Amy Lane

Amy Lane serves as Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where she integrates undergraduate education with cutting-edge research in chemical biology and natural products discovery.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology (2008)
• BS in Chemistry from Indiana State University (2003)

Dr. Lane's research program centers on Microbial Natural Products and the Genetic Engineering of Biosynthetic Pathways, with emphasis on elucidating bacterial capabilities to produce bioactive compounds. Her work drives Drug Discovery through sustainable biotechnology approaches, targeting future pharmaceuticals and green production tools. Key methodologies include pathway engineering, metabolomics, and genomic analysis of actinomycetes.

Her publication record (2015-2023) demonstrates consistent innovation in diketopiperazine biosynthesis, enzyme characterization, and natural product discovery. The research integrates genomics, analytical chemistry, and synthetic biology to reveal novel biosynthetic mechanisms across marine and terrestrial microorganisms, with significant contributions to understanding enzyme multifunctionality and pathway evolution.

Major recognitions include:

• Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2019)
• American Society of Pharmacognosy Matt Suffness Award (2019)
• Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Award (2012)

Dr. Lane has secured over $1 million in research funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Dreyfus Foundation to support undergraduate mentorship. Her lab trains students in hands-on research leading to co-authorship on high-impact publications, preparing them for STEM leadership roles. The Lane Lab operates as a collaborative undergraduate research team focused on sustainable chemical innovation from microbial sources, with projects spanning medicinal chemistry, agricultural applications, and enzyme engineering.