Peeples Lab

Dr. Tonya Peeples joined Penn State University in 2018 as a Professor on the Chemical Engineering and the inaugural Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion for the College of Engineering. In these roles, she continuously works to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. Prior to these roles, she served as Associate Dean for Diversity and Outreach and Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of Iowa. She earned her Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University.  She received several awards for her research and leadership including the NSF CAREER Award and the Pioneers of Diversity Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.  She currently serves as a leader of the leadership team for NSF INCLUDES Aspire Alliance.  In 2020, Dr. Peeples was elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s College of Fellows and received the Million Women Mentors Trailblazer Award for her innovation and demonstrated excellence in the field of mentoring.

The Peeples chemical engineering research group carries out biological conversions that offer more sustainable chemical processes. The application of biological systems in carrying out chemical reactions has long been viewed as a sustainable technology due to the mild conditions for processing. The Peeples group is evaluating the evolution of stabilizing adaptations in microbial systems. Knowledge of unique physiological function may enable the engineering of stability in industrial and environmental biocatalysts. We have developed ‘greener’ approaches to synthesize chiral drug precursor molecules.  Such chemo-enzymatic and whole-cell synthesis processes compete favorably over traditional chemical approaches that employ multiple steps with numerous hazardous chemicals. We have employed biphasic process to increase productivity of the biocatalytic systems.  Activities include bacterial and fungal transformations as well as enzymatic “bio-resolution” processes. Current research also includes the discovery of unique enzymes for biotransformation as well as the evaluation of molecular interactions that govern protein stability and biofilm formation. These areas of biocatalysis have been supported by a variety of federal and corporate entities including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), Unites States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as well as private companies.