Dr. Edward A. Sobek, PhD
Director of Research and Development

Dr. Sobek has been working in the field of mold and fungi for nearly 15 years. He used Scanning Electron Microscopy as an undergraduate to identifying fungi that would sicken or kill the invasive gypsy moth. His masters degree is from Iowa State where he studied the mold Fusarium and how it caused diseases in corn. Afterwards he obtained a position with the USDA-ARS in New Orleans where he helped develop methods to reduce toxin production in cotton seed by the mold Aspergillus flavus. From there he proceeded to Texas Tech University for his Doctorate where he studied microfungi and mold in the desert soils of the southwest and the Puerto Rican Rain Forest.

In 2002, Dr. Sobek was employed by Microbial Insights in Tennessee as Director of their Indoor air and culture laboratory. Two years later he started his own company that focused on methods and technology to kill mold on building surfaces. Afterwards, he joined The Chiodo Companies and single handedly put together Clean Air Laboratories in Oak Ridge TN in October of 2005. The lab grew rapidly and currently employs 5 full time and one part time scientist along with several hourly honor students from nearby Oak Ridge High School.