My research interests focus on understanding the chemistry of water-rock-microbe interactions. Considering these interactions from the perspective of the environment motivates investigations of natural and anthropogenic processes that influence biogeochemical cycles, mineral dissolution, and the movement of chemical species in the environment. Considering these interactions from the perspective of microbial life motivates investigations into the energetics and adaptations that allow microbial life to flourish in extremely harsh chemical and physical environments. Understanding water-rock-microbe interactions on Earth will inform our search for life on other planets. I combine interdisciplinary techniques from microbiology, low temperature aqueous geochemistry, physical chemistry, and thermodynamic modeling to develop a quantitative understanding of the chemistry occurring at the hydrated interface of life and rocks.
Current Students:
Past Students:
- Addien Wray
- Chloe Hart (Science Laboratory Manager / Adjunct Faculty, Urbana University)
Selected Publications:
Hart, C., & Gorman‐Lewis, D. (2020). Energetics of Acidianus ambivalens growth in response to oxygen availability. Geobiology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gbi.12413
Gorman-Lewis, D., Martens-Habbena, W., & Stahl, D. A. (2019). Cu(II) adsorption onto ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 255, 127–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2019.04.011
Gorman-Lewis, D. (2019). The Application of Isothermal Titration Calorimetry for Investigating Proton and Metal Interactions on Microbial Surfaces. In Analytical Geomicrobiology (pp. 63–78). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107707399.002
Alam, Md. S., Gorman-Lewis, D., Chen, N., Flynn, S. L., Ok, Y. S., Konhauser, K. O., & Alessi, D. S. (2018). Thermodynamic Analysis of Nickel(II) and Zinc(II) Adsorption to Biochar. Environmental Science & Technology, 6246–6255. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b06261
Gorman-Lewis, D., Martens-Habbena, W., & Stahl, D. A. (2014). Thermodynamic characterization of proton-ionizable functional groups on the cell surfaces of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea. Geobiology, 157–171. https://doi.org/10.1111/gbi.12075
Gorman-Lewis, D. (2014). Enthalpies and Entropies of Cd and Zn Adsorption ontoBacillus licheniformisand Enthalpies and Entropies of Zn Adsorption ontoBacillus subtilisfrom Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and Surface Complexation Modeling. Geomicrobiology Journal, 383–395. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2013.835887
Harrold, Z. R., & Gorman-Lewis, D. (2013). Thermodynamic analysis of Bacillus subtilis endospore protonation using isothermal titration calorimetry. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 296–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2013.01.002
Gorman-Lewis, D., Jensen, M. P., Harrold, Z. R., & Hertel, M. R. (2013). Complexation of neptunium(V) with Bacillus subtilis endospore surfaces and their exudates. Chemical Geology, 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2013.01.004
Gorman-Lewis, D. (2011). Enthalpies of proton adsorption onto Bacillus licheniformis at 25, 37, 50, and 75°C. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1297–1307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2010.12.009
Gorman-Lewis, D., Shvareva, T., Kubatko, K.-A., Burns, P. C., Wellman, D. M., McNamara, B., Szymanowski, J. E. S., Navrotsky, A., & Fein, J. B. (2009). Thermodynamic Properties of Autunite, Uranyl Hydrogen Phosphate, and Uranyl Orthophosphate from Solubility and Calorimetric Measurements. Environmental Science & Technology, 7416–7422. https://doi.org/10.1021/es9012933
Gorman-Lewis, D., Elias, P. E., & Fein, J. B. (2005). Adsorption of Aqueous Uranyl Complexes ontoBacillus subtilis Cells. Environmental Science & Technology, 4906–4912. https://doi.org/10.1021/es047957c