Welcome to the Newman laboratory! 

Our research involves 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.  Our lab currently does work in understanding the genetic mechanism of solvent degradation in plants, field applications of phytoremediation, 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.  We are also looking at new ways to work with plants to deal with environmental issues, including the role of plants in monitored natural attenuation, carbon sequestration, and all forms of bioenergy; biomass, ethanol and biodiesel.