Researchers with the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center hypothesized that lignin, a part of the plant cell wall that provides structure, is present in cow manure and could be a source of valuable aromatic compounds. GLBRC research has focused on ways to extract aromatics from purpose-grown energy crops such as grasses and trees and using engineered microbes to convert those aromatic molecules into chemicals used to make plastics.

The Wisconsin Energy Institute showcased its automated lab platform Proteus during a campus tour by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, which is exploring how research institutions, businesses, and government can work together to advance biotechnology.

With a doctorate in biophysics and more than a decade of experience in career and professional development, Alexandra Schnoes is uniquely qualified for her new position as workforce development manager at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. We talked to her about her own career path and her vision for recruiting, retaining, and training the next generation of GLBRC scientists. 

Bailey Marshall, a PhD candidate in cellular and molecular biology, studies genetic engineering of bacteria for better biofuel production.

Episode 4: Fuel up Your host, Nalina Cherr, asks Wisconsin Energy Institute researchers Sam Davison and Kyle Probst “what do people study here?” Spoiler alert: It includes chemistry, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration.

When nearby lightning forces officials to delay a big college football game, the backlash from fans can be fierce, especially if the sky over the stadium is still mostly blue.

The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies published a profile of WEI affiliate Holly Gibbs, a professor of geography and Nelson alum