Algae Biotechnology: Decarbonization, Resource Recovery, and Bioproducts

Professor Muhammad Aamer Mehmood's research focuses on process optimization for the sustainable utilization of bio-resources, wastewater recycling, resource recovery, and biotransformation of biomass to bioenergy and bioproducts, including biofertilizers, industrial enzymes, and biopolymers employing microalgae/cyanobacteria/fungi as microbial cell factories in a multiproduct biorefinery paradigm. We intend to develop novel low-carbon or carbon-neutral bioprocesses for agriculture and bioindustry while keeping the energy, water, environment, and food nexus sustainable.

Sana Malik's research interests include the development of microalgae and cyanobacteria-based wastewater treatment technologies with concurrent production of high-value bioproducts for food, feed, and fuel applications following a Circular Economy scheme with minimum waste generation maximum resource recovery while keeping the Energy-Water-Environment nexus sustainable. I am also interested in developing carbon-neutral processes and products by harnessing the full potential of algae towards the global agenda of circular economy and net-zero carbon emissions.

Peter J. Ralph's research interest encompassalgae-based bioproducts include the production of food, energy, green chemistry, and bio-products using microalgae and macroalgae. Mass-scale algae cultivation to overcome commercialization barriers in the algae-based biotechnology sector. Photosynthetic efficient algae cultivation systems to produce specialty chemicals, toxins, cosmetic components, valuable oils, foods for consumption, feeds for agriculture, nutraceuticals, biologics, vaccines, and small molecules. Bioplastics - both biodegradable and durable (as a C-storage product). Advanced manufacturing linked to Industry 4.0 technology. Algal phenomics uses fully automated high-throughput screening systems. Zero waste approach to advanced biomanufacturing using biorefinery approach.

Archishman Bose's expertise and research interest lies in: Biochemical and Bioprocess Engineering, Biorefining, Circular Bioeconomy Systems, Carbon capture and utilisation, Decarbonisation, Process Design and Feasibility Assessments including techno-economic (TEA) and life cycle assessments (LCA); Sustainability Assessments. he published over 20 peer-reviewed academic journal papers (10 first author publications) and contributed to three book chapters on topics related to microalgal biogas upgrading, techno-economic feasibility and sustainability assessments of low-carbon technologies.

Micheal J. Betenbaugh is a professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a lead PI of the Advanced Mammalian Biomanufacturing Innovation Center (AMBIC). He is known for integrating systems biology with cellular, metabolic, and biochemical engineering for eukaryotic biotechnology applications. He led the JHU initiative to be one of the original academic members of the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), which uses federal and industry co-funding to fine-tune existing biopharmaceutical manufacturing techniques.