Doyle Lab @ IIT Delhi

The Electromicrobiology Group at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi investigates electroactive microorganisms and their ability to generate electricity. Our work is dedicated to understanding and utilising the electrical connections that exist between microbes and their surroundings.

About the field of electromicrobiology

Microorganisms can generate an electrical current through a process called extracellular electron transfer. This ability is now understood to be widespread in nature, from environmental microorganisms like Shewanella oneidensis and Geobacter metallireducens, to medically-relevant species including Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (sometimes known as "weak electricigens"). Extracellular electron transfer typically occurs when microorganisms pass electrons to a solid electron acceptor such as a metal or electrode. The opposite is also possible in which the microorganism consumes electrons from the metal or electrode, in an act of electrotrophy. Microbial electroactivity has important implications for our understanding of life in the absence of soluble electron acceptors or donors. Electroactive microorganisms can be put to work in numerous ways including powering small devices, electrosynthesis of commodity chemicals, bioremediation and biosensing.

Potential applications and implications of weak electricigens. Image is from our recent publication in Trends in Biotechnology (Cell Press), available here.

Publications

See all

Group research themes

Uncovering the diversity of microbial electroactivity

Enrichment and isolation of novel electroactive microorganisms from various environments
Characterisation of weak electricigens, non-traditional electroactive microbes and the spectrum of microbial electroactivity

Understanding the electrical connections between microbes & their surroundings

Investigation of factors influencing extracellular electron transfer in both pure cultures and mixed species communities using a variety of techniques

Enhancing & applying electroactive microorganisms

Development of novel electrode materials for bioelectrochemical systems
Design of biosensors based on electroactive microbes

Group Members

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Lucinda Elizabeth Doyle

Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

Curriculum vitae

Debasa Mukherjee

PhD Scholar

Project: Extracellular electron transfer at the extremes: exploring the limits of extracellular electron transfer

Monika Luthra

PhD Scholar

Project: Electroactive India: profiling electrochemically-active microorganisms from across the subcontinent.

Nitesh Kanojia

PhD Scholar
(University of Queensland-IITD Academy of Research)

Project: Investigation of the interface between electrochemically-active microorganisms and metals

UQ Supervisor: Prof. Gordon Southam, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Kshitij Kathait

PhD Scholar

Project: Investigating spin-selective interactions between electroactive microorganisms and their environment

Shriya Grover

PhD Scholar

Project: Towards enhancing electron transfer between electroactive microorganisms and electrodes

Past members

Dr. Kartik Aiyer

Institute Postdoctoral Fellow (I-PDF) 2021-22

Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Electromicrobiology, Aarhus University, Denmark.

About the P.I.

Education

B.Sc. (Hons) Biotechnology
Dublin City University
Ireland
2008 - 2012

Ph.D.
NTU Singapore
2013 - 2017

Positions held

Assistant Professor
DBEB
IIT Delhi
2019 - present

Postdoctoral Researcher
Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering
NTU Singapore
2017 - 2019

Announcements

Contact

PhD / MSR Applicants

Applications for the PhD/MSR programmes in the Department of Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology at IIT Delhi are typically invited twice a year. Those interested may consult the announcements section of the departmental website. Kindly note that admissions are conducted on a departmental basis, and not by individual faculty members.

Prof. Lucinda Elizabeth Doyle
Dept. Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Hauz Khas
New Delhi 110-016
India

Email: lucinda [at] iitd.ac.in
Twitter: @lucindaedoyle

The Electromicrobiology Group at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi investigates electroactive microorganisms and their ability to generate electricity. Our work is dedicated to understanding and utilising the electrical connections that exist between microbes and their surroundings.

About the field of electromicrobiology

Publications

Group research themes

Group Members

Principal Investigator: Dr. Lucinda Elizabeth Doyle

Debasa Mukherjee

Monika Luthra

Nitesh Kanojia

Kshitij Kathait

Shriya Grover

Past members

Dr. Kartik Aiyer

About the P.I.

Education

Positions held

Announcements

Contact

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Lucinda Elizabeth Doyle