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 Research Scientist Matt Plutz’s research profile by Jordan Goebig >>>
Read Postdoc Arian Ghorbanpour’s research profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Postdoc Jing-Jing Liu’s research profile by Jordan Goebig >>>
Read Co-PI Yong-Su Jin’s research profile by Emily Scott >>>
Read Postdoc Tong Si’s research profile by Jordan Goebig >>>
Huimin Zhao: Theme Leader
Zhao, the Steven L. Miller Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois at 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 at 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 Research Team
Bruce Dien
Research Chemical Engineer, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, IL
The Research Team
James A. Dumesic
Ernest Micek Distinguished Chair in Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin at Madison
The Research Team
David Flaherty
Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Dow Chemical Co. Faculty Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Yong-Su Jin
Associate Professor of Food Microbiology, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ting Lu
Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Yi Lu
Jay and Ann Schenk Professor of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sergei Maslov
Professor of Bioengineering and Bliss Faculty Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Brian Pfleger
Jay and Cynthia Ihlenfeld Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin at Madison
Nathan Price
Associate Director and Professor, Institute for Systems Biology
Vijay Singh
Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Saurabh Sinha
Professor of Computer Science, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at 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 at 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 at Urbana-Champaign
The Operating Team
An alphabetical listing of all researchers, postdocs, technicians, and graduate students doing CABBI research in the Conversion Theme.
A-F
- Priyanka Baloni
- Mingfeng Cao
- Ming-Hsun Cheng
- Kisurb Choe
- William Cordell
- Anshu Deewan
- Payam Dibaeinia
- Behnam Enghiad
- Zia Fatma
PostdocMINGFENG CAO
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Research Scientist
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PostdocKISURB CHOE
Microbiology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Sweedler
University of Illinois at 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 at Urbana-Champaign
PAYAM DIBAEINIA
Bioinformatics M.S. Candidate
PI: Sinha
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
BEHNAM ENGHIAD
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
ZIA FATMA
Postdoc
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
G-L
- Emily Gaither
- Meera Gupta
- Ping-Hung Hsieh
- Xiaoqiang Huang
- Sujit Jagtap
- Yuyao Jia
- Michael Jindra
- Nam Kyu Kang
- Dongwon Ki
- Nurzhan Kuanyshev
- Deepak Kumar
- Ryan Lake
- Stephan Lane
- Jaewon Lee
- Xiaoyu Liang
- Ismini Lourentzou
EMILY GAITHER
iBioFAB Technician
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. CandidatePING-HUNG HSIEH
Postdoc
PI: Yoshikuni
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
XIAOQIANG HUANG
Postdoc
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PostdocYUYAO JIA
Agricultural and Biological Engineering M.S. Candidate
PI: Singh
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MICHAEL JINDRA
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Pfleger
University of Wisconsin at Madison
NAM KYU KANG
Integration Postdoc
PIs: Ort (Feedstock Production)/Jin (Conversion)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DONGWON KI
Integration Postdoc
PIs: Guest (Sustainability)/Rao/Jin (Conversion)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
NURZHAN KUANYSHEV
Postdoc
PI: Jin
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DEEPAK KUMAR
Agricultural and Biological Engineering Research Assistant Professor
PI: Singh
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
RYAN LAKE
Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Y. Lu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
JAEWON LEE
Food Science and Human Nutrition Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Jin
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
XIAOYU LIANG
Postdoc
PI: Price
Institute for Systems Biology
ISMINI LOURENTZOU
Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhai
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M-R
- Teresa Martin
- Daniel McClelland
- Danielle Meyer
- Evan Mirts
- Viviana Nguyen
- Congjian Ni
- Michel Nofal
- David Ollodart
- Partha Pratim Pandey
- Greg Pawel
- Matthew Plutz
TERESA MARTIN
Coordinator of Research Programs
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DANIEL McCLELLAND
Postdoc
PI: Dumesic
University of Wisconsin at Madison
DANIELLE MEYER
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Rao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
EVAN MIRTS
Postdoc
PI: Y. Lu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
VIVIANA NGUYEN
Bioengineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: T. Lu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
CONGJIAN NI
Biophysics and Quantum Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: T. Lu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PostdocDAVID OLLODART
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Flaherty
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PARTHA PRATIM PANDEY
Postdoc
PI: Maslov
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
GREG PAWEL
Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Yi Lu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MATTHEW PLUTZ
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Senior Research Scientist
PI: Rao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
S-Z
- Yihui Shen
- Jordan Sickle
- Shayan Tabe Bordbar
- Vinh Tran
- Lam Vo
- Hanna Walukiewicz
- Lin Wang
- Xiaoyi Wang
- Yajie Wang
- Matthew Waugh
- William Woodruff
- Zong-Yen Wu
- Tianxia Xiao
- Xi Xing
- Mason Xue
- Qiang Yan
- Sangdo Yook
- Danim Yun
YIHUI SHEN
Postdoc
PI: Rabinowitz
Princeton University
JORDAN SICKLE
Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: T. Lu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
SHAYAN TABE BORDBAR
Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Sinha
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
VINH TRAN
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
LAM VO
Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
HANNA WALUKIEWICZ
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Senior Research Scientist
PI: Rao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
PostdocXIAOYI WANG
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Rao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
YAJIE WANG
Postdoc
PI: Zhao
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MATTHEW WAUGH
Postdoc
PI: Y. Lu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
WILLIAM WOODRUFF
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Rao
University of Illinois at 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 at Urbana-Champaign
QIANG YAN
Postdoc
PI: Pfleger
University of Wisconsin at Madison
SANGDO YOOK
Food Science and Human Nutrition Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Jin
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DANIM YUN
Postdoc
PI: Flaherty
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
FORMER TEAM MEMBERS
Chang Cui, Chemistry Graduate Student (Yi Lu), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Arian Ghorbanpour, Postdoc (Flaherty), University of Illinois at Urbana-C. Research profile >>>
Paul Hanke, Chemical Engineering Research Technician (Zhao), University of Ill. at Urbana-C.
Chen Liao, Postdoc (Ting Lu), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jing-Jing Liu, Postdoc (Rao), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
W. Lance Martin, Senior Scientist (Wühr), Princeton University
Thao Nguyen, Chemical and Biological Engineering Ph.D. Candidate (Wühr), Princeton University
Lillia Ryazanova, Research Specialist (Wühr), Princeton University
Tong Si, Postdoc (Sweedler/Zhao), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Vangelis Simeonidis, Research Scientist/Program Manager (Price), Institute for Systems Biology
Will Streyer, Postdoc (Zhao), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Zhenglin Yang, Biochemistry Ph.D. Candidate (Yi Lu), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign