Hillary Leigh Eaton

Title
Department Chair of Biology & Chemistry and Associate Professor of Biology
Email
Department
Biology and Chemistry Dept
College
College of Arts & Sciences
Hillary Leigh Eaton

Dr. Eaton is the Department Chair of Biology and Chemistry and Associate Professor of Biology. She earned a Ph.D. from Oregon State University and has enjoyed a career as a research microbiologist in both academia and government agencies. She has over a decade of experience working in microbiology, pathology, toxicology and veterinary medicine, in addition to supporting the military through research focused in bioremediation, antimicrobial resistance, environmental and microbial forensics. Her research interests are in environmental forensics which include monitoring explosives used by the military and how the parent compounds and metabolites are bioremediated by the microbial populations in ecosystems; environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring of different environments for microbial and vertebrate populations (applications in microbial and wildlife forensics) through metabarcoding and next-generation sequencing technologies.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology, Oregon State University
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Agriculture: Veterinary Science and Biochemistry, University of Arizona
  • CEAB 396: Coop Applied Biology
  • CEFB 396: COOP Ed - Forensics Biology
  • BIO 406: Forensic DNA Analysis
  • BIO 406L: Forensic DNA Analysis Lab
  • BIO 215: Genetics
  • BIO 215L: Genetics Laboratory
  • BIO 216: Microbiology
  • BIO 216L: Microbiology Laboratory
  • BIO 405: Molecular & Cell Biology
  • BIO 405L: Molecular & Cell Biology Lab
  • BIO 210: Research

Valente, M.J., Benson, C.E., Chmiel, M., Lewis, M., Peatman, E., Eaton, H.L. (2021). A case of mistaken identity: Genetic and morphological evidence for the presence of Coosa Bass in the Verde River, AZ. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. 12 (2): 554-564.

Fuller, M.E., Hatzinger, P.B., Condee, C.W., Andaya, C., Vainberg, S., Michalsen, M.M., Crocker, F.H., Indest, K.J., Jung, C.M., Eaton, H.L., and Istok, J.D. (2015). Laboratory evaluation of bioaugmentation for aerobic treatment of RDX in groundwater. Biodegradation. 26 (1): 77-89.

Indest, K.I., Eaton, H.L., Jung, C.J., Lounds, C.B. (2014). Biotransformation of explosives by Reticulitermes flavipes associated termite endosymbionts. Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology. 24: 114-119.

Eaton H.L., Murty, L.D., Duringer, J.M., Craig, A.M. (2013). Ruminal bioremediation of the high energy explosive HMX by sheep microorganisms. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 350 (2014): 34-41.

Eaton H.L., Duringer, J.M., Murty, L.D., Craig, A.M. (2013). Anaerobic bioremediation of RDX by ovine whole rumen fluid and pure culture isolates. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 97(8): 3699-3710.

Eaton, H.L., De Lorme, M., Chaney, R.L., Craig, A.M. (2011). Ovine Ruminal Microbes Are Capable of Biotransforming Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). Microbial Ecology. 62:274-286.

Eaton, H.L. (2011). Anaerobic biodegradation of the cyclic nitramines, RDX and HMX, by ovine ruminal microbes. Dissertation, Oregon State University.

PRESENTATIONS 

Gathered from a Crime Scene. American Association of University Women. Tech Savvy, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ. 

  • BM Davis,* HL Eaton, CE Benson, and MJ Valente. Metabarcoding across the Desert Southwest: Using Environmental DNA to Track Fish and Wildlife Use of Aquatic Ecosystems. Arizona Space Grant Consortium Statewide Symposium. Tempe, AZ. April 2020. 

  • HL Eaton, CE Benson, MJ Valente, CS Turner-Rathbone*. Using Environmental DNA and Vertebrate Metabarcoding to Characterize Biological Communities: A New Method for Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Forensics. Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Anaheim, California. February 17, 2020. 

  • KA Smith, BA Carreras Mendiolea*, HL Eaton, CE Benson, MJ Valente, and FB Anaya. Environmental DNA metabarcoding detects mammal use of stock tanks and natural springs on the Prescott National Forest. The Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society, Prescott, Arizona. January 30, 2020 

  • BM Davis*, CE Benson, HL Eaton, MJ Valente. Environmental DNA metabarcoding detects waterbirds in a complex assemblage, a pilot study from Willow Lake, Arizona. The Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society, Prescott, Arizona. January 30, 2020. 

  • MJ Valente, HL Eaton, CS Turner-Rathbone* and CE Benson. Environmental DNA metabarcoding detects aquatic and riparian vertebrate species in the Verde River, Arizona. The Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society, Prescott, Arizona. January 30, 2020. 

  • AR Wockenfuss*, CS Turner-Rathbone*, HL Eaton, CE Benson, MJ Valente, and M O’Neill. Fish hatchery effluent affects the detection of vertebrate species using environmental DNA metabarcoding. The Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society, Prescott, Arizona. January 30, 2020. 

  • MJ Valente, CE Benson, MR Chmiel, MR Lewis, E Peatman, and HL Eaton. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism confirm the presence of Coosa Bass (Micropterus coosae) in the Upper Verde River, Arizona. The Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society, Prescott, Arizona. January 30, 2020. 

  • Benson CE, Eaton HL, Valente MJ, Turner-Rathbone CS, Davis, B. (2019). Using environmental DNA and metabarcoding to characterize aquatic vertebrate communities on Willow Lake, AZ. The Audubon Society. Prescott, AZ. 

  • Davis, B, Turner-Rathbone CS, Eaton HL, Valente MJ, Benson CE. (2019). The future of biodiversity assessment: Using environmental DNA and next generation sequencing to characterize biological communities in the Central Highlands of Arizona. Arizona Space Grant Statewide Symposium. Tempe, AZ. 

  • Turner-Rathbone CS, Eaton HL, Valente MJ, Benson CE. (2019). The future of biodiversity assessment: Using environmental DNA and next generation sequencing to characterize biological communities in the Central Highlands of Arizona. National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Kennesaw, GA. 

  • Turner-Rathbone CS, Eaton HL, Valente MJ, Benson CE. (2019). The effect of PCR replication on species richness estimates using environmental DNA and 16S rRNA vertebrate metabarcoding. Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society. Albuquerque, NM. 

  • Eaton HL, Benson CE, Valente MJ, Turner-Rathbone CS, and Haug M. (2019). The future of biodiversity assessment: using environmental DNA and next-generation sequencing to characterize biological communities in the Central Highlands of Arizona. The Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society. Albuquerque, NM. 

  • Valente MJ, Benson CE, Eaton HL, Chmiel M. (2019). Genetic and morphological evidence for the presence of invasive Redeye Bass (Micropterus coosae) in the Verde River, AZ. The Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society. Albuquerque, NM. 

  • Benson CE, Eaton HL, Valente MJ, Turner-Rathbone CS, O’Niell MW. (2019). Using environmental DNA and metabarcoding to characterize aquatic vertebrate communities: lessons from Fossil Creek, AZ. The Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM Chapters of The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society. Albuquerque, NM. 

  • Geier, J.A., Benson, C., Valente, M., Eaton, H.L., and Turner-Rathbone, C. (2018). Testing the ability of environmental DNA and 16S rRNA metabarcoding to assess vertebrate biodiversity in Fossil Creek, Arizona. Northern Arizona University. Flagstaff, AZ. 

  • Eaton HL, Benson CE, Valente MJ, Turner-Rathbone CS. (2018). Tracking wildlife in the Verde River using environmental DNA, a new tool for biodiversity assessment.  Invited Talk at the Natural History Institute. Prescott, AZ. 

  • H.L. Eaton. (2016). Workshop: Learn How to be a Forensic Scientist Using Evidence  

  • H.L. Eaton. (2015). Microbes to the Rescue of Planet Earth! Science Seminar Speaker Series, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, AZ. 

  • F.H. Crocker, H.L. Eaton and C.M. Jung. (2013). Isolation of NDAB-degrading bacteria and characterization of NDAB-degradative genes in Methylobacterium sp. JS178.  American Society for Microbiology. Denver, CO. 

  • H.L. Eaton, C.M. Jung and F.H. Crocker. (2012). NDAB degradation by RDX-exposed       soil microbes. American Society for Microbiology South Central Branch Meeting. Starkville, MS.  

  • K. Indest, C. Jung, S. Brasfield, H. Eaton and F. Crocker. (2012). Degradation of the explosives NTO, DNAN, RDX, FOX-7, by activated sludge from an ammunition facility. American Society for Microbiology South Central Branch Meeting. Starkville, MS.  

  • C.B. Lounds, H.L. Eaton, C.M. Jung and K.J. Indest. (2012). In vivo enrichment for and subsequent isolation of explosive degrading microbes from the termite gut. American Society for Microbiology South Central Branch Meeting. Starkville, MS.  

  • H.L. Eaton, C.M. Jung and F.H. Crocker (2012). Aerobic bioremediation of NDAB by RDX-exposed soil microbes. Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. Washington, D.C. 

  • H.L. Eaton. (2011). Anaerobic biodegradation of the cyclic nitramines, RDX and HMX by ovine ruminal microbes. Oregon State University.  Corvallis, OR. 

  • Craig, A.M., Eaton, H.L., Duringer, J.M., Li, L., Murty, L. (2011). Ruminal microbes to the rescue. Oregon State University, Department of Microbiology, Colloquium.  Corvallis, OR. 

  • Craig, A.M., Eaton, H.L., Duringer, J.M., Li, L., Murty, L., Blythe, L.L. (2011). Ruminal Microbial Degradation of Munitions - Update: TNT, RDX, HMX, DNT. International Society for Anaerobic Microbiology (ISAM), Slovak Academy of  Sciences, Kosice, Slovakia. 

  • H.L. Eaton, E.A. Mitchell, A.M. Craig, M. Delorme, D.J. Smith, J.M. Duringer, R.L. Chaney. (2010). Phyto-Ruminal-Bioremediation of Energetic Compounds. Rowett-INRA. Aberdeen, United Kingdom. 

  • H.L. Eaton, J.M. Duringer, and A.M. Craig. (2010). Utilization of Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) as a Sole Source of Carbon or Nitrogen by Individual Bacterial Species from the Rumen. Am. Society for Microbiol. San Diego, CA. 

  • H.L. Eaton, M. Delorme, and A.M. Craig. (2009). Metabolism of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by Ovine Ruminal Microbes. Conference on Gastrointestinal Function. Chicago, IL. 

  • H.L. Eaton, M. Delorme, and A.M. Craig. (2008). Metabolism of RDX by Ovine Ruminal Microbes. Center for Genomic Research and Biocomputing. Redmond, OR. 

  • H.L. Bevers, S. Perumbakkam, A.M. Craig. (2008). Spatial and Temporal Arrangement of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Degrading Consortia from the Ovine Rumen. Am. Society for Microbiol. Boston, MA. 

MEDIA APPEARANCES  

Radio:

  • Tone, Sue. (Feb. 8, 2019). Project Creates Faster Way to Identify Wildlife in River System. The Daily Courier. Prescott, AZ.https://www.dcourier.com/news/2019/feb/07/project-creates-faster-way-identify-wildlife-river/. Interview. 

  • Jarvis, Michaela. (Jan 25, 2019). Undergraduate Helps Prove the Effectiveness of New Biological Research Method. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Newsroom. Prescott, AZ. http://news.erau.edu/headlines/undergraduate-helps-prove-the-effectiveness-of-new-biological-research-method/. Interview. 

  • Stewart, Michaela. (Sept. 15, 2015). Science Seminar: Microscopic Heroes Offer Solutions. ERAU Horizons. Issue 2, Volume 32. Interview. 

Print and online:

  • Alexander, Kateri. (Nov. 7, 2020). DNA Forensics. Here, There, and Everywhere. Prescott Public Radio. 90.1 FM. Prescott, AZ. Interview. 

  • Sevigny, Melissa. (Aug. 27, 2019). DNA Detective Work Offers New Way to Survey Wildlife. KNAU National Public Radio. Flagstaff, AZ.https://www.knau.org/post/dna-detective-work-offers-new-way-survey-wildlife. Interview. 

  • Sevigny, Melissa. (Mar. 7, 2019). DNA Offers New Way to Survey Wildlife. KNAU National Public Radio. Flagstaff, AZ. https://www.knau.org/post/dna-offers-new-way-survey-wildlife. Interview. 

  • Pinholster, Ginger. (Feb. 28, 2019). Student Puts eDNA Assessment Methods to the Test at Arizona's Verde River. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Office of Alumni Engagement. Daytona Beach, Fl. https://alumni.erau.edu/s/867/landing.aspx?sid=867&gid=1&pgid=5972&cid=8797&ecid=8797&crid=0. Interview. 

  • American Board of Criminalistics--Forensic Biology Screener/DNA Analyst Occupational Analysis Verification. July 2018. 

  • American Chemical Society—Biological Chemistry Division. 2016-present. 

  • Biodegradation—Reviewer. 2015-present. 

  • Water Environment Research—Reviewer. 2015-present. 

  • Council on Undergraduate Research—Biology Division. 2015-present. 

  • Technical Grant Proposal Reviewer for Hydrogeologic, Inc., a Department of Defense contractor. 2014-present. 

  • American Academy of Forensic Sciences—Criminalistics. Full Member. 2014-present. 

  • American Society for Cellular Biologists. 2014-present. 

  • Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology; Student Poster Judge. 2012-2013. 

  • American Society for Microbiology 2007-present; Student Poster Judge. 2007, 2020. 

  • Women in Science. 2007-2011 --Peer Review Coordinator for OSU 2010-2011. 

  • Oregon Humane Society—fundraiser. 2004-2011.

  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Researcher of the Year. College of Arts & Sciences. 2018-2019. 

  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Researcher of the Year. Prescott Campus. 2018-2019. 

  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Scholarly Speaking Award. 2016, 2017, 2019. 

  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Service Excellence Award nominee. 2017.