An Overview of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center

An Overview of GLBRC John M. Greenler, Ph.D.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Thursday, October 14, 2010

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“The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center’s mission is grand, but simply stated:

To perform the basic research that generates technology to convert cellulosic biomass to ethanol and other advanced biofuels.”

www.glbrc.org  

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The Mission of GLBRC

Great Lakes Bioenergy Roadmap, 2008

www.glbrc.org  

3  Our Design: Great Lakes Bioenergy Partners

!   DOE Office of Science Joint Genome Institute, etc.

!   Technology Transfer Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), others

!   Wisconsin & Michigan Facilities, Faculty & Staff

~400 scientists, staff & students across sites (August, 2010)

!   70 Faculty (17%) !   29 Senior scientists (7%) !   66 Post-doctoral scientist

(16%) !   52 Ph.D. Students (13%) !   55 Technicians (14%) !   85 Undergraduates (23%) !   42 Support staff in Operations,

IIT, E&O (10%) !   ~ 60 Research Projects

www.glbrc.org  

4  Our Design: Who We Are

Four discovery science programs provide knowledge to sustainably convert cellulosic biomass into liquid transportation fuels

www.glbrc.org  

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Our Research Roadmap

Genome-based Enabling Technologies (ET) & Informatics/Information Technology (IIT) supports all discovery science programs & operations

www.glbrc.org  

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Our Research Roadmap

Conversion  of  sugar  cane  (glucose)  or  corn  starch  (glucose  polymer)  to  ethanol  

Fermenta(on  (microbes)  

Glucose  

Ethanol  

Sugar    Cane  

Fermenta(on  (microbes)  

Starch  

Glucose  

Ethanol  

Heat  and/or  enzymes  

Corn    (grain)  

Today’s  Biofuel  Ethanol  Technology  

What  is  Cellulose?  

Conversion of Cellulosic Plant Biomass to Fuels

Mixed sugars, etc. (glucose, arabinose, xylose,

phenolics, etc.)

Ethanol  (next  generaAon  fuel)  

Plant biomass

“Loosened” cell wall material (cellulose hemicellulose, lignin)

?  Enzymes (cellulases, etc) or microbes

?  Pretreat (grind, heat, chemicals, pressure)

Tomorrow’s technology (GLBRC)

?  Fermentation (microbes) or catalysts

Lignocellulosic material

Fermentation (microbes)

Heat and/or enzymes

Fermentation (microbes)

Glucose  

Ethanol  

Sugar    Cane  

Corn    (kernels)  

Starch  

Glucose  

Ethanol  

Today’s  technology  

Biofuel Crops and Sustainability

An Overview of GLBRC John M. Greenler, Ph.D.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Thursday, October 14, 2010

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www.glbrc.org  

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Our Design: Education & Outreach !   Undergraduate level: summer research programs in collaboration

  Institute for Cross-College Biology Education (ICBE)   Genetically Engineered Machine (IGEM) Program   Kellogg Biological Station

!   K-12 teachers   Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)   Two-week summer Bioenergy institutes   Environmental Literacy Program

!   Providing training for future leaders of the biofuels sector !   Inform stakeholders on scientific issues associated with biofuels

Questions?

www.glbrc.org   13  

www.glbrc.org  

14  How Cellulosic Biofuels Could Be Made

Success depends on “which, where and how cellulosic biofuels are produced.” (Robertson et al. Science 2008)

Number of unknowns for each step dictates broad set of activities

www.glbrc.org  

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!   Integrates scientists & staff across sites !   Leverages diverse approaches to achieve a shared strategic vision

  Taps investigator creativity from academic, lab & private sector   Partners embrace mission, strategy & collaborative philosophy   Programs span biological, physical & computational sciences   Wet, dry & field laboratories   High-throughput core facilities

!   Internal collaborations empower Center-wide teamwork & creativity

Our Design: Benefits of Our Diversity