1. Penn State Biomass Energy Center
Environment and Natural Resources Institute
Penn State Institutes of the Environment
Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences
Materials Research Institute
Energy Institute
Hydrogen Energy Center
Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
Schatz Center of Tree Molecular Genetics
Center for Metallobiochemistry
Center for Microbial Structural Biology
USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Mangement Unit

2. Biomass Energy Center Biomass Feedstock Production Biomass Conversion
Sustainable Bioenergy Systems
Technology Transfer

3. Biomass Feedstock Production
Crop Production
Harvest technology
Storage and Treatment
Plant Biotechnology

4. The Schatz Center for Tree Molecular Genetics
John Carlson
Alternative biomass energy tree crops
Functional genomics in Poplar
Genomic resources for woody plants
Gene expression and biotechnology in woody plants

5. Modification of Lignin Synthesis
John Carlson and Ming Tien
Create plants with elevated tyrosine-rich proteins in cell wall.
Replace lignin-lignin linkages with lignin peptide linkages
Facilitate lignin removal with proteases

6. Modification of Cell Wall Linkages
Marcia Buanafina
Manipulate the phenolic acid content and degradability of grass cell-walls by targeted expression of a ferulic acid esterase gene
IVDMD %
Plant Number

7. Fungal Degradation of Lignocellulose
Ming Tien
Proteomic and transcriptome analysis of fungal enzymes involved in degradation of wood
SEM of fungus grown on wood
Phanerochaete chrysosporium
2-D gel of extracellular fungal enzymes

8. Expansin synergies with Cellulases
Dan Cosgrove
Expansin, a plant growth protein, increases the rate and efficacy of cell wall degrading enzymes
1.0
0.9
Avicel (microcrystalline cellulose)
0.8
0.7
Reducing sugars
Tr. cellulase &
b-expansin
0.6
410nm A
0.5
Tr. cellulase alone
0.4
0.3 b
-expansin alone or no protein
0.2
0.1 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24
Time (hrs)

9. Integrating Pretreatment with Storage
Tom Richard
Implement biocatalysis during ensiled storage
Recover organic acids and fermentable sugars
Reduce pretreatment severity, minimizing energy and chemical inputs and costs

10. Transgenic Plants for Bio-oils
Wayne Curtis
Genetically
Engineered
Bacteria
Genetically
Engineered
Plant Virus
Novel
Gene
Genetically Engineered
Plant Tissue Culture
Bio-oils, etc.

11. Advances in Photosynthesis
Don Bryant, John Golbeck, Tom Mallouk
Structure, function, and bioassembly of Photosystem 1
Artificial Photosynthesis

12. Biomass Conversion to Energy
Combustion and gasification
Biodiesel and Bio-oils
Microbial fuel cells
Biohydrogen
Anaerobic digestion
Ethanol (from grain)
Bioethanol (cellulosic)
Integrated Biorefineries

13. Biomass Gasification Sharon Falcone Miller
Gasification for syngas production
Maximizing hydrogen yield

14. Advanced Biodiesel Production
Joe Perez, Jack Matson, Frank Higdon
Continuous processing
Solid-phase catalysts
Substituting ethanol for methanol

15. Biofuel Combustion and Emissions
André Boehman
Biodiesel engine testing
Emissions monitoring
Particulate filter regeneration

16. Anaerobic Microbiology
J. Greg Ferry
Biomethanation
Syngas fermentation
CO2 sequestration
In-situ coal bed methanation
Carbonic anhydrase
CO2 + H2O  HCO3ˉ + H+
M. acetivorans
8CO + 4H2O  CH4 + CH3COOH + 5CO2

17. Coupling Waste Treatment with Bioenergy
Jay Regan and Bruce Logan
Anaerobic Digestion
Microbial Fuel Cells
Fermentative Hydrogen Production
Cellulose Conversion to Electricity A B C

18. Protein and Metabolic Engineering
Pat Cirino and Costas Maranas
Directed evolution
Expression
Parental DNA sequences
Combinatorial Library
active
inactive
Metabolic Pathway Engineering

19. Downstream Processing
Andrew Zydney
Development of new separation technologies specifically targeted to purification of biological products

20. Sustainable Bioenergy Systems
Carbon Sequestration
Nutrient Cycling
Water Quality
Policy and Social Issues
Adler et al. 2006
Hasche et al. 2003

21. Farmer’s Perspectives on Bioenergy Crops
Clare Hinrichs
Questions farmers are asking:
Will trade-offs be necessary between environmental benefits and economic growth?
Who will invest in processing and biorefineries?
What role will famers have in the coming ‘bioeconomy”?
Will CRP and other governmental regulations/policies help facilitate switchgrass production for energy?

22. I-FARM Decision Support Tool
Tom Richard

23. Outreach & Technology Transfer
Cooperative Extension
Applied Research and Demonstration
Industrial Outreach
Workforce Development