Richard Bartha
Encyclopedia
Richard Bartha is an American
microbiologist
. He is best known professionally for his seminal discoveries in the field of bacterial pollution control ("bioremediation
").
Dr. Bartha spent his childhood in Budapest
, where he attended University. During his college years he participated in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
, in which Hungarians took up arms against their communist government and against the occupying forces of the Soviet Union
(Russia
).
When the uprising was quashed by Soviet forces, Dr. Bartha escaped to the Federal Republic of Germany (then known as "West Germany
"), where he undertook his doctoral studies.
After earning his Ph.D., Dr. Bartha came to the United States of America, and taught at Rutgers University
in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, from 1964 to 1998.
Dr. Bartha is co-author of the most widely used text on the subject of microbial ecology
(written with Ronald Atlas).
Dr. Bartha is currently retired, a naturalized citizen of the United States of America. His professional reputation is matched by his warm and congenial manner with colleagues.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
microbiologist
Microbiologist
A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...
. He is best known professionally for his seminal discoveries in the field of bacterial pollution control ("bioremediation
Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of microorganism metabolism to remove pollutants. Technologies can be generally classified as in situ or ex situ. In situ bioremediation involves treating the contaminated material at the site, while ex situ involves the removal of the contaminated material to be treated...
").
Life
Dr. Bartha and graduate students Ronald Atlas and Michael Pirnik were the first to discover that bacteria are capable of metabolizing petroleum, paving the way for the use of "oil-eating bacteria" to clean up oil spills. Dr. Bartha also made important discoveries regarding the abilities of bacteria to degrade other pollutants, such as pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated organic compounds, and metals.Dr. Bartha spent his childhood in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, where he attended University. During his college years he participated in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
, in which Hungarians took up arms against their communist government and against the occupying forces of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
).
When the uprising was quashed by Soviet forces, Dr. Bartha escaped to the Federal Republic of Germany (then known as "West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
"), where he undertook his doctoral studies.
After earning his Ph.D., Dr. Bartha came to the United States of America, and taught at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, from 1964 to 1998.
Dr. Bartha is co-author of the most widely used text on the subject of microbial ecology
Microbial ecology
Microbial ecology is the ecology of microorganisms: their relationship with one another and with their environment. It concerns the three major domains of life — Eukaryota, Archaea, and Bacteria — as well as viruses....
(written with Ronald Atlas).
Dr. Bartha is currently retired, a naturalized citizen of the United States of America. His professional reputation is matched by his warm and congenial manner with colleagues.