Rosemary Le

Laboratory Supervisor I/Staff Professional

Rosemary Le joined the Knoxville SiREM Laboratory in November 2022. She received a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a minor in Biotechnology from North Carolina State University before moving to Knoxville to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Certificate in Sustainable Science at the University of Tennessee.

Having learned molecular biology during her undergraduate studies, she applied her toolbox of skills by genetically engineering photosynthetic proteins to produce hydrogen or electricity when exposed to light. As a post-doc, she applied her fermentation knowledge by using industrial waste to generate bio-oils and commodity chemicals in soil bacteria, for circular economies, and she  has experience with recalcitrant compounds.

“Somehow, my past work experiences and the skills I’ve picked up along the way have all been utilized in the projects I’ve been a part of at SiREM. Through combining my skills in chemistry, biology, economics, and technology to solve environmental problems, I feel this is where I’m meant to be. Ultimately, I believe it is necessary for humans to use science to understand the environment so that we can live better without disturbing its natural balance.”

Her extensive research background compliments the wide scope of services provided at SiREM. Rosemary has been involved in treatability studies, method development, proposal writing, and research projects, and she is also playing a part in one of SiREM’s newest service areas, anti-microbial efficacy testing.

In her free time, Rosemary enjoys baking, antiquing, gardening, and spending time with her husband, Paul, and Dalmatian (Cannoli) and Great Pyrenees-Husky (Isosceles) dogs.