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.
Current Graduate Advisees
Daniel Collins
dbcollin@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Newman
- Area of Study: EFB Chemical Ecology
Graduate Research Topic
My research regards the effectiveness of therapeutic horticulture with military veterans in Central New York. Primarily, whether or not such programs can improve the mood of a patient in the hospital, and can we predict which populations would benefit from such a program.
Favorite Quote
How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? - Dr. Seuss
Morgan Fatowe
mbfatowe@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Pflug and Newman
- Area of Study: Environ & Forest Chemistry
Graduate Research Topic
Bioremediation of PFAS
Past Studies
B.S. Biochemistry from Florida International University (FIU)
Past Studies
B.S. Biochemistry from Florida International University (FIU)
Samantha Freeman
sfreem04@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Newman and Pflug
- Area of Study: Environ & Forest Chemistry
Amalia Kenyon
akenyon@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Newman
- Area of Study: EFB Plant Science & Biotechnology
Graduate Research Topic
Phytoremediation of per-and polyfluoroalkyl compounds using wetland and phreatophytic plants. Development of novel non-invasive detection methods to identify environmental contaminants.
Gianna Leippert
gyleippe@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: MS
- Graduate Advisor(s): Pflug and Newman
- Area of Study: Environ & Forest Chemistry
Graduate Research Topic
Occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in vegetative wildlife food sources at reforested contamination sites
Will Weinberg
waweinbe@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: MS
- Graduate Advisor(s): Newman
- Area of Study: Environ & Forest Chemistry
Chloe Wiley
crwiley@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Newman
- Area of Study: Environ & Forest Chemistry
Ellen Wu
ywu333@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Newman
- Area of Study: Environ & Forest Chemistry
Nicole Wuerslin
nawuersl@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Newman
- Area of Study: Environmental Science