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glbioenergy.bsky.social
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC)
@glbioenergy.bsky.social
81 followers 30 following 54 posts
Creating economically and environmentally sustainable biofuels and bioproducts from plants

https://www.glbrc.org/
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Bailey Marshall, a PhD candidate in cellular and molecular biology at UW–Madison, studies genetic engineering of bacteria for better biofuel production.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/news/grad-st...
September 30, 2026 at 4:03 PM
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A new GLBRC study found that many biomass-derived toxins move through microbial cell membranes too quickly for microbes to pump them out efficiently.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/news/when-ex...
September 15, 2026 at 4:01 PM
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A new GLBRC study used NMR methods known as FLOPSY and TOCSY to reveal hidden molecules in plant fibers.

The work could help researchers better understand lignin and its potential as a source of fuels, plastics, medicines, and other products.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/news/flopsy-...
September 3, 2026 at 4:02 PM
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A new GLBRC study uses modeling to compare ways biorefineries can use energy-rich byproducts from biofuel production, including biomethane, electricity, lignin conversion, and carbon capture.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/news/biorefi...
August 18, 2026 at 4:01 PM
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Poisonous plants hold keys to potent medicines.

A new GLBRC study identifies early steps in how larkspur and wolfsbane produce complex plant compounds with uses in medicine and pest control.

Read more: natsci.msu.edu/news/2026/20...
August 12, 2026 at 4:02 PM
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Trine Anderson and Brandon Kristy have received the 2026 GLBRC Mentorship Award for supporting students through hands-on research, confidence building, and scientific mentorship.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/news/glbrc-h...
August 6, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC)
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WEI 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.

Read more: energy.wisc.edu/news/wei-inv...
July 24, 2026 at 3:01 PM
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Trey Sato has received the 2026 GLBRC Service and Impact Award for nearly two decades of collaborative leadership, research support, and mentorship across the center.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/news/advanci...
July 7, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Reposted by Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC)
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Meet Audrey Gasch from genetics whose lab works with budding yeast, a model organism used to study and understand fundamental principles of how cells work. @glbioenergy.bsky.social
Meet UW-Madison’s Audrey Gasch
“Audrey studies a relatively simple model organism, but the resulting research projects and innovations can be applied to commercial needs in vastly broad areas of biology. She looks for the applications in the fundamental discoveries.”
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June 29, 2026 at 8:11 PM
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Where can a GLBRC postdoc experience lead?

New alumni profiles follow Caro Córdova, Brian Burger, and Ilya Gelfand across careers in soil health, animal genetics, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem ecology.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/careers/post...
July 1, 2026 at 3:37 PM
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Dae Kwan Ko of MSU has received the 2026 Yaoping Zhang Bioenergy Research Award for his research on plant stress resilience and bioenergy crop improvement.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/news/system-...
June 29, 2026 at 5:54 PM
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Poulamee Chakraborty of MSU has received the 2026 Jennifer L. Reed Bioenergy Science Award for her research on soil structure and sustainable bioenergy cropping systems.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/news/zooming...
June 23, 2026 at 8:44 PM
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Designing the Future of Land and Energy: A Systems Approach to Agrivoltaics offers a potential solution to strengthen the demand for renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.

Read more: interpro.wisc.edu/designing-th...
June 5, 2026 at 4:03 PM
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Wood density is an often underexplored factor in biomass crops, yet increasing it could improve biomass crops' economics without affecting productivity or composition.

Read more:
Denser wood lowers transport cost with little impact on biofuel production
Increasing wood density can improve the economics of biomass crops without impacting productivity or composition and can enhance supply chain efficiency without negatively affecting biomass…
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June 4, 2026 at 8:00 PM
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Study identifies enzymes that could improve isobutanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae whilst reducing unwanted ethanol production.

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Study identifies enzymes that could improve isobutanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is able to produce isobutanol, a promising biofuel, but when glucose is available it tends to make ethanol. Here researchers investigated genes from other species as well as…
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May 28, 2026 at 8:00 PM
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GLBRC researchers improve nitrous oxide emission estimates, helping reduce greenhouse gases from agriculture.

Read more: www.glbrc.org/research/hig...

#CleanEnergy #STEM #Sustainability
Machine learning paired with modeling takes guesswork out of nitrous oxide estimates
Most tools for estimating greenhouse gas emissions from farming use simplistic approaches based almost entirely on fertilizer inputs. By combining process models with machine learning, scientists…
www.glbrc.org
May 20, 2026 at 3:04 PM
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Sorghum under stress? GLBRC researchers are decoding the genes that help crops survive drought & heat

Resilient sorghum = stronger food & biofuel sources in a changing climate.

Read more:
Decoding Abiotic Stress Resilience in Sorghum
Sorghum is a stress resilient crop and a promising biofuel candidate. Given changing global climate patterns, developing crops that can be grown in intense environments is vital to maintaining robust…
www.glbrc.org
May 11, 2026 at 3:03 PM
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Congrats to Dr. Holly Gibbs! She has been elected to AAAS for her leadership in land use & sustainability research at GLBRC. Her work bridges agriculture, climate, and environmental science. Learn more: www.glbrc.org/news/glbrc-i...

#CleanEnergy #STEM #Sustainability
GLBRC investigator Holly Gibbs elected to AAAS
GLBRC investigator Holly Gibbs is among five University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty members elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. As a geographer, she studies how and why people use…
www.glbrc.org
May 7, 2026 at 3:03 PM
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GLBRC researchers model Z. mobilis membrane interactions to improve biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass.

Stronger microbes = more efficient, sustainable biofuels

Read more: www.glbrc.org/research/hig...

#CleanEnergy #STEM #Sustainability
Modeling Zymomonas Mobilis membrane interactions with lignocellulosic inhibitors
All-atom molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the interactions of Z. Mobilis membrane models with key inhibitors, including ethanol, furfural, HMF, and acetic acid. Simulations…
www.glbrc.org
May 5, 2026 at 3:03 PM
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GLBRC researchers explore how cattle diets shape gut microbes & reduce methane emissions, making livestock more climate-friendly. Read more: www.glbrc.org/news/lighter...

#CleanEnergy #STEM #Sustainability
Lighter Fare for Cattle and Microbes
Rebecca Smith uses genetic tools to develop plants that can be digested more easily. The outcomes could be greater efficiency for biofuel production and lower methane emissions from dairy cows.
www.glbrc.org
May 1, 2026 at 3:03 PM
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New Research Intern position open at the Experimental Fermentation Lab!

Under the mentorship of Kyle Probst, this role will be responsible for managing biomass pretreatment protocols and executing microbial fermentation assays.

More info: glbrc.org/about/job-op...

#intern#job
April 22, 2026 at 6:16 PM
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When is the best time to replant bioenergy crops? 

GLBRC researchers analyzed 200+ plantings of switchgrass and miscanthus across MI and WI and found that replanting at the right time can help maintain yields and maximize long-term profits for farmers. Read more:
Replanting bioenergy crops at the right time maximizes profits
Switchgrass and miscanthus are considered good bioenergy crops. They can grow on lower quality lands not used for food production, add carbon to the soil, and be converted into fuels and chemicals…
www.glbrc.org
March 23, 2026 at 3:04 PM
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GLBRC researchers developed toolkits using Mobile-CRISPRi and synthetic promoters to control gene expression in microbes like Zymomonas mobilis. 

The goal: engineer strains that resist toxins and produce more fuels and bioproducts from biomass. Learn more:
Genetic toolkits boost biofuel production
Microbes devour plant material, like leaves and stems from native plants, and convert it into biofuels and bioproducts. But in the process, the deconstructed plant material releases toxins that get…
www.glbrc.org
March 19, 2026 at 3:04 PM
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New research from the GLBRC explores how efflux pumps can balance energy efficiency and selectivity. The study found that more efficient pumps can expel a broader range of toxins, which could help microbes better survive industrial fermentation processes. Read more:
Energy efficient proteins expel more types of toxins
Bacteria and other microbes can convert plant fibers into sustainable fuels and chemicals used to make plastics, medicines, and other products. But chemicals used in processing or in the plants…
www.glbrc.org
March 17, 2026 at 5:04 PM