Wisconsin Energy Center co-investigator Grace Bulltail, a professor with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, has been named as one of the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Oustanding Women of Color honorees. 

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison made an unexpected discovery while studying a close relative of the yeast commonly used to ferment beer. The yeast left half its genetic material behind while evolving in the lab. 

In part two of a three part series on bioenergy, we focus on how we extract energy from plants for bioenergy. We'll take a deep dive into the conversion step, accessing that plant's stored energy. We spoke to bioenergy researcher Ben Hall on how yeasts and bacteria are used to eat up plants and produce fuels for our energy future.

Victor Ujor’s fascination with microorganisms — bacteria, fungi, viruses — began with an issue of Time magazine.

Bioenergy utilizes energy from plants to create fuels. But, how exactly do plants get so much energy? In part one of a three part series, Bioenergy Basics, we focus on how plants store energy, what crops are best for bioenergy, and how researchers are working to make these plants better. Bioenergy researcher Cullen Vens takes us on a photon's journey, following the energy from the sun to a plant.

Today we spoke with Daniel Parrell, a postdoctoral research associate in the Wright Lab working with cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography. He received his undergraduate degree in microbiology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his PhD in microbiology and molecular genetics at Michigan State University (MSU). He provides insight on his work and what it’s like to be a postdoctoral researcher.

The renewable energy transition is regularly framed as a national and even global issue, but many local communities are charging forward with ambitious sustainability plans.