Leanne Gilbertson

  • (2014) Harding Bliss Prize for Excellence in Engineering and Applied Science.
  • (2014) Yale-Jefferson Public Service Award.
  • (2012 - 2014) National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship.
  • (2010 - 2012) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) STAR Fellowship.
  • (2010) National Science Foundation Scholar Conference Travel Award.
  • (2010) ACS Green Chemistry Institute Ciba Travel Award.
  • (2007) Phi Beta Kappa.
  • (2007) Undergraduate Student Award from the NY Section of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy.
  • (2007 - 2008) George Watson's College Teaching Fellowship.
  • Top 10 Reviewer Award, Environmental Science: Nano.
  • Excellence in Review Award, Environmental Science and Technology.
  • Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award.
  • 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award.

  • PhD, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, 2009 - 2014
  • MA, MPhil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, 2009 - 2012
  • BA, Chemistry, Hamilton College, 2003 - 2007

  • de Carvalho, N.A., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2023). Comparative life cycle assessment of graphitic carbon nitride synthesis routes. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 27(3), 1008-1020.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1111/jiec.13390.
  • Gilbertson, L.M., & Vikesland, P.J. (2022). Inspiring a nanocircular economy. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 9(3), 839-840.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/d2en90005j.
  • Albalghiti, E., Stabryla, L.M., Gilbertson, L.M., & Zimmerman, J.B. (2021). 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, 8(1), 37-66.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/d0en00949k.
  • Barrios, A.C., Cahue, Y.P., Wang, Y., Geiger, J., Puerari, R.C., Matias, W.G., Melegari, S.P., Gilbertson, L.M., & Perreault, F. (2021). Emerging investigator series: a multispecies analysis of the relationship between oxygen content and toxicity in graphene oxide. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 8(6), 1543-1559.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/d0en01264e.
  • Cruces, E., Barrios, A.C., Cahue, Y.P., Januszewski, B., Gilbertson, L.M., & Perreault, F. (2021). Similar toxicity mechanisms between graphene oxide and oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in Microcystis aeruginosa. Chemosphere, 265, 129137.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129137.
  • de Carvalho, N.A., Wang, Y., Morales-Soto, N., Waldeck, D., Bibby, K., Doudrick, K., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2021). Using C‑Doping to Identify Photocatalytic Properties of Graphitic Carbon Nitride That Govern Antibacterial Efficacy. ACS ES&T Water, 1(2), 269-280.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.0c00053.
  • Sleight, T.W., Sexton, C.N., Mpourmpakis, G., Gilbertson, L.M., & Ng, C.A. (2021). A Classification Model to Identify Direct-Acting Mutagenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Transformation Products. Chem Res Toxicol, 34(11), 2273-2286.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00187.
  • Stabryla, L.M., Johnston, K.A., Diemler, N.A., Cooper, V.S., Millstone, J.E., Haig, S.J., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2021). Role of bacterial motility in differential resistance mechanisms of silver nanoparticles and silver ions. Nat Nanotechnol, 16(9), 996-1003.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41565-021-00929-w.
  • Clark, R.M., Stabryla, L.M., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2020). Sustainability coursework: student perspectives and reflections on design thinking. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 21(3), 593-611.Emerald. doi: 10.1108/IJSHE-09-2019-0275.
  • Gilbertson, L.M., Pourzahedi, L., Laughton, S., Gao, X., Zimmerman, J.B., Theis, T.L., Westerhoff, P., & Lowry, G.V. (2020). Guiding the design space for nanotechnology to advance sustainable crop production. Nat Nanotechnol, 15(9), 801-810.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41565-020-0706-5.
  • Hofmann, T., Lowry, G.V., Ghoshal, S., Tufenkji, N., Brambilla, D., Dutcher, J.R., Gilbertson, L.M., Giraldo, J.P., Kinsella, J.M., Landry, M.P., Lovell, W., Naccache, R., Paret, M., Pedersen, J.A., Unrine, J.M., White, J.C., & Wilkinson, K.J. (2020). Technology readiness and overcoming barriers to sustainably implement nanotechnology-enabled plant agriculture. NATURE FOOD, 1(7), 416-425.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s43016-020-0110-1.
  • Pandorf, M., Pourzahedi, L., Gilbertson, L., Lowry, G.V., Herckes, P., & Westerhoff, P. (2020). Graphite nanoparticle addition to fertilizers reduces nitrate leaching in growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 7(1), 127-138.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c9en00890j.
  • Sleight, T.W., Khanna, V., Gilbertson, L.M., & Ng, C.A. (2020). Network Analysis for Prioritizing Biodegradation Metabolites of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Environ Sci Technol, 54(17), 10735-10744.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02217.
  • Wang, Y., Basdogan, Y., Zhang, T., Lankone, R.S., Wallace, A.N., Fairbrother, D.H., Keith, J.A., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2020). Unveiling the Synergistic Role of Oxygen Functional Groups in the Graphene-Mediated Oxidation of Glutathione. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 12(41), 45753-45762.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c11539.
  • Barrios, A.C., Wang, Y., Gilbertson, L.M., & Perreault, F. (2019). Structure-Property-Toxicity Relationships of Graphene Oxide: Role of Surface Chemistry on the Mechanisms of Interaction with Bacteria. Environ Sci Technol, 53(24), 14679-14687.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05057.
  • Johnston, K.A., Stabryla, L.M., Gilbertson, L.M., & Millstone, J.E. (2019). Emerging investigator series: connecting concepts of coinage metal stability across length scales. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 6(9), 2674-2696.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c9en00407f.
  • Lankone, R.S., Challis, K., Pourzahedi, L., Durkin, D.P., Bi, Y., Wang, Y., Garland, M.A., Brown, F., Hristovski, K., Tanguay, R.L., Westerhoff, P., Lowry, G., Gilbertson, L.M., Ranville, J., & Fairbrother, D.H. (2019). Copper release and transformation following natural weathering of nano-enabled pressure-treated lumber. Sci Total Environ, 668, 234-244.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.433.
  • Lowry, G.V., Avellan, A., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2019). Opportunities and challenges for nanotechnology in the agri-tech revolution. Nat Nanotechnol, 14(6), 517-522.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41565-019-0461-7.
  • Wang, Y., de Carvalho, N.A., Tan, S., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2019). Leveraging electrochemistry to uncover the role of nitrogen in the biological reactivity of nitrogen-doped graphene. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 6(12), 3525-3538.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c9en00802k.
  • Falinski, M.M., Plata, D.L., Chopra, S.S., Theis, T.L., Gilbertson, L.M., & Zimmerman, J.B. (2018). A framework for sustainable nanomaterial selection and design based on performance, hazard, and economic considerations. Nat Nanotechnol, 13(8), 708-714.Springer Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41565-018-0120-4.
  • Johnston, K.A., Stabryla, L.M., Smith, A.M., Gan, X.Y., Gilbertson, L.M., & Millstone, J.E. (2018). Impacts of broth chemistry on silver ion release, surface chemistry composition, and bacterial cytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 5(2), 304-312.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c7en00974g.
  • Pourzahedi, L., Pandorf, M., Ravikumar, D., Zimmerman, J.B., Seager, T.P., Theis, T.L., Westerhoff, P., Gilbertson, L.M., & Lowry, G.V. (2018). Life cycle considerations of nano-enabled agrochemicals: are today's tools up to the task?. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 5(5), 1057-1069.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c7en01166k.
  • Smith, A.M., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2018). Rational Ligand Design To Improve Agrochemical Delivery Efficiency and Advance Agriculture Sustainability. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, 6(11), 13599-13610.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b03457.
  • Stabryla, L.M., Johnston, K.A., Millstone, J.E., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2018). Emerging investigator series: it's not all about the ion: support for particle-specific contributions to silver nanoparticle antimicrobial activity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 5(9), 2047-2068.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c8en00429c.
  • Urso, J.H., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2018). Atom Conversion Efficiency: A New Sustainability Metric Applied to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Use in Agriculture. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, 6(4), 4453-4463.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b03600.
  • Wang, Y., Tavakkoli, S., Khanna, V., Vidic, R.D., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2018). Life Cycle Impact and Benefit Trade-Offs of a Produced Water and Abandoned Mine Drainage Cotreatment Process. Environ Sci Technol, 52(23), 13995-14005.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b03773.
  • Yin, J., Wang, Y., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2018). Opportunities to advance sustainable design of nano-enabled agriculture identified through a literature review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 5(1), 11-26.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c7en00766c.
  • Gallagher, M.J., Allen, C., Buchman, J.T., Qiu, T.A., Clement, P.L., Krause, M.O.P., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2017). Research highlights: applications of life-cycle assessment as a tool for characterizing environmental impacts of engineered nanomaterials. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 4(2), 276-281.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c7en90005h.
  • Lankone, R.S., Challis, K.E., Bi, Y., Hanigan, D., Reed, R.B., Zaikova, T., Hutchison, J.E., Westerhoff, P., Ranville, J., Fairbrother, H., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2017). Methodology for quantifying engineered nanomaterial release from diverse product matrices under outdoor weathering conditions and implications for life cycle assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 4(9), 1784-1797.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c7en00410a.
  • Wang, Y., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2017). Informing rational design of graphene oxide through surface chemistry manipulations: properties governing electrochemical and biological activities. GREEN CHEMISTRY, 19(12), 2826-2838.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c7gc00159b.
  • Gilbertson, L.M., & Ng, C.A. (2016). Evaluating the Use of Alternatives Assessment To Compare Bulk Organic Chemical and Nanomaterial Alternatives to Brominated Flame Retardants. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, 4(11), 6019-6030.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.6b01318.
  • Gilbertson, L.M., Albalghiti, E.M., Fishman, Z.S., Perreault, F., Corredor, C., Posner, J.D., Elimelech, M., Pfefferle, L.D., & Zimmerman, J.B. (2016). Shape-Dependent Surface Reactivity and Antimicrobial Activity of Nano-Cupric Oxide. Environ Sci Technol, 50(7), 3975-3984.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b05734.
  • Gilbertson, L.M., Melnikov, F., Wehmas, L.C., Anastas, P.T., Tanguay, R.L., & Zimmerman, J.B. (2016). Toward safer multi-walled carbon nanotube design: Establishing a statistical model that relates surface charge and embryonic zebrafish mortality. Nanotoxicology, 10(1), 10-19.Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.3109/17435390.2014.996193.
  • Azoz, S., Exarhos, A.L., Marquez, A., Gilbertson, L.M., Nejati, S., Cha, J.J., Zimmerman, J.B., Kikkawa, J.M., & Pfefferle, L.D. (2015). Highly conductive single-walled carbon nanotube thin film preparation by direct alignment on substrates from water dispersions. Langmuir, 31(3), 1155-1163.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/la503919u.
  • Azoz, S., Gilbertson, L.M., Hashmi, S.M., Han, P., Sterbinsky, G.E., Kanaan, S.A., Zimmerman, J.B., & Pfefferle, L.D. (2015). Enhanced dispersion and electronic performance of single-walled carbon nanotube thin films without surfactant: A comprehensive study of various treatment processes. CARBON, 93, 1008-1020.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2015.05.087.
  • Gilbertson, L.M., Wender, B.A., Zimmerman, J.B., & Eckelman, M.J. (2015). Coordinating modeling and experimental research of engineered nanomaterials to improve life cycle assessment studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO, 2(6), 669-682.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c5en00097a.
  • Gilbertson, L.M., Zimmerman, J.B., Plata, D.L., Hutchison, J.E., & Anastas, P.T. (2015). Designing nanomaterials to maximize performance and minimize undesirable implications guided by the Principles of Green Chemistry. Chem Soc Rev, 44(16), 5758-5777.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/c4cs00445k.
  • Hicks, A.L., Gilbertson, L.M., Yamani, J.S., Theis, T.L., & Zimmerman, J.B. (2015). Life Cycle Payback Estimates of Nanosilver Enabled Textiles under Different Silver Loading, Release, And Laundering Scenarios Informed by Literature Review. Environ Sci Technol, 49(13), 7529-7542.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01176.
  • Gilbertson, L.M., Busnaina, A.A., Isaacs, J.A., Zimmerman, J.B., & Eckelman, M.J. (2014). Life cycle impacts and benefits of a carbon nanotube-enabled chemical gas sensor. Environ Sci Technol, 48(19), 11360-11368.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/es5006576.
  • Gilbertson, L.M., Goodwin, D.G., Taylor, A.D., Pfefferle, L., & Zimmerman, J.B. (2014). Toward tailored functional design of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs): electrochemical and antimicrobial activity enhancement via oxidation and selective reduction. Environ Sci Technol, 48(10), 5938-5945.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/es500468y.
  • Pasquini, L.M., Sekol, R.C., Taylor, A.D., Pfefferle, L.D., & Zimmerman, J.B. (2013). Realizing comparable oxidative and cytotoxic potential of single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubes through annealing. Environ Sci Technol, 47(15), 8775-8783.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/es401786s.
  • Pasquini, L.M., Hashmi, S.M., Sommer, T.J., Elimelech, M., & Zimmerman, J.B. (2012). Impact of surface functionalization on bacterial cytotoxicity of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Environ Sci Technol, 46(11), 6297-6305.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/es300514s.

  • Clark, R.M., Stabryla, L.M., & Gilbertson, L.M. (2018). 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-June.
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Contact Leanne Gilbertson
Associate Professor
lmg110@pitt.edu
Work: (412) 624-1683
The Gilbertson Group
LMG Lab
Civil & Environmental Engr