Lidstrom's work spans microbial physiology and natural complex microbial communities and has applications to biotechnology. Specifically, she has worked extensively on
methylotroph bacteria that grow on one-carbon compounds. After conducting her doctorate research on C-1 metabolism in
Methylobacterium organophilum, Lidstrom undertook post-doctoral research at
University of Sheffield UK with
J. Rodney Quayle on species of the
methylotrophic yeasts
Hansenula and
Candida, and then returned to the US with faculty posts at the University of Washington,
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the
California Institute of Technology where she has taught courses on
microbiology,
oceanography,
environmental engineering science,
chemical engineering and
bioengineering. While at
Caltech she served as vice-chair of the Faculty. In 1996 she moved to University of Washington and has remained there. In addition, she served as Associate Dean for New Initiatives in Engineering from 1997 to 2005 and Interim
Provost from 2010 to 2011. ==Publications==