Itai Levin (VOIGT & COLEY LAB)

Merging Biocatalysis and Synthetic Chemistry with Computer-aided Synthesis Planning

Combining enzymatic and conventional organic chemistry is a promising strategy for the synthesis of valuable organic molecules as it leverages the environmental benefits and selectivity of enzyme catalysis without sacrificing the diversity of organic chemical transformations. Current computer-aided synthesis planning tools are not able to identify hybrid chemo-enzymatic synthesis plans. In this project we present a computational approach to automatically generate synthesis plans with both enzymatic and organic steps to molecules of interest.

Phillip Clauer (VOIGT LAB)

Engineering the Plant Microbiome to Eliminate Synthetic Nitrogenous Fertilizers

Industrial agriculture is reliant upon nitrogenous fertilizers, which are expensive and environmentally damaging. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in the plant microbiome convert atmospheric nitrogen to biologically accessible ammonia and are an attractive alternative to synthetic fertilizer. However, the nitrogen requirements for most crops far exceed the contribution of biological nitrogen fixation. We aim to increase the production of fixed nitrogen by plant-associated bacteria by removing native regulation and engineering cellular metabolism.