Lovley is perhaps best known for his research showing how certain anaerobes (microorganisms that do not use oxygen) instead make use of Fe(III), a compound of iron, to make energy and grow. He isolated the first known microbial species capable of using iron in its metabolism, now known as Geobacter metallireducens, in the Potomac River near Washington, DC. Lovley subsequently discovered that Geobacter species can be found in many other kinds of sedimentary and soil environments and that other microorganisms besides Geobacter are capable of using Fe(III) under ordinary and extreme growth conditions.
One of the most exciting aspects of Lovley's innovative work lies in its applications in bioremediation, which is the use of microbes or other organisms to remove hazardous substances from an environment. In addition to iron, some anaerobic bacteria can use other metals, including gold and uranium, in their metabolism. Harnessing the ability of these microbes to reduce these substances to less-harmful forms may be key to removing uranium, petroleum, and other contaminants from groundwater. Further research on the anaerobic degradation of toluene, benzene, and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has suggested potential applications for treating soils contaminated with these compounds, as well.
After earning his B.A. from the University of Connecticut and M.A. from Clark University, both in biological sciences, Lovley received a Ph.D. in microbiology from Michigan State University. A Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, Lovley has garnered many research and academic awards. In 1990, he was named Mendenhall Lecturer of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Survey's highest scientific honor. In 1992, he was the Grand Winner of Popular Science's annual "Best of What's New in Environmental Technology."
The Proctor & Gamble Award in Applied and Environmental Microbiology will be presented at the 104th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), May 23–27, 2004, in New Orleans, Louisiana. ASM is the largest single life science society, composed of over 42,000 scientists, teachers, physicians, and health professionals. Its mission is to promote research and training in the microbiological sciences and to assist communication between scientists, policymakers, and the public to improve health, economic well-being, and the environment.