College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment
700 Pilottown Road
Lewes, DE 19958
Dr. Stephen Dexter: Coast Day
Information for Prospective Students
Effect of Biofilms on Corrosion
Effect of Biofilms on Galvanic Corrosion
Images of Microorganisms in Biofilms
Teaching Activities Include:
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MAST 200: "The Oceans" A large undergraduate course intended primarily for non-science majors, this course integrates physical, chemical, geological, and biological principles into an overview that addresses why and how the oceans work.
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MSEG 406/606: "Corrosion and Protection." Based in the College of Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, this course may be taken at either the advanced undergraduate or graduate levels.
Advanced graduate courses in the areas of corrosion and biofouling are taught from time to time on an as needed basis.
Updated: February 25, 2009
Dr. Stephen C. Dexter
Professor of Applied Science and Marine BioSciences
Joint with Department of Material Science Engineering (MSE)
Voice: (302) 645-4261
Fax: (302) 645-4007
email me
B.S. Mechanical & Aerospace Engr., University of Delaware, 1965.
M.S., Applied Science Metallurgy, University of Delaware, 1968.
Ph.D., Applied Science, Metallurgy, University of Delaware, 1971.
Post Doc, Department of Ocean Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 1971-1973.
Marine corrosion and biocorrosion. Influence of microorganisms and microbial biofilms on the electrochemistry of corrosion reactions and cathodic protection; Electron transfer processes in metal/biofilm systems; Interactions between microbes and nano-patterned surfaces.
- Determining how the semi-conducting properties of the passive film influence the response of passive alloys to the ennobling effects of natural marine biofilms.
- Measuring the chemistry within thin films of microorganisms and their extracellular polymeric materials that form on metallic,nonmetallic and composite materials immersed in natural aqueous environments.
- Development, in cooperation with Dr. George W. Luther, III, of solid state microelectrodes for use in making these measurements.
- Correlating detailed chemical information with the heterogeneous community structure of natural marine biofilms using laser confocal microscopy and molecular biological techniques.
- Determining and modeling the mechanisms by which the chemical changes within biofilms on metal surfaces affect the electrochemistry of marine corrosion.
The Biocorrosion Research Program is currently supporting one full time graduate student:
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Matthew Strom, Ph.D. Student (B.S., D'Youville College, 2003) is working in Dr. Dexter's Lab on the passive film and microbe/nanopatterned solid interaction projects.
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Former M.S. Students, Xia Bai and Paul R. Jones, have finished their degrees. a publication based on Xia's work has been published in Electrochimica Acta, and one from paul's work has been published in Microbial Ecology (see publications list.