Our laboratory views microbes as small “green” factories that can convert simple carbon sources such as CO2, glucose or even plant residues into valuable bioproducts such as fuels, commodity and specialty chemicals or pharmaceuticals. Using a combination of functional genomics and metabolic engineering techniques, we study microbes normally found in the environment in order to better understand their metabolism and physiology with the purpose of eventually engineering them as alternatives to producing, cleaner, better, cheaper or even novel products. Read about our ongoing projects.

The goal pursued by SysMO is to record and describe the dynamic molecular processes going on in unicellular microorganisms in a comprehensive way and to present these processes in the form of computerized mathematical models.

The Genomics:GTL (GTL) research program focuses on developing technologies to understand and use the diverse capabilities of plants and microbes for innovative solutions to DOE energy and environmental mission challenges.