Research Area: Bioenergy
Bioenergy research in the School of Life Sciences focuses on basic and applied research leading to (1) conversion of solar energy to chemical energy by photosynthetic organisms, and (2) an increased yield of biofuels (e.g., diesel and hydrogen). Research emphasizes the use of microalgae (cyanobacteria and algae) for biofuel production, as these organisms provide an efficient means to use solar energy without competing with agriculture and food production. However, alternate approaches involving higher plants are also pursued. The research is interdisciplinary, and includes, for example, metabolic engineering, microbiology, biochemistry, -omics (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics), and microbial ecology. Bioenergy research in the School of Life Sciences is part of the Center for Bioenergy and Photosynthesis that provides a broader renewable energy focus. Students interesting in doing research with a SOLS faculty mentor can apply to several graduate programs, including PhD and MS degrees in Biology, Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, or Plant Biology.
- Jens Appel
- Thomas (Tad) Day
- Wayne Frasch
- Ferran Garcia-Pichel
- Roberto Gaxiola
- Robert Roberson
- Jeffrey Touchman
- Willem Vermaas
- Andrew Webber
- Jingle Wu
ASU Faculty list in the Center for Bioenergy and Photosynthesis
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