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| Name |
Newman, Dianne K. |
| Location
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California Institute of Technology |
| Primary Field
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Environmental Sciences and Ecology |
| Secondary Field
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Microbial Biology |
 Election Citation
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Newman discovered new strategies by which microbes conserve energy in the absence of oxygen, with important implications for both modern and ancient environments. |
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Research Interests
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Dianne Newman's laboratory is interested in how microorganisms co-evolve with their environment, with a focus on understanding how electron transfer reactions support energy conservation in the absence of oxygen. Using interdisciplinary approaches, her laboratory seeks to learn how particular microbial metabolic processes impact the environment and how to identify specific biosignatures therein. An emerging goal is to understand the physiological strategies taken by microorganisms when they are growing slowly?the dominant pace of life on the planet, yet one that is poorly understood. Her laboratory is particularly captivated by how the production and recycling of colorful, redox-active secondary metabolites enables microbial survival when oxidants are scarce. This process supports the development and maintenance of certain types of biofilms, aggregates of cells that reach a high cell density in diverse contexts, from plant roots to chronic human infections. A basic understanding of the survival strategies used in such contexts is needed to control microbial communities for the benefit of environmental and human health. |
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