Leanne Gilbertson

Research Interests

My research focuses on manipulating material chemistry in a way that tunes properties for advancing solutions in the areas of food production using fewer resources and lower environmental impact, and water disinfection using inherently benign materials. I study fundamental science underlying interactions of the materials my group develops with(in) environmental interfaces, such as microbes, plants, and soils. 

To support sustainable development of our solutions, my research group employs life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate our material syntheses, material and technology use scenarios, and projected end-of-life handling to inform design decisions that minimize impacts and eliminate inherently hazardous components.

Bio

Dr. Gilbertson's research focuses on sustainable design of emerging materials and products. She integrates molecular design and systems-level analysis to advance minimally impactful, high performing solutions that address today’s most pressing challenges at the intersection of environmental and public health.

Prior to joining Duke in 2023, Dr. Gilbertson was an Associate Professor and the Fulton C. Noss Faculty Fellow in the CEE Department at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed a postdoc in the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale University's Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Gilbertson received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in education from Hamilton College, after which she spent several years as a secondary school teacher before returning to graduate school. Her background and experiences underline the interdisciplinary research program she leads.
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Dr. Gilbertson’s research projects involve designing materials to advance sustainable development of solutions to drinking water treatment, food production, and antimicrobial resistant challenges. Her research has been recognized and is supported by the National Science Foundation, including the CAREER award, 3M non-tenured faculty award, and the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award. She was also a Gordon and Betty Moore Inventor Fellow finalist.

Education

• B.S. Hamilton College, 2007
• M.Phil. Yale University, 2012
• M.S. Yale University, 2012
• Ph.D. Yale University, 2014

Positions

• Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Associate Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

• American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) 40 Under 40. AAEES. 2022
• National Science Foundation CAREER Awards - Multiple Sciences. National Science Foundation (NSF). 2021
• Mara H. Wasburn Early Engineering Educator Grant. Women in Engineering Division of ASEE. 2019
• 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award. 3M. 2017
• Moore Inventor Fellow - Finalist. Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation. 2017
• Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award . ORAU. 2017

Courses Taught

• ENVIRON 542L: Environmental Aquatic Chemistry
• CEE 690: Advanced Topics in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CEE 561L: Environmental Aquatic Chemistry
• CEE 461L: Environmental Aquatic Chemistry

Publications

• Gilbertson LM, Eckelman MJ, Theis TL. Leveraging engineered nanomaterials to support material circularity. Environmental Science: Nano. 2024 Apr 29;11(7):2885–93.
• Huffman DP, Pitell S, Moncure P, Stout J, Millstone JE, Haig SJ, et al. Moving beyond silver in point-of-use drinking water pathogen control. Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology. 2024 Feb 20;10(5):1009–18.
• Shah Y, Gilbertson LM. Balancing functional properties and environmental impact of graphitic carbon nitride: a case study on boron doping syntheses. Environmental Science: Nano. 2023 Dec 5;11(1):78–90.
• Johnson EP, Aquino de Carvalho N, Gilbertson LM, Plata DL. Acid Treatment in Alkyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Soft Functionalization Techniques with Lower Environmental Footprint. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 2023 Oct 30;11(43):15523–32.
• Norton A, Scheff D, Gilbertson LM. Preface. ACS Symposium Series. 2023 Oct 2;1449:IX–X.
• Stabryla LM, Moncure PJ, Millstone JE, Gilbertson LM. Particle-Driven Effects at the Bacteria Interface: A Nanosilver Investigation of Particle Shape and Dose Metric. ACS applied materials & interfaces. 2023 Aug;15(33):39027–38.
• Aquino de Carvalho N, Gilbertson LM. Comparative life cycle assessment of graphitic carbon nitride synthesis routes. Journal of Industrial Ecology. 2023 Jun 1;27(3):1008–20.
• Dunn PJ, Pourzahedi L, Theis TL, Gilbertson LM. Thinking in systems: sustainable design of nano-enabled agriculture informed by life cycle assessment. In: Nano-enabled Sustainable and Precision Agriculture. 2023. p. 461–91.
• Gilbertson LM, Vikesland PJ. Inspiring a nanocircular economy. Environmental Science: Nano. 2022 Feb 14;9(3):839–40.
• Stabryla LM, Clark RM, Gilbertson LM. Assessment of Using Design Thinking to Foster Creativity in an Undergraduate Sustainable Engineering Course. Advances in Engineering Education. 2022 Jan 1;10(4):20–56.
• Sleight TW, Sexton CN, Mpourmpakis G, Gilbertson LM, Ng CA. A Classification Model to Identify Direct-Acting Mutagenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Transformation Products. Chemical research in toxicology. 2021 Nov;34(11):2273–86.
• Stabryla LM, Johnston KA, Diemler NA, Cooper VS, Millstone JE, Haig S-J, et al. Role of bacterial motility in differential resistance mechanisms of silver nanoparticles and silver ions. Nature nanotechnology. 2021 Sep;16(9):996–1003.
• Barrios AC, Cahue YP, Wang Y, Geiger J, Puerari RC, Matias WG, et al. Emerging investigator series: a multispecies analysis of the relationship between oxygen content and toxicity in graphene oxide. Environmental Science: Nano. 2021 Jun 1;8(6):1543–59.
• de Carvalho NA, Wang Y, Morales-Soto N, Waldeck D, Bibby K, Doudrick K, et al. Using C-Doping to Identify Photocatalytic Properties of Graphitic Carbon Nitride That Govern Antibacterial Efficacy. ACS ES and T Water. 2021 Feb 12;1(2):269–80.
• Cruces E, Barrios AC, Cahue YP, Januszewski B, Gilbertson LM, Perreault F. Similar toxicity mechanisms between graphene oxide and oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in Microcystis aeruginosa. Chemosphere. 2021 Feb;265:129137.
• Albalghiti E, Stabryla LM, Gilbertson LM, Zimmerman JB. Towards resolution of antibacterial mechanisms in metal and metal oxide nanomaterials: a meta-analysis of the influence of study design on mechanistic conclusions. Environmental Science: Nano. 2021 Jan 1;8(1):37–66.
• Wang Y, Basdogan Y, Zhang T, Lankone RS, Wallace AN, Fairbrother DH, et al. Unveiling the Synergistic Role of Oxygen Functional Groups in the Graphene-Mediated Oxidation of Glutathione. ACS applied materials & interfaces. 2020 Oct;12(41):45753–62.
• Sleight TW, Khanna V, Gilbertson LM, Ng CA. Network Analysis for Prioritizing Biodegradation Metabolites of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Environmental science & technology. 2020 Sep;54(17):10735–44.
• Gilbertson LM, Pourzahedi L, Laughton S, Gao X, Zimmerman JB, Theis TL, et al. Guiding the design space for nanotechnology to advance sustainable crop production. Nature nanotechnology. 2020 Sep;15(9):801–10.
• Hofmann T, Lowry GV, Ghoshal S, Tufenkji N, Brambilla D, Dutcher JR, et al. Technology readiness and overcoming barriers to sustainably implement nanotechnology-enabled plant agriculture. Nature Food. 2020 Jul 1;1(7):416–25.
• Clark RM, Stabryla LM, Gilbertson LM. Sustainability coursework: student perspectives and reflections on design thinking. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 2020 Apr 22;21(3):593–611.
• Pandorf M, Pourzahedi L, Gilbertson L, Lowry GV, Herckes P, Westerhoff P. Graphite nanoparticle addition to fertilizers reduces nitrate leaching in growth of lettuce (: Lactuca sativa). Environmental Science: Nano. 2020 Jan 1;7(1):127–38.
• Barrios AC, Wang Y, Gilbertson LM, Perreault F. Structure-Property-Toxicity Relationships of Graphene Oxide: Role of Surface Chemistry on the Mechanisms of Interaction with Bacteria. Environmental science & technology. 2019 Dec;53(24):14679–87.
• Lowry GV, Avellan A, Gilbertson LM. Opportunities and challenges for nanotechnology in the agri-tech revolution. Nature nanotechnology. 2019 Jun;14(6):517–22.
• Lankone RS, Challis K, Pourzahedi L, Durkin DP, Bi Y, Wang Y, et al. Copper release and transformation following natural weathering of nano-enabled pressure-treated lumber. The Science of the total environment. 2019 Jun;668:234–44.
• Johnston KA, Stabryla LM, Gilbertson LM, Millstone JE. Emerging investigator series: Connecting concepts of coinage metal stability across length scales. Environmental Science: Nano. 2019 Jan 1;6(9):2674–96.
• Wang Y, De Carvalho NA, Tan S, Gilbertson LM. Leveraging electrochemistry to uncover the role of nitrogen in the biological reactivity of nitrogen-doped graphene. Environmental Science: Nano. 2019 Jan 1;6(12):3525–38.
• Wang Y, Tavakkoli S, Khanna V, Vidic RD, Gilbertson LM. Life Cycle Impact and Benefit Trade-Offs of a Produced Water and Abandoned Mine Drainage Cotreatment Process. Environmental science & technology. 2018 Dec;52(23):13995–4005.
• Smith AM, Gilbertson LM. Rational Ligand Design to Improve Agrochemical Delivery Efficiency and Advance Agriculture Sustainability. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 2018 Nov 5;6(11):13599–610.
• Falinski MM, Plata DL, Chopra SS, Theis TL, Gilbertson LM, Zimmerman JB. A framework for sustainable nanomaterial selection and design based on performance, hazard, and economic considerations. Nature nanotechnology. 2018 Aug;13(8):708–14.
• Clark RM, Stabryla LM, Gilbertson LM. Use of active learning and the design thinking process to drive creative sustainable engineering design solutions. In: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings. 2018.
• Urso JH, Gilbertson LM. Atom Conversion Efficiency: A New Sustainability Metric Applied to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Use in Agriculture. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 2018 Apr 2;6(4):4453–63.
• Johnston KA, Stabryla LM, Smith AM, Gan XY, Gilbertson LM, Millstone JE. Impacts of broth chemistry on silver ion release, surface chemistry composition, and bacterial cytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles. Environmental Science: Nano. 2018 Jan 1;5(2):304–12.
• Pourzahedi L, Pandorf M, Ravikumar D, Zimmerman JB, Seager TP, Theis TL, et al. Life cycle considerations of nano-enabled agrochemicals: Are today's tools up to the task? Environmental Science: Nano. 2018 Jan 1;5(5):1057–69.
• Yin J, Wang Y, Gilbertson LM. Opportunities to advance sustainable design of nano-enabled agriculture identified through a literature review. Environmental Science: Nano. 2018 Jan 1;5(1):11–26.
• Stabryla LM, Johnston KA, Millstone JE, Gilbertson LM. Emerging investigator series: It's not all about the ion: Support for particle-specific contributions to silver nanoparticle antimicrobial activity. Environmental Science: Nano. 2018 Jan 1;5(9):2047–68.
• Lankone RS, Challis KE, Bi Y, Hanigan D, Reed RB, Zaikova T, et al. Methodology for quantifying engineered nanomaterial release from diverse product matrices under outdoor weathering conditions and implications for life cycle assessment. Environmental Science: Nano. 2017 Jan 1;4(9):1784–97.
• Wang Y, Gilbertson LM. Informing rational design of graphene oxide through surface chemistry manipulations: Properties governing electrochemical and biological activities. Green Chemistry. 2017 Jan 1;19(12):2826–38.
• Gallagher MJ, Allen C, Buchman JT, Qiu TA, Clement PL, Krause MOP, et al. Research highlights: applications of life-cycle assessment as a tool for characterizing environmental impacts of engineered nanomaterials. Environmental Science: Nano. 2017 Jan 1;4(2):276–81.
• Gilbertson LM, Ng CA. Evaluating the use of alternatives assessment to compare bulk organic chemical and nanomaterial alternatives to brominated flame retardants. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 2016 Nov 7;4(11):6019–30.
• Gilbertson LM, Albalghiti EM, Fishman ZS, Perreault F, Corredor C, Posner JD, et al. Shape-Dependent Surface Reactivity and Antimicrobial Activity of Nano-Cupric Oxide. Environmental science & technology. 2016 Apr;50(7):3975–84.
• Gilbertson LM, Melnikov F, Wehmas LC, Anastas PT, Tanguay RL, Zimmerman JB. Toward safer multi-walled carbon nanotube design: Establishing a statistical model that relates surface charge and embryonic zebrafish mortality. Nanotoxicology. 2016 Jan;10(1):10–9.
• Azoz S, Gilbertson LM, Hashmi SM, Han P, Sterbinsky GE, Kanaan SA, et al. Enhanced dispersion and electronic performance of single-walled carbon nanotube thin films without surfactant: A comprehensive study of various treatment processes. Carbon. 2015 Aug 8;93:1008–20.
• Gilbertson LM, Zimmerman JB, Plata DL, Hutchison JE, Anastas PT. Designing nanomaterials to maximize performance and minimize undesirable implications guided by the Principles of Green Chemistry. Chemical Society reviews. 2015 Aug;44(16):5758–77.
• Hicks AL, Gilbertson LM, Yamani JS, Theis TL, Zimmerman JB. Life Cycle Payback Estimates of Nanosilver Enabled Textiles under Different Silver Loading, Release, And Laundering Scenarios Informed by Literature Review. Environmental science & technology. 2015 Jul;49(13):7529–42.
• Azoz S, Exarhos AL, Marquez A, Gilbertson LM, Nejati S, Cha JJ, et al. Highly conductive single-walled carbon nanotube thin film preparation by direct alignment on substrates from water dispersions. Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids. 2015 Jan;31(3):1155–63.
• Gilbertson LM, Wender BA, Zimmerman JB, Eckelman MJ. Coordinating modeling and experimental research of engineered nanomaterials to improve life cycle assessment studies. Environmental Science: Nano. 2015 Jan 1;2(6):669–82.
• Gilbertson LM, Busnaina AA, Isaacs JA, Zimmerman JB, Eckelman MJ. Life cycle impacts and benefits of a carbon nanotube-enabled chemical gas sensor. Environmental science & technology. 2014 Oct;48(19):11360–8.
• Gilbertson LM, Goodwin DG, Taylor AD, Pfefferle L, Zimmerman JB. Toward tailored functional design of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs): electrochemical and antimicrobial activity enhancement via oxidation and selective reduction. Environmental science & technology. 2014 May;48(10):5938–45.
• Pasquini LM, Sekol RC, Taylor AD, Pfefferle LD, Zimmerman JB. Realizing comparable oxidative and cytotoxic potential of single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubes through annealing. Environmental science & technology. 2013 Aug;47(15):8775–83.
• Pasquini LM, Hashmi SM, Sommer TJ, Elimelech M, Zimmerman JB. Impact of surface functionalization on bacterial cytotoxicity of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Environmental science & technology. 2012 Jun;46(11):6297–305.

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