Synthetic microbial consortia can be engineered for enhanced biomass productivity

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:00:00 -0500

Basic research in metabolic engineering and biochemical modeling provides a foundation for potential industrial applications, and reveals basic tenants in microbial community ecology. This work represents synthesis among the fields of molecular biology, aqueous geochemistry, environmental microbiology, chemical engineering and mathematics. In this regard, Hans Bernstein's research on synthetic consortia and the importance of oxygen flux to microbial communities addresses key goals to be a national leader in transformative science and engineering. Secondarily, our goals to build a more integrative and diverse workforce is enhanced by successful projects completed by Dr. Bernstein. Not only has this knowledge and experience formed the basis for other work remaining at MSU, Hans will interact with and train new people in his continuing professional career, and his view of what is possible in science and engineering has been cultivated extremely well in our IGERT Program.