N. Cecilia Martinez-Gomez

Research Bio

N. Cecilia Martinez-Gomez does research in Microbial (bacterial) Metabolism, particularly one-carbon metabolism. She merges her research with Structural Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering, and Biotechnology. Her studies unravel the role of lanthanides in biology, focusing on lanthanide biochemistry, lanthanide-dependent bacterial metabolism, and microbe-plant interactions. Her research also aims to develop bacterial platforms to further the agricultural and energy industries and to improve our environment particularly focusing on bioleaching, biometallurgy, bioremediation, and electronic waste recycling.

Research Expertise and Interest

microbial physiology, one-carbon metabolism, microbial molecular biology, bacteria, enzymes, enzyme activity, enzymology, enzyme kinetics, protein biochemistry, protein characterization

In the News

Engineering a Hungry Bacterium to Protect Public Health

Microbiologist Cecilia Martinez-Gomez studies a widespread specie of bacteria that thrives on rare earth elements, also known as rare earth metals or lanthanides. She has engineered one strain of the bacteria to efficiently accumulate a rare earth element known as neodymium from electronics waste and recycle it back to the industry for making batteries, speakers, even jet turbines.

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent terms
2026 Spring

  • General Microbiology Laboratory  [MCELLBI C112L]  

  • General Microbiology Laboratory  [MCELLBI C112L]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [PLANTBI 199]  

  • Seminar  [PLANTBI 290]  

  • Research Review in Plant and Microbial Biology  [PLANTBI 292]  

  • Graduate Research  [PLANTBI 299]  

  • Individual Study for Graduate Students  [PLANTBI 602]  

  • General Microbiology Laboratory  [PLANTBI C112L]  

  • General Microbiology Laboratory  [PLANTBI C112L]  

  • Honors Research - Plant and Microbial Biology  [PLANTBI H196]  

  • Supervised Research: Biological Sciences  [UGIS 192C]  

2025 Fall

  • Research Review in Plant and Microbial Biology  [PLANTBI 292]  

  • Graduate Research  [PLANTBI 299]  

  • Honors Research - Plant and Microbial Biology  [PLANTBI H196]  

  • Supervised Research: Biological Sciences  [UGIS 192C]  

2025 Spring

  • General Microbiology Laboratory  [MCELLBI C112L]  

  • General Microbiology Laboratory  [MCELLBI C112L]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [PLANTBI 199]  

  • Microbial Physiology  [PLANTBI 220E]  

  • Microbial Physiology  [PLANTBI 220E]  

  • Seminar  [PLANTBI 290]  

  • Research Review in Plant and Microbial Biology  [PLANTBI 292]  

  • Graduate Research  [PLANTBI 299]  

  • Individual Study for Graduate Students  [PLANTBI 602]  

  • General Microbiology Laboratory  [PLANTBI C112L]  

  • General Microbiology Laboratory  [PLANTBI C112L]  

  • Honors Research - Plant and Microbial Biology  [PLANTBI H196]