Conversion: Turning Plants into High-value Chemicals
The scientists in this theme will further develop a versatile, automated “biofoundry” for rapidly engineering microbial strains that can efficiently produce diverse, high-value molecules such as biodiesel, organic acids, jet fuels, lubricants, and alcohols. Using the design-build-test-learn framework, research in the Conversion theme will overcome the challenges associated with driving biological systems to produce non-natural compounds.
Check out a video of an integral part of the CABBI Conversion theme: the Illinois Biological Foundry for Advanced Biomanufacturing (iBioFAB) >>>
STRAIGHT FROM THE SCIENTISTS: Research Profiles Offer Insight into CABBI Work
Read Integration Postdoc Nam Kyu Kang’s profile by April Wendling >>>
Read Ph.D. Candidate Anshu Deewan’s research profile by Maria Maring >>>
Read Ph.D. Candidate Meera Gupta’s research profile by Julie Wurth >>>
Read Postdoc Qiang Yan’s research profile by Julie Wurth >>>
Read Postdoc Matthew Waugh’s research profile by April Wendling and Maria Maring >>>
Read Postdoc Zia Fatma’s research profile by Taylor Jennings >>>
Read an article on the work at the iBioFAB facility by April Wendling >>>
Read Postdoc Ming-Hsun Cheng’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Co-PI Yong-Su Jin’s research profile by Emily Scott >>>
Huimin Zhao: Theme Leader
Zhao, the Steven L. Miller Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is also a Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Bioengineering. He has 17-plus years of experience directing research projects funded by DOE, NSF, NIH, DOD, the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, and various companies. His research develops and applies synthetic biology approaches to engineer functionally improved or novel proteins, pathways, and genomes. An expert in industrial biotechnology, Zhao received his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1998 from the California Institute of Technology.
Joshua Rabinowitz: Deputy Theme Leader
Rabinowitz, a Professor of Chemistry and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University, is an expert in chemical biology. He aims to achieve a quantitative, comprehensive understanding of cellular metabolism as it relates to disease — as well as small molecules that can be the basis of many important pharmaceuticals and other biochemicals. His research is in technology development
, metabolic regulation in model microorganisms , biofuel production, metabolic impact of viral and malaria infection
, and cancer cell metabolism. Rabinowitz received his Ph.D. in Biophysics in 1999 at Stanford University.
Christopher Rao: Deputy Theme Leader
Rao, a Professor and and Robert W. Schaefer Scholar of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, researches the rational engineering of non-model, living organisms for production of chemicals and fuels from plant biomass. His lab uses genetics, biochemistry, mass spectrometry, microscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance on the experimental side to bioinformatics, finite element analysis, molecular dynamics, and stochastic and multi-scale simulation on the modeling/theory side. He received his Ph.D. in 2000 in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
The Lead Scientists
Bruce Dien
Research Chemical Engineer, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, IL
The Research Team
David Flaherty
Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Dow Chemical Co. Faculty Scholar, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The Research Team
George Huber
Richard L. Antoine Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin at Madison
Yong-Su Jin
Associate Professor of Food Microbiology, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ting Lu
Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Yi Lu
Jay and Ann Schenk Professor of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Costas Maranas
Donald B. Broughton Professor of Chemical Engineering, Penn State University
Sergei Maslov
Professor of Bioengineering and Bliss Faculty Scholar, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Brian Pfleger
Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin at Madison
Zengyi Shao
Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Jack R. and Carol A. Johnson Faculty Fellow, Iowa State University
Vijay Singh
Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Saurabh Sinha
Professor of Computer Science, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Patricia Slininger
Research Chemical Engineer, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, IL
The Bioenergy Research Unit page >>>
Jonathan Sweedler
James R. Eiszner Family Endowed Chair and Professor of Chemistry, Director of School of Chemical Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Martin Wühr
Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University
Yasuo Yoshikuni
Biologist/Staff Scientist, Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Chengxiang Zhai
Professor of Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The Research Team
An alphabetical listing of all researchers, postdocs, technicians, and graduate students doing CABBI research in the Conversion Theme.
A-F
- Shounak Bhogale
- Aashutosh Boob
- Mingfeng Cao
- Ming-Hsun Cheng
- Kisurb Choe
- William Cordell
- Anshu Deewan
- Payam Dibaeinia
- Hoang Dinh
- Veronika Dubinkina
- Kristen Eilts
- Behnam Enghiad
- Zia Fatma
SHOUNAK BHOGALE
Biophysics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Sinha
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
AASHUTOSH BOOB
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MINGFENG CAO
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Research Scientist
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MING-HSUN CHENG
Postdoc
PI: Singh
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
KISURB CHOE
Microbiology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Sweedler
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
WILLIAM CORDELL
Chemical and Biological Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Pfleger
University of Wisconsin at Madison
ANSHU DEEWAN
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Rao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PAYAM DIBAEINIA
Bioinformatics M.S. Candidate
PI: Sinha
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
HOANG DINH
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Maranas
Penn State University
VERONIKA DUBINKINA
Bioengineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Maslov
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
KRISTEN EILTS
Lab Research Specialist
PI: Singh
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
BEHNAM ENGHIAD
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PostdocG-L
- Meera Gupta
- Wesley Harrison
- Ping-Hung Hsieh
- Yuyao Jia
- Matthew Jacobson
- Sujit Jagtap
- Guangde Jiang
- Alexander Johnson
- Ebin Joseph
- Nam Kyu Kang
- Min Soo Kim
- Hyun Gi Koh
- Wentao Kong
- Nurzhan Kuanyshev
- Sahiti Labhishetty
- Stephan Lane
- Ye-Gi Lee
- Yifei Li
- Mingkuan Lyu
MEERA GUPTA
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Wühr
Princeton University
WESLEY HARRISON
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PING-HUNG HSIEH
Postdoc
PI: Yoshikuni
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
YUYAO JIA
Agricultural and Biological Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Singh
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MATTHEW JACOBSON
Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Flaherty
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PostdocGUANGDE JIANG
Postdoc
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ALEXANDER JOHNSON
Chemical & Biological Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Wühr
Princeton University
EBIN JOSEPH
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Rao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
NAM KYU KANG
Integration Postdoc
PIs: Ort (Feedstock Production)/Jin (Conversion)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MIN SOO KIM
Chemical & Biological Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Huber
University of Wisconsin at Madison
HYUN GI KOH
Postdoc
PIs: Jin/Rao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
WENTAO KONG
Research Scientist
PI: T. Lu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
NURZHAN KUANYSHEV
Postdoc
PI: Jin
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
SAHITI LABHISHETTY
Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhai
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
YE-GI LEE
Postdoc
PI: Jin
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bioengineering Ph.D. CandidateMINGKUAN LYU
Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Y. Lu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
M-R
- Shraddha Maitra
- Teresa Martin
- Bryan Mejia-Sosa
- Danielle Meyer
- Evan Mirts
- Shekhar Mishra
- Quanbing Mou
- Viviana Nguyen
- Greg Pawel
- Vassily Petrov
- Priyanka Priyanka
SHRADDHA MAITRA
Postdoc
PI: Singh
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
TERESA MARTIN
Coordinator of Research Programs
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
BRYAN MEJIA-SOSA
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
DANIELLE MEYER
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Rao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
EVAN MIRTS
Postdoc
PI: Y. Lu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
SHEKHAR MISHRA
Chemical & Biomolecular Enginering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
QUANBING MOU
Postdoc
PI: Y. Lu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
VIVIANA NGUYEN
Bioengineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: T. Lu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
GREG PAWEL
Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Yi Lu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
VASSILY PETROV
Software Engineer
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PRIYANKA PRIYANKA
Postdoc
PI: T. Lu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
S-Z
- Yusuke Sasaki
- Yihui Shen
- Nilmani Singh
- Ramkrishna Singh
- Wan Sun
- Patrick Suthers
- Shayan Tabe Bordbar
- Ipek Tasan
- Vinh Tran
- Payman Tohidifar
- Mothi Viswanathan
- Michael Volk
- Hanna Walukiewicz
- Bo-Xun Wang
- Lin Wang
- Xiaoyi Wang
- Yajie Wang
- William Woodruff
- Zong-Yen Wu
- Tianxia Xiao
- Xi Xing
- Mason Xue
- Qiang Yan
- Sangdo Yook
- Tianhao Yu
- Danim Yun
- Zhongyao Zhang
- Shuaizhen Zhou
YUSUKE SASAKI
Postdoc
PI: Yoshikuni
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
YIHUI SHEN
Postdoc
PI: Rabinowitz
Princeton University
NILMANI SINGH
Automation Engineer
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
RAMKRISHNA SINGH
Postdoc
PI: Singh
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
WAN SUN
Microbiology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Shao
Iowa State University
PostdocSHAYAN TABE BORDBAR
Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Sinha
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
IPEK TASAN
Postdoc
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
VINH TRAN
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PAYMAN TOHIDIFAR
Postdoc
PI: Rao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MOTHI VISWANATHAN
Postdoc
PI: Singh
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MICHAEL VOLK
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
HANNA WALUKIEWICZ
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Senior Research Scientist
PI: Rao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
BO-XUN WANG
Chemical & Biological Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Huber
University of Wisconsin at Madison
PostdocXIAOYI WANG
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Rao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
YAJIE WANG
Postdoc
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
WILLIAM WOODRUFF
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Rao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ZONG-YEN WU
Postdoc
PI: Yoshikuni
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Chemistry M.S. Candidate
Chemistry Research ScientistMASON XUE
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PostdocSANGDO YOOK
Food Science and Human Nutrition Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Jin
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
TIANHAO YU
Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
DANIM YUN
Postdoc
PI: Flaherty
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ZHONGYAO ZHANG
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Flaherty
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
SHUAIZHEN ZHOU
Postdoc
PI: Sweedler
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
FORMER TEAM MEMBERS
Priyanka Baloni, Postdoc (Price), Institute for Systems Biology
William Bothfeld, Postdoc (Pfleger), University of Wisconsin at Madison
Li Chen, Postdoc (Rabinowitz), Princeton University
Chang Cui, Chemistry Graduate Student (Yi Lu), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Co-PI James Dumesic, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, U. of Wisc. at Madison
Emily Gaither, iBioFAB Technician (Zhao), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Arian Ghorbanpour, Postdoc (Flaherty), University of Illinois Urbana-C. Research profile >>>
Paul Hanke, Chemical Engineering Research Technician (Zhao), University of Ill. Urbana-C.
Xiaoqiang Huang, Postdoc (Zhao), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Michael Jindra, Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate (Pfleger), U. of Wisconsin at Madison
Dongwon Ki, Integration Postdoc (Guest/Rao/Jin), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Deepak Kumar, Ag. & Biological Eng. Research Asst. Prof. (Singh), U. of Illinois Urbana-C.
Ryan Lake, Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate (Y. Lu), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jaewon Lee, Postdoc (Jin), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Xiaoyu Liang, Postdoc (Price), Institute for Systems Biology
Chen Liao, Postdoc (Ting Lu), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jing-Jing Liu, Postdoc (Rao), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Ismini Lourentzou, Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate (Zhai), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
W. Lance Martin, Senior Scientist (Wühr), Princeton University
Daniel McClelland, Postdoc (Huber), University of Wisconsin at Madison
Christopher Mehrer, Grad Student (Pfleger), University of Wisconsin at Madison
Thao Nguyen, Chemical and Biological Engineering Ph.D. Candidate (Wühr), Princeton University
Congjian Ni, Biophysics and Quantum Biology Ph.D. Candidate (T. Lu), University of Ill. Urbana-C.
Michel Nofal, Postdoc (Rabinowitz), Princeton University
David Ollodart, Chemical and Biomolecular Eng. Ph.D. Candidate (Flaherty), U. of Illinois U.-C.
Partha Pratim Pandey, Postdoc (Maslov), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Matthew Plutz, Chem. & Biomolecular Eng. Senior Research Scientist (Rao), U. of I. U.-C. Research profile >>>
Co-PI Nathan Price, Associate Director and Professor, Institute for Systems Biology
Lillia Ryazanova, Research Specialist (Wühr), Princeton University
Tong Si, Postdoc (Sweedler/Zhao), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Jordan Sickle, Biophysics and Quantitative Biology Ph.D. Candidate (T. Lu), U. of Illinois U.-C.
Vangelis Simeonidis, Research Scientist/Program Manager (Price), Institute for Systems Biology
Will Streyer, Postdoc (Zhao), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Liang Sun, Food Science & Human Nutrition Ph.D. Candidate (Jin), U. of Illinois Urbana-C.
Linrui Tan, Visiting Scholar (Jin), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Lam Vo, Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate (Zhao), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Matthew Waugh, Postdoc (Y. Lu) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Zhenglin Yang, Biochemistry Ph.D. Candidate (Yi Lu), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign