Jessica A. Gorman, a nationally recognized molecular biologist, died of lung cancer on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at Chandler Hall in Newtown, PA.

Dr. Gorman, 76 and a 20-year resident of Yardley, PA, most recently taught at Thomas Jefferson University, Temple University and at Penn State University. Prior to 2000, she was Principal Scientist with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute in Princeton, NJ where she led a team to develop seminal microbially based drug screening systems.

Dr. Gorman had a record of accomplishment in both basic and applied research in the area of microbial genetics and heterologous gene expression. She held seven U. S. Patents, including several in the field of yeast genetics (Candida albicans.) In addition to medical research and teaching, Dr. Gorman served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Bacteriology and of the international journal, GENE. She authored or co-authored more than 40 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals.

Dr. Gorman began her career in 1963 as a postdoctoral fellow at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Gif-sur-Yvette, France, followed by appointments to the faculties of the University of Kentucky Medical School (1965-1972) and the University of Wisconsin (1972-1982) where she taught as well as conducted independent research. She joined Glaxo SmithKline Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories in 1982, to direct investigations in yeast genetics.

In retirement, Dr. Gorman devoted herself to adjuvant teaching positions, sculpture and printmaking, and to the outdoors. She was an avid member of the Canon Ringers Bell Choir at the Newtown Presbyterian Church, and took delight in the activities of her stepchildren and grandchildren.

Dr. Gorman was born Jessica Angell in Springfield, MA. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Rochester (NY), Ms. Gorman completed her Masters in Medical Sciences at Harvard Medical School, and her Ph.D in Medical Genetics at the University of Wisconsin (Madison.) She was a longtime member of the Genetics Society of America, the American Society for Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Gorman is survived by her husband Robin L. Vannote of Yardley, PA. She was predeceased by her first husband, John Gorman, and her parents Theodore F. and Louise Emery Angell.

In addition to her husband, Jerry, as she was known to her family and friends, is survived by her sister Judith Keith, of Andover, NJ and her step-children: Lisa McCloskey and her husband Michael of Warminster, PA, Sandra J. Vannote and her husband David Orwig of Gardner, MA, R. Lewis Vannote and his wife Keelin Redmond of Akin, SC, and Burling Vannote of Kennett Square, PA, as well as six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at Newtown Presbyterian Church, Washington Avenue and Chancellor Street, Newtown, PA. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Bell Choir at Newtown Presbyterian Church, to the Bucks County SPCA or to The Nature Conservancy.