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.
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 >>>
Erik Sacks: Deputy Theme Leader
Sacks, a Professor of Crop Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studies the genetics of grasses to facilitate the breeding of improved cultivars that address critical societal needs, such as the sustainable production of food, fiber, and energy. By identifying genes that confer tolerance and resistance to environmental and other stresses, farmers can do more with less by reducing the risks and costs of production. Sacks received a B.S. in Plant Breeding from Cornell University in 1990, and an M.S. in Horticulture (1992) and Ph.D. in Genetics (1996) from the University of California at Davis.
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
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
The Research Team
Edgar Cahoon
Professor of Biochemistry and Director of Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Ernst Cebert
Research Associate Professor of Plant and Soil Science, Alabama A&M University
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
Assistant Professor of Agronomy, University of FloridaAndrew Leakey
Professor and Department Head of Plant Biology; Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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
Donald Ort
Robert Emerson Professor of Plant Biology and Crop Sciences, 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
Jörg Schwender
Researcher, Brookhaven National Laboratory
John Shanklin
Biology Department Chair, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Anthony Studer
Associate Professor of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Daniel Voytas
McKnight Presidential Endowed Professor of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development; Director, Center for Precision Plant Genomics, University of Minnesota
The Research Team
An alphabetical listing of all researchers, postdocs, technicians, and graduate students doing CABBI research in the Feedstock Production Theme.
A-F
- Qasim Ali
- Kumar Balasubramaniam
- Can Baysal
- Brent Berns
- Gabriel Beuchat
- Nikita Bhatnagar
- Eleanor Brant
- Kher Xing "Cindy" Chan
- Young Cho
- Sohyeon "Sarah" Chung
- Teresa Clark
- Ryan Disney
- Liz Dominguez Mendez
- Jia Dong
- Jilian Fan
- Jie Fu
QASIM ALI
Visiting Scholar
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
KUMAR BALASUBRAMANIAM
Technician
PI: Long
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
CAN BAYSAL
Postdoc
PI: Voytas
University of Minnesota
BRENT BERNS
Field Research Specialist
PI: Sacks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
GABRIEL BEUCHAT
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Chen
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
NIKITA BHATNAGAR
Postdoc
PI: Ort
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Agronomy Ph.D. CandidateKHER XING “CINDY” CHAN
Visiting Scholar
PI: Long
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
YOUNG CHO
Postdoc
PI: Ort
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
SOHYEON “SARAH” CHUNG
Research Specialist
PI: Ort
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PostdocRYAN DISNEY
Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Hudson
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
LIZ DOMINGUEZ MENDEZ
Crop Sciences M.S. Candidate
PI: Studer
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
JIA DONG
Postdoc
PI: Hudson
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
JILIAN FAN
Technical Research Associate
PI: Shanklin
Brookhaven National Laboratory
JIE FU
Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Marshall-Colón
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
G-L
- Zhengxiang Ge
- Sanbon Gosa
- Pradeep Hirannaiah
- John Hodge
- Dylan Hollowell
- Isidre Hooghvorst
- Brandon James
- Baskaran Kannan
- Xianyan "Justin" Kuang
- Shuai Li
- Yuanxue Liang
- Hui Liu
- Daniel Tejeda Lunn
Research TechnologistSANBON GOSA
Postdoc
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PRADEEP HIRANNAIAH
Postdoc
PI: Swaminathan
HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology
JOHN HODGE
Postdoc
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
DYLAN HOLLOWELL
Research Associate
PI: Baldwin
Mississippi State University
ISIDRE HOOGHVORST
Postdoc
PI: Altpeter
University of Florida
Project Manager
Biological ScientistXIANYAN “JUSTIN” KUANG
Research Assistant Professor of Plant and Soil Science
PI: Cebert
Alabama A&M University
PostdocYUANXUE LIANG
Postdoc
PI: Shanklin
Brookhaven National Laboratory
HUI LIU
Technical Research Associate
PI: Shanklin
Brookhaven National Laboratory
DANIEL TEJEDA LUNN
Research Scientist
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
M-R
- Shilpa Manjunatha
- Scott McCoy
- Mae Mercado
- Therese Mitros
- Jesse Morrison
- Himaya Mula-Michel
- Tara Nazarenus
- Natalya Nersesian
- Bram Osterhout
- Kiyoul Park
- Hunter Pegram
- Moni Qiande
- Truyen Quach
- Maruti Nandan Rai
- Edward Ross
- Jeremy Ruhter
- Hafijur Ruman
SHILPA MANJUNATHA
Technician
PI: Swaminathan
HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology
SCOTT McCOY
Field Technician
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
MAE MERCADO
Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Studer
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Applications ProgrammerJESSE MORRISON
Assistant Research Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences
PI: Baldwin
Mississippi State University
HIMAYA MULA-MICHEL
Research Agronomist
PI: Hale
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
TARA NAZARENUS
Plant Lipid Biology Research Technician
PI: Cahoon
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Research TechnologistBRAM OSTERHOUT
Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Marshall-Colón
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PostdocHUNTER PEGRAM
Research Scientist
PI: Baldwin
Mississippi State University
MONI 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
JEREMY RUHTER
Technician
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
HAFIJUR RUMAN
Postdoc
PI: Chen
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
S-Z
- Saroj Sah
- Coralie Salesse-Smith
- Shirley Sato
- Madison Seaber
- Jaspal Singh
- Bala Sonawane
- Tony Trieu
- Sebastian Varela
- Yu Wang
- Changcheng Xu
- Xiaohong Yu
- Friday Zakari
- Dessiree Zerpa Catanho
- Zhiyang Zhai
- Tieling Zhang
- Zhihai Zhang
- Xuying Zheng
SAROJ SAH
Postdoc
PI: Shanklin
Brookhaven National Laboratory
CORALIE SALESSE-SMITH
Postdoc
PI: Long
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Research ManagerMADISON SEABER
Technician
PI: Reichert
Mississippi State University
JASPAL SINGH
Agronomy Ph.D. Candidate
PI: Jarquin
University of Florida
Postdoc
Research TechnicianSEBASTIAN VARELA
Postdoc
PI: Leakey
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Postdoc
Plant Science ResearcherXIAOHONG YU
Research Scientist
PI: Shanklin
Brookhaven National Laboratory
FRIDAY ZAKARI
Plant and Soil Science M.S. Candidate
PI: Cebert
Alabama A&M University
DESSIREE ZERPA CATANHO
Postdoc
PI: Sacks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
ZHIYANG ZHAI
Assistant Scientist
PI: Shanklin
Brookhaven National Laboratory
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
FORMER TEAM MEMBERS
Co-PI Lisa Ainsworth, USDA ARS Global Change and Photosynthesis Research, Urbana, IL
Josh Allen, Research Programmer (Hudson), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Anjali Arpan, Plant Biology M.S. Candidate (Reichert), Mississippi State University
Mohammad Belaffif, Postdoc (Swaminathan), HudsonAlpha Inst. of Biotech. Research profile >>>
Rebecca Billingsley, Research Associate (Reichert), Mississippi State University
Bryant Brown, Greenhouse Manager (Altpeter), University of Florida
Fengjiao Bu, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
Jessica Bubert, Crop Sciences Ph.D. Candidate (Moose), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Yingqi Cai, Postdoc (Shanklin), Brookhaven National Laboratory Research profile >>>
Sofia Cano, Lab Technician (Altpeter), University of Florida
Dang (Viet) Cao, Visiting Scholar (Altpeter), University of Florida
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
Hannah Demler, Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Ainsworth), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
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
Nidhi Dwivedi, Postdoc (Liu), Brookhaven National Laboratory
Wyatt Eason, Crop Science M.S. Candidate (Baldwin), Mississippi State University
Ayman Eid, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida Research profile >>>
Grace Fuller, Technician (Reichert), Mississippi State University
Lu Gan, Postdoc (Cahoon), University of Nebraska
Amandine Germon, Postdoc (Leakey/Yang), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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.
Praveena Kanchupati, Research Specialist (Moose), University of Ill. Urbana-Champaign
Nam Kyu Kang, Integration Postdoc (Ort/Jin), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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
Amit Kumar, Technician (Long), University 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.
Alistair Leverett, Postdoc (Leakey), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Yaxin Li, Postdoc (Chen), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Yongguan Li, Visiting Scientist (Altpeter), University of Florida
Sarah Lipps, Academic Hourly Researcher (Sacks), University of Ill. Urbana-Champaign
Co-PI Chang-Jun Liu, Researcher, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Guangbin Luo, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
Jessica Lyons, Project Scientist (Rokhsar), University of California at Berkeley
Duncan Martin, Plant Biology M.S. Candidate (Ainsworth), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
David May, Agronomy Ph.D. Candidate (Altpeter), University of Florida
Justin McGrath, Postdoc (Long), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Hans Müller Paul, Informatics Ph.D. Candidate (Hudson), U. of Illinois U.-C. Research profile >>>
Tufan Oz, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
Katalin Paldi, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
Elena Pelech, Postdoc (Long), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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
Prasenjit Saha, Research Scientist (Long), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Sara Sanchez, Lab Technician (Altpeter), University of Florida
Mia Sands, Lab Technician (Ort), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Subarna Sharma, Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Reichert), Mississippi State University
Dilkaran Singh, Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate (Marshall-Colón), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Ramkumar Thakku, Lab Technician (Altpeter), University of Florida
Susan Thomas, Program Manager (Leakey), 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
Evan Updike, M.S. Candidate (Cahoon), University of Nebraska
Duoduo Wang, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
Jiang Wang, Postdoc (Chen), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Wei Wei, Postdoc (Long), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Alex Winter, Lab Technician (Altpeter), University of Florida
Liang Xiao, Postdoc (Sacks), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Xueyi Xue, Postdoc (Chen), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Research profile >>>
Erin Yafuso, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
Linhui Yu, Postdoc (Xu), Brookhaven National Laboratory
Ya Chi Yu, Plant Biology Visiting Research Specialist (Chen), University of Illinois Urbana-C.
Bosen Zhang, Postdoc (Moose), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Chao Zhou, Postdoc (Xu), Brookhaven National Laboratory
Joe Zimmerman, Lab Technician (Sacks), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Evelyn Zuniga, Postdoc (Altpeter), University of Florida
STRAIGHT FROM THE SCIENTISTS: Research Profiles Offer Insight into CABBI Work
Read an article on new CABBI partners Ernst Cebert and Alabama A&M University, by Julie Wurth >>>
Read Ph.D. Candidate Eleanor Brant’s profile by Quinn Wolski >>>
Q&A with Feedstock Production Deputy Theme Leader Erik Sacks by Julie Wurth >>>
Read Research Agronomist Himaya Mula-Michel’s profile by Maria Maring >>>
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 >>>