Feedstock Production: Growing the Right Crops
The scientists in this theme will employ the “plants-as-factories” paradigm, in which biofuels, bioproducts, high-value molecules, and foundation molecules for conversion are synthesized directly in plant stems. This plants-as-factories approach circumvents the challenges of developing efficient lignocellulose deconstruction methods, while still retaining residual biomass for deconstruction by traditional or emerging methods.The main thrust of projects will be on high-yielding grasses throughout the rain-fed eastern U.S., including on marginal soils. CABBI will focus on Sorghum, Sugarcane, Energycane, and Miscanthus. Sorghum and Sugarcane are the world’s highest biomass producers with demonstrated potential for accumulation of oil in vegetative biomass after successful metabolic engineering.
STRAIGHT FROM THE SCIENTISTS: Research Profiles Offer Insight into CABBI Work
Q&A with Feedstock Production Theme Leader Emily Heaton by Julie Wurth >>>
Read Postdoc Ayman Eid’s profile by April Wendling >>>
Read an article on new CABBI partners Dan Voytas and the University of Minnesota, by Julie Wurth >>>
Read Integration Postdoc Nam Kyu Kang’s profile by April Wendling >>>
Read Postdoc Teresa Clark’s profile by Maria Maring >>>
Q&A with Director Andrew Leakey by Julie Wurth >>>
Read Postdoc Kiyoul Park’s profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Postdoc Yingqi Cai’s profile by Julie Wurth >>>
Read Postdoc Xueyi Xue’s profile by Jordan Goebig >>>
Read Ph.D. Candidate Hans Mülller Paul’s profile by April Wendling >>>
Read Co-PI Nancy Reichert’s profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Co-PI Li-Qing Chen’s profile by Emily Scott >>>
Read Co-PI Tom Clemente’s profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Postdoc Shuai Li’s profile by Jenna Kurtzweil >>>
Read Research Specialist Joe Zimmerman’s profile by Jordan Goebig >>>
Read Co-PI Steve Moose’s research profile by Emily Scott >>>
Emily Heaton: Theme Leader
Heaton, a Professor of Regenerative Agriculture in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is an expert in biomass crop production and physiology. Her research aims to understand the growth and productivity of dedicated biomass crops in the Midwest, and how they can be managed to provide multiple ecosystem services. She focuses on developing energy crop portfolios and management strategies that are targeted to the growth environment and ultimate end use of the crop. Heaton, who started in CABBI as a scientist in the Sustainability Theme at Iowa State University, was named in September 2020 as the Feedstock Production Theme Leader before moving to Illinois in January 2021. Her CABBI research will incorporate both themes. She graduated with a B.S. (2001) and a Ph.D. (2006) in Crop Sciences from Illinois.
Her Illinois Regenerative Agriculture Initiative page >>>
Her Sustainability theme research profile from her time at Iowa State >>>
A May 2021 Q&A with the new Feedstock Production Theme Leader >>>
Anthony Studer: Deputy Theme Leader
Studer, an Assistant Professor of Crop Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, improves the efficiency and productivity of cereal crops by optimizing photosynthesis and water use. His research contributes to the development of crops that are resilient to climate change and meet the needs of growers at the regional, national, and international levels. Studer’s lab studies the evolution, regulation, and function of the carbon concentrating mechanism employed by plants for C4 photosynthesis. Studer received a B.S. in Biology from Defiance College in 2005 and a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 2011.
Kankshita Swaminathan: Deputy Theme Leader
Swaminathan, a Faculty Investigator at HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology in Huntsville, Ala., is an expert in in perennial grasses, phenotyping and applications of genomics for plant customization and modification. Her research focus is on genomic solutions to sustainable agriculture — with a particular interest in using genetics to understand the role of the rhizome (modified underground stems) in nutrient storage and reproduction, resource reallocation and perenniality in plants. Swaminathan received her Ph.D. in Biology in 2005 from Dartmouth College.
The Lead Scientists
Lisa Ainsworth
Research Molecular Biologist, U.S. Dept. of Ag. Agricultural Research Service Global Change and Photosynthesis Research, Urbana, IL
The Research Team
Fredy Altpeter
Professor of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Florida
The Research Team
Brian Baldwin
Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University
Edgar Cahoon
Professor of Biochemistry and Director of Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Li-Qing Chen
Assistant Professor of Plant Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Thomas Clemente
Eugene W. Price Distinguished Professor of Biotechnology, Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Anna Hale
Research Geneticist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Houma, LA
Matthew Hudson
Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Andrew Leakey
Professor and Department Head of Plant Biology; Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Chang-Jun Liu
Researcher, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Stephen P. Long
Gutgsell Endowed Professor of Crop Sciences and Plant Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Amy Marshall-Colón
Associate Professor of Plant Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Stephen Moose
Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jesse Morrison
Assistant Research Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University
Donald Ort
Robert Emerson Professor of Plant Biology and Interim Director of Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Nancy Reichert
Professor of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University
Daniel Rokhsar
Professor of Genetics, Genomics and Development, University of California at Berkeley
Erik Sacks
Associate Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jörg Schwender
Researcher, Brookhaven National Laboratory
John Shanklin
Biology Department Chair, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Daniel Voytas
McKnight Presidential Endowed Professor of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development; Director, Center for Precision Plant Genomics, University of Minnesota
Changcheng Xu
Researcher, Brookhaven National Laboratory
The Research Team
An alphabetical listing of all researchers, postdocs, technicians, and graduate students doing CABBI research in the Feedstock Production Theme.
A-F
- Anjali Arpan
- Gabriel Beuchat
- Rebecca Billingsley
- Eleanor Brant
- Bryant Brown
- Fengjiao Bu
- Yingqi Cai
- Sofia Cano Alfanar
- Kher Xing (Cindy) Chan
- Young Cho
- Teresa Clark
- Hannah Demler
- Jia Dong
- Nidhi Dwivedi
- Wyatt Eason
- Ayman Eid
- Jilian Fan
- Jie Fu
- Grace Fuller
ANJALI ARPAN
Plant Biology M.S. Candidate
PI: Reichert
Mississippi State University
GABRIEL BEUCHAT
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Chen
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
REBECCA BILLINGSLEY
Research Associate
PI: Reichert
Mississippi State University
ELEANOR BRANT
Agronomy Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
BRYANT BROWN
Greenhouse Manager
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
FENGJIAO BU
Postdoc
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
PostdocSOFIA CANO ALFANAR
Lab Technician
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
KHER XING (CINDY) CHAN
Visiting Scholar
PI: Long
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
YOUNG CHO
Postdoc
PI: Ort
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PostdocHANNAH DEMLER
Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Ainsworth
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
JIA DONG
Postdoc
PI: Hudson
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
NIDHI DWIVEDI
Postdoc
PI: Liu
Brookhaven National Laboratory
WYATT EASON
Crop Science M.S. Candidate
PI: Baldwin
Mississippi State University
PostdocJILIAN FAN
Technical Research Associate
PI: Xu
Brookhaven National Laboratory
JIE FU
Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Marshall-Colón
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
GRACE FULLER
Technician
PI: Reichert
Mississippi State University
G-L
- Zhengxiang Ge
- Amandine Germon
- Pradeep Hirannaiah
- Dylan Hollowell
- Brandon James
- Praveena Kanchupati
- Nam Kyu Kang
- Baskaran Kannan
- Amit Kumar
- Alistair Leverett
- Shuai Li
- Yongguan Li
- Hui Liu
- Daniel Tejeda Lunn
- Jessica Lyons
Research TechnologistAMANDINE GERMON
Postdoc
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PRADEEP HIRANNAIAH
Postdoc
PI: Swaminathan
HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology
DYLAN HOLLOWELL
Field Technician
PI: Baldwin
Mississippi State University
PostdocPRAVEENA KANCHUPATI
Research Specialist
PI: Moose
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
NAM KYU KANG
Integration Postdoc
PIs: Ort (Feedstock Production)/Jin (Conversion)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Biological ScientistAMIT KUMAR
Technician
PI: Long
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ALISTAIR LEVERETT
Postdoc
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
SHUAI LI
Postdoc
PI: Ainsworth
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
YONGGUAN LI
Visiting Scientist
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
HUI LIU
Technical Research Associate
PI: Shanklin
Brookhaven National Laboratory
DANIEL TEJEDA LUNN
Research Scientist
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
JESSICA LYONS
Project Scientist
PI: Rokhsar
University of California at Berkeley
M-R
- Shilpa Manjunatha
- Scott McCoy
- Therese Mitros
- Himaya Mula-Michel
- Hans Müller Paul
- Tara Nazarenus
- Natalya Nersesian
- Kiyoul Park
- Moni Qiande
- Truyen Quach
- Maruti Nandan Rai
- Edward Ross
SHILPA MANJUNATHA
Technician
PI: Swaminathan
HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology
SCOTT McCOY
Field Technician
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Applications ProgrammerHIMAYA MULA-MICHEL
Postdoc
PI: Hale
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
HANS MÜLLER PAUL
Informatics Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Hudson
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
TARA NAZARENUS
Plant Lipid Biology Research Technician
PI: Cahoon
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Research Technologist
PostdocMONI QIANDE
Agronomy Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
TRUYEN QUACH
Plant Science Research Professor
PI: Clemente
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
MARUTI NANDAN RAI
Postdoc
PI: Moose
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
EDWARD ROSS
Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Moose
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
S-Z
- Prasenjit Saha
- Coralie Salesse-Smith
- Sara Sanchez
- Mia Sands
- Shirley Sato
- Subarna Sharma
- Dilkaran Singh
- Rajaram Ramkumar Thakku
- Susan Thomas
- Tony Trieu
- Evan Updike
- Sebastian Varela
- Jiang Wang
- Yu Wang
- Liang Xiao
- Xueyi Xue
- Linhui Yu
- Xiaohong Yu
- Zhiyang Zhai
- Bosen Zhang
- Tieling Zhang
- Zhihai Zhang
- Xuying Zheng
- Chao Zhou
- Evelyn Zuniga
PRASENJIT SAHA
Research Scientist
PI: Long
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CORALIE SALESSE-SMITH
Postdoc
PI: Long
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
SARA SANCHEZ
Lab Technician
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
MIA SANDS
Lab Technician
PI: Ort
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Research ManagerSUBARNA SHARMA
Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Reichert
Mississippi State University
Plant Biology Ph.D. CandidateRAJARAM RAMKUMAR THAKKU
Lab Technician
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
SUSAN THOMAS
Program Manager
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Research TechnicianEVAN UPDIKE
M.S. Candidate
PI: Cahoon
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
SEBASTIAN VARELA
Postdoc
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
JIANG WANG
Postdoc
PI: Chen
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PostdocLIANG XIAO
Postdoc
PI: Sacks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
XUEYI XUE
Postdoc
PI: Chen
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
LINHUI YU
Postdoc
PI: Xu
Brookhaven National Laboratory
XIAOHONG YU
Research Scientist
PI: Shanklin
Brookhaven National Laboratory
ZHIYANG ZHAI
Assistant Scientist
PI: Shanklin
Brookhaven National Laboratory
BOSEN ZHANG
Postdoc
PI: Moose
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Research TechnologistZHIHAI ZHANG
Postdoc
PI: Hudson
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
XUYING ZHENG
Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Sacks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CHAO ZHOU
Postdoc
PI: Xu
Brookhaven National Laboratory
PostdocFORMER TEAM MEMBERS
Josh Allen, Research Programmer (Hudson), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mohammad Belaffif, Postdoc (Swaminathan), HudsonAlpha Inst. of Biotech. Research profile >>>
Jessica Bubert, Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate (Moose), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Setu Chakrabarty, Postdoc (Leakey), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ghana Challa, Postdoc (Hudson/Marshall-Colón), U. of Ill. Urbana-C. Other research >>>
Ben Daniels, Academic Hourly Researcher (Sacks), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Smit Dhakal, Postdoc (Studer), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Prabin Dhungana, Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Reichert), Mississippi State University
Lynn Doran, Research Specialist (Moose), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Lu Gan, Postdoc (Cahoon), University of Nebraska
Andrew Greenhaw, Research Technician (Baldwin), Mississippi State University
Sachin Heerah, Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Marshall-Colón), University of Ill. Urbana-C.
Jacob Heldenbrand, Research Programmer (Hudson), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Madara Hetti Arachchilage, Postdoc (Marshall-Colón), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Dave Istanto, Bioinformatics M.S. Candidate (Hudson), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Nikhil Jaikumar, Postdoc (Long), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Stephen Jinga, Crop Sciences M.S. Candidate (Moose), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Hae Jin Kim, Postdoc (Cahoon), University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Hyojin Kim, Postdoc (Cahoon), University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Sang Yeol Kim, Plant Biology Research Scientist (Ort), U. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Nicholas LaBonte, Postdoc (Sacks), University of Illinois Urbana-C. Research profile >>>
Dan Lanier, Crop Sciences Academic Hourly Researcher (Hudson), University of Ill. Urbana-C.
Sarah Lipps, Academic Hourly Researcher (Sacks), University of Ill. Urbana-Champaign
Guangbin Luo, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
Duncan Martin, Plant Biology M.S. Candidate (Ainsworth), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Justin McGrath, Postdoc (Long), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Tufan Oz, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
Brian Rhodes, Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate (Moose), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Lucas Roberts, Crop Sciences M.S. Candidate (Studer), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Robert Twohey, Crop Sciences M.S. Candidate (Studer), University of Ill. Urbana-Champaign
Ryan Tillman, Field Technician (Swaminathan), HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology
Duoduo Wang, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
Alex Winter, Lab Technician (Altpeter), University of Florida
Ya Chi Yu, Plant Biology Visiting Research Specialist (Chen), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Joe Zimmerman, Lab Technician (Sacks), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign