Who we are
We are a team of engineers and scientists focused on developing novel biotechnologies for efficiently converting renewable feedstocks into a variety of sustainable fuel and chemical products. We work at the interface of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, while also incorporating key elements of industrial and applied microbiology, and use these skills to ‘re-program’ and study microorganisms that carry out various functions of interest. Current applications include engineering novel biosynthetic pathways, expanding catabolic range and capacity, improving strain robustness, and enhancing other traits of industrial importance, among others. Learn more…
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Complex problems require multi-disciplinary solutions. Thus, for us and the scientific community as a whole to continue to gain new and meaningful fundamental insights that will ultimately help to address the Grand Challenges facing today’s society, it is critical that unique and fresh perspectives are both encouraged and enthusiastically embraced. To this end, our group continues to provide a safe and inclusive environment where all are welcome, regardless of culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, nation of origin, age, education, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and/or beliefs. Science belongs to all of us, and our discoveries are better and stronger when achieved together.
Research Areas
Novel pathway engineering
Strain optimization
Product tolerance
Adaptive laboratory evolution
New strain engineering tools
Biosensors
Dynamic control
Synthetic microbial communities
Integrated bioreactors
Product separation
Photobioreactors
Process modeling and optimization
Take a Tour of our Lab Space
Recent News & Announcements
ARCS fellowship from Michael!
PhD Student Michael Machas has been named an Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholar for 2017-2018. Congrats! Learn more about ARCS Scholars at ASU.
Dr. Chris Jones joins the Group!
Chris comes to us from the Pfleger Lab at U of Wisconsin to work on engineering biofuel production in Synechocystis!
Karthika Defends M.S. Thesis!
Congrats to Karthika on her recent successful defense!
SIMB 2016
We will be presenting our research at SIMB 2016 in New Orleans, LA.
New DOE project coming soon!
We are part of a team recently selected for biofuels funding by the DOE (BETO 'Bioincubator'). This project will engineer cyanobacteria for the photosynthetic production of ethyl laurate - a biodiesel replacement. Read more about the project, as well as another...
New website launched!
Welcome to our new home on the web! Please have a look around to learn more about us and what we do.
Research Tools
Find the right tools for the job.
Internal Resources
Private access portal for lab members.
Lab Safety
Safety first.