| Renata Solan

Wisconsin Energy Institute affiliate Vatsan Raman, associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry, is among thirteen faculty to be honored with the H.I.

Biofuels & Bioproducts, Conversion

| Chris Hubbuch

Lignocellulosic biomass, the woody parts of plants, is made of two types of sugars bound together by lignin. Lignin contains ring-shaped compounds known as aromatics that can be a source of valuable products traditionally derived from fossil fuels, but it's hard to pull these individual chemicals out of the mix. Some bacteria can convert plant-based aromatics into chemicals used to make plastics, but there are challenges to getting high yields.

Transportation & Fuels, Biofuels & Bioproducts, Conversion

| Chris Hubbuch

Dubbed a self-driving laboratory, the system uses a computer algorithm to identify the relationship between protein sequence and function and suggest changes likely to improve certain functions. The computer then sends the protein sequences to a robotic lab that tests them and provides feedback from experimental data to help the agent improve its “understanding” of the system and guide future rounds of experiments. 

Biofuels & Bioproducts, Conversion

| Jackie Wisinski

From early childhood, Harrison Moon was fascinated by the natural world, and this fascination eventually steered him towards a career in plant pathology. Currently, he is a postdoctoral researcher in the Hittinger Lab at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 

Biofuels & Bioproducts, Conversion

| Chris Hubbuch

Using machine learning, UW–Madison scientists have identified more than 30 million acres of U.S. farmland abandoned between 1986 and 2018, creating a field-level map of lands that could be used to mitigate climate change.

Carbon capture, Biofuels & Bioproducts, Energy & Society, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Agriculture

| Annie Pulley

The award, established in 2019, honors those who demonstrate a spirit of generosity in sharing science with the public. Winners may coordinate outreach programming, dedicate time to support services, or share expertise with public audiences.

Biofuels & Bioproducts, Education & Outreach

| Annie Pulley

Enright, a doctoral candidate in genetics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, was awarded the 2024 Jennifer L. Reed Bioenergy Science Award, given annually to recognize early-career women with the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center for outstanding research and leadership. 

Biofuels & Bioproducts, Conversion