibcode=2009EnST...43.3467D |issn=0013-936X|url-access=subscription }} as field models. As a faculty member she established research at UTK's "body farm" to begin to tease apart the role of microbes in cadaver degradation.{{Cite journal |last1=Cobaugh |first1=Kelly L. |last2=Schaeffer |first2=Sean M. |last3=DeBruyn |first3=Jennifer M. |date=2015-06-12 |title=Functional and Structural Succession of Soil Microbial Communities below Decomposing Human Cadavers |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=10 |issue=6 |pages=e0130201 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0130201 |doi-access=free |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=4466320 |pmid=26067226|bibcode=2015PLoSO..1030201C }} She is also known for her work the UT Extension, including her contributions to their Backyard STEM outreach program.{{Cite web |title=Backyard STEM for Tennessee 4-H {{!}} Backyard STEM |url=https://backyardstem.tennessee.edu/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=backyardstem.tennessee.edu |language=en-US}}

DeBruyn has worked to help develop the "Backyard Stem for Tennessee"{{Cite web |title=Backyard STEM for Tennessee 4-H {{!}} Backyard STEM |url=https://backyardstem.tennessee.edu/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=backyardstem.tennessee.edu |language=en-US}} educational program as part of her appointment with UTK extension. Backyard Stem is a series of state sponsored modules offered through Tennessee 4-H to expose school age children to environmental sciences outside the classroom.

• Bandopadhyay S, L Martin-Closas, AM Pelacho, JM DeBruyn. (2018). Biodegradable plastic mulch films: impacts on soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions. Frontiers in Microbiology 9, 349830 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00819{{Cite journal |last1=Bandopadhyay |first1=Sreejata |last2=Martin-Closas |first2=Lluis |last3=Pelacho |first3=Ana M. |last4=DeBruyn |first4=Jennifer M. |date=2018-04-26 |title=Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions |journal=Frontiers in Microbiology |volume=9 |page=819 |doi=10.3389/fmicb.2018.00819 |doi-access=free |issn=1664-302X |pmc=5932902 |pmid=29755440}}
• Cobaugh KL, SM Schaeffer, JM DeBruyn (2015) Functional and structural succession of soil microbial communities below decomposing human cadavers PloS ONE 10 (6), e0130201 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0130201{{Cite journal |last1=Cobaugh |first1=Kelly L. |last2=Schaeffer |first2=Sean M. |last3=DeBruyn |first3=Jennifer M. |date=2015-06-12 |editor-last=Berg |editor-first=Gabriele |title=Functional and Structural Succession of Soil Microbial Communities below Decomposing Human Cadavers |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=10 |issue=6 |pages=e0130201 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0130201 |doi-access=free |pmid=26067226 |pmc=4466320 |bibcode=2015PLoSO..1030201C |issn=1932-6203}}
• DeBruyn JM, LT Nixon, MN Fawaz, AM Johnson, M Radosevich (2011) Global biogeography and quantitative seasonal dynamics of Gemmatimonadetes in soil. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 77 (17), 6295-6300 doi:10.1128/AEM.05005-11 {{Cite journal |last1=DeBruyn |first1=Jennifer M. |last2=Nixon |first2=Lauren T. |last3=Fawaz |first3=Mariam N. |last4=Johnson |first4=Amy M. |last5=Radosevich |first5=Mark |date=September 2011 |title=Global Biogeography and Quantitative Seasonal Dynamics of Gemmatimonadetes in Soil |journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology |language=en |volume=77 |issue=17 |pages=6295–6300 |doi=10.1128/AEM.05005-11 |issn=0099-2240 |pmc=3165389 |pmid=21764958|bibcode=2011ApEnM..77.6295D }}

DeBruyn is often sought by the popular press for her work. She has contributed and been interviewed for articles in outlets including the BBC,{{Cite news |date=2017-09-07 |title=Does the UK need a human 'body farm'? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41161423 |access-date=2024-06-03 |language=en-GB}} NPR,{{Cite web |last=NPR |date=June 7, 2019 |title=Organic Farming Has A Plastic Problem. One Solution Is Controversial |website=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/06/07/729783773/organic-farming-has-a-plastic-problem-one-solution-is-controversial }} Discover Magazine,{{Cite web |title=Life After Death: What Human Burial Options Will Look Like in a Sustainable Future |url=https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/human-composting-how-our-bodies-can-nourish-new-life-after-death |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Discover Magazine |language=en}} CNN,{{Cite web |last=Spary |first=Sara |date=2020-09-03 |title=Plants could help authorities find human remains in woodland |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/03/world/plants-bodies-woodland-scli-intl-scn/index.html |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=CNN |language=en}} Popular Mechanics,{{Cite web |date=2022-03-07 |title=After You Die, a Universe Eats Your Body |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a39188066/necrobiome/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Popular Mechanics |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=Your Microbiome Will Outlive You |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a45431345/microbiome-will-outlive-you/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Popular Mechanics |language=en-US}} and CBCs "Quirks and Quarks" {{Cite web |last=Quirks and Quarks |title=For Halloween — How your body's microbiome will help recycle you after you die |url=https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-51-quirks-and-quarks/clip/16019060-for-halloween-how-bodys-microbiome-help-recycle}}

DeBruyn has been recognized by UTIA with the Mid-Career Award for Faculty Excellence.{{Cite web |last=kwhita12 |date=2020-08-21 |title=Jennifer DeBruyn Presented with AgResearch Mid-Career Faculty Research Excellence Award {{!}} Institute News |url=https://utianews.tennessee.edu/jennifer-debruyn-presented-with-agresearch-mid-career-faculty-research-excellence-award/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |language=en-US}}

DeBruyn is a nationally ranked{{Cite web |title=Current Rankings |url=https://www.usara.com/current-rankings |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=United States Adventure Racing Association |language=en-US}} adventure racer with the No Complaints{{Cite web |title=Endless Mountains Adventure Race |url=https://www.adventuresignup.com/RaceGroups/116335/Groups/1215662 |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Endless Mountains Adventure Race |language=en-US}} adventure racing team.

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• [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=U_xOnjEAAAAJ&hl=en Jennifer DeBruyn] on Google Scholar.

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