Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center

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Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center

Department of Energy-funded research center led by the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

08/12/2026

Poisonous plants hold keys to potent medicines.

A new GLBRC study from Björn Hamberger and collaborators identifies early steps in how larkspur and wolfsbane make diterpenoid alkaloids, complex plant compounds with uses in medicine and pest control.

Researchers also showed a possible path toward producing these compounds in simpler plant systems.

Read more: https://natsci.msu.edu/news/2026/2026-07-larkspur-wolfsbane.aspx

08/06/2026

Trine Anderson and Brandon Kristy have received the 2026 GLBRC Mentorship Award.

Anderson, a senior scientist in Bjoern Hamberger’s lab at Michigan State University, and Kristy, a PhD candidate in Sarah Evans’ lab, were honored for helping students build confidence, gain hands-on research experience, and grow as scientists.

Read more: https://www.glbrc.org/news/glbrc-honors-researchers-mentorship

07/24/2026

Wisconsin Energy Institute co-investigator Troy Runge has been named interim dean of the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Runge is an associate dean and professor of biological systems engineering whose research explores biobased products and bioprocessing systems. He will help lead CALS while the university begins its search for the college’s next dean.

Read more: https://energy.wisc.edu/news/wei-investigator-runge-named-interim-dean

07/07/2026

Trey Sato, a senior scientist at the Wisconsin Energy Institute, has received the 2026 GLBRC Service and Impact Award.

Since joining GLBRC in 2008, Sato has supported research across the center through collaboration, mentorship, and his work on yeast, fermentation, and biomass-to-biofuel testing.

He has coauthored more than 75 peer-reviewed papers and helped connect researchers across disciplines and institutions.

Read more about his service, leadership, and research: https://www.glbrc.org/news/advancing-science-through-service-glbrc-scientist-trey-sato-honored-collaborative-leadership

07/01/2026

Where can a GLBRC postdoc experience lead?

Meet three GLBRC alumni whose careers have taken them into academia, industry, and international research: Caro Córdova, Brian Burger, and Ilya Gelfand.

Their profiles highlight how work at GLBRC helped shape careers in soil health, animal genetics, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem ecology.

Read their stories: https://www.glbrc.org/careers/postdoc-profiles

06/29/2026

Dae Kwan Ko, a fixed-term research assistant professor at Michigan State University, has received the 2026 Yaoping Zhang Bioenergy Research Award.

At the GLBRC, Ko studies how genes and proteins interact in plants, with a focus on understanding plant cell walls and stress resilience. His work uses systems-level approaches, bioinformatics, and functional genomics to support the development of more resilient bioenergy crops.

Ko has also helped develop computational tools and datasets that allow GLBRC scientists to identify genes and pathways involved in crop productivity and stress response.

Read more about his award and research: https://www.glbrc.org/news/system-approach-innovations-improve-understanding-plant-resilience

06/23/2026

Poulamee Chakraborty, a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan State University, has received the 2026 Jennifer L. Reed Bioenergy Science Award.

At the GLBRC, Chakraborty studies how microscopic soil structures influence the movement of carbon and nitrogen through plants, microbes, and soil. Her research helps scientists better understand how bioenergy cropping systems can become more productive and sustainable.

Using tools such as X-ray microscopy, isotope labeling, and machine learning, Chakraborty is working to identify soil features that support carbon storage, nutrient cycling, and resilient plant growth.

Read more about her award and research: https://www.glbrc.org/news/zooming-studying-soil-microscopic-level-solve-big-problems

05/11/2026

GLBRC scientists are investigating how sorghum survives abiotic stresses such as drought and high temperatures. By mapping the genes and molecular networks that contribute to stress tolerance, they aim to develop more resilient crop varieties.

Why does it matter? Climate change poses growing challenges for agriculture, making it essential to breed crops that can withstand environmental extremes. Stress-resilient sorghum supports both food security and the production of sustainable biofuels.

Learn more about this research: https://www.glbrc.org/research/highlights/decoding-abiotic-stress-resilience-sorghum

05/07/2026

Dr. Holly Gibbs, GLBRC investigator and environmental scientist, has been elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This distinction highlights her contributions to understanding land use, agriculture, and their impacts on climate.

Her research informs sustainable policies and practices that balance human needs with environmental health.

Learn more about her work: https://www.glbrc.org/news/glbrc-investigator-holly-gibbs-elected-aaas

05/05/2026

GLBRC scientists are investigating how the membranes of Z.mobilis interact with inhibitors in plant biomass. Their modeling work provides insights that could help microbes withstand harsh conditions during fermentation.

Why does it matter? Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant renewable resource for biofuels, but inhibitory compounds reduce microbial efficiency. Understanding these membrane interactions enables the development of stronger, more resilient microbes, making biofuel production more sustainable and cost-effective.

Learn more about this research: https://www.glbrc.org/research/highlights/modeling-zymomonas-mobilis-membrane-interactions-lignocellulosic-inhibitors

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Madison, WI
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http://www.glbrc.org/

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