Faculty Profile
Lee Newman
Associate Professor and Chair of Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
117 Jahn Laboratory
Education
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PhD, Rutgers University and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 1993. Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Genetics of Fruit Ripening proteins in peppers
Research Interests
My research interests involve the use of plants to deal with environmental problems. The most common form of this is phytoremediation, which is the use of plants to clean up environmental contaminants. I am interested in the growth of plants for the production of energy; biomass, ethanol and biodiesel. I am interested in and have done research in environmental toxicity resulting from plant exposure to toxicants, constructed wetland remediation, using microbes to enhance remediation potential of plants, using native plants for remediation and restoration, the role of plants in monitored natural attenuation and carbon sequestration. We are looking at the genetic interaction between plants and nanoparticles and how the uptake of nanoparticles can impact other organism. We are also studying the use of hyperspectral imaging to track environmental pollution uptake by plants. A major area of research is the interactions between plants and endophytic bacteria. In addition to increasing phytoremediation potential, these biological interactions are proving to enhance biomass production, increase drought resistance, and have a significant implant on floral development and fruit production, which can have major impacts on bioenergy production as well as crop productivity in marginal soils.