Edward R. Lyman

Edward R. Lyman is a Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Delaware (UD), affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. He has been part of the UD faculty since 2011. His research focuses on membrane biophysics, molecular dynamics simulations, and lipid-protein interactions, with an emphasis on understanding how membrane properties emerge from molecular interactions and influence cellular function.

Lyman holds a BS in Physics from Pennsylvania State University and a PhD in Physics from Virginia Tech. His work combines computational methods with experimental collaborations to study membrane lipid dynamics, cholesterol interactions, and evolutionary adaptations in extreme environments (e.g., deep-sea ctenophores). He has pioneered studies on membrane asymmetry, lipid-dependent GPCR activation, and high-pressure membrane resilience.

Key research areas include:

• Lipid-protein interactions in plasma membranes
• Cholesterol's role in receptor function
• Molecular simulations of membrane structure/function
• Evolutionary lipidome adaptations
• Membrane fluidity and elasticity under pressure

Notable achievements include the Thomas E. Thompson Award (Biophysical Society, 2024), the NIH MIRA Award (2023–2028), and the NSF IntBIO grant (2023). His group has published impactful work on ctenophore membrane adaptations (Science, 2023) and lipid-GPCR interactions (Structure, Biophysical Journal). He advises a diverse team of graduate and undergraduate researchers and collaborates with experimentalists in marine biology and structural biology.

Funding sources include NIH, NSF, and collaborative initiatives with institutions like UCSD and MBARI. His lab develops novel simulation methods (e.g., resolution exchange simulations) and integrates ML techniques for membrane analysis.