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Dr. Donald A. Bryant Principal Investigator Ernest C. Pollard Professor of Biotechnology and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology E-mail: dab14@psu.edu Don Bryant's CV |
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Dr. Gaozhong Shen Senior Research Associate Email: gxs22@psu.edu Research Project: Functional genomics in structure, function, biogenesis, and regulation of photosynthetic complexes in cyanobacteria... |
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Dr. Paulo J. N. Silva Postdoc Researcher Email: pjs32@psu.edu Research Project: I am working on a DOE-supported project with Drs. Bryant and John Golbeck. The objective of my research is to produce chimeras between PS I and the [Fe-Fe]-hydrogenase of Clostridium acetobutylicum. |
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Dr. Richard M. Alvey Postdoc Researcher Email: rma14@psu.edu Research Project: I am working to understand how cyanobacteria incorporate linear tertrapyrrole chromophores into their many different light absorbing proteins. The proper attachment of these moieties to the light-harvesting phycobiliproteins is an integral step in the assembly of the major light harvesting structures of cyanobacteria known as the phycobilisomes. In addition to these proteins that absorb light for photosynthesis, I am also exploring the mechanisms of cyanobacterial photoreceptors which also bind these linear tetrapyrroles in order detect light and control gene expression. |
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Dr. Yusuke Tsukatani Postdoc Researcher Email: yut3@psu.edu Research Project: My work concerns structural and functional studies of chlorosomes. |
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Dr. Kajetan Vogl Postdoc Researcher Email: kuv2@psu.edu Research Project: I am working to develop a genetic system in a Bchl e–producing green sulfur bacterium. The goal of my research is to understand the physiological benefits of possessing the specific pigments Bchl e and isorenieratene. |
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Dr. Marcus Ludwig Postdoc Researcher Email: mul18@psu.edu Research Project: I am working on transcription analyses in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. The aim is to find growth conditions under which the transcription level of the so-called bi-directional hydrogenase is up-regulated. The final goal is to optimize a cyanobacterial system for hydrogen production. |
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Dr. Zhongkui Li Postdoc Researcher Email: zxl24@psu.edu Research Project: My research is focused on an Air Force funded project t of BiosolarH2. I am trying to understand the transcriptome of Synechococcus PCC 7002 under different conditions using some newly developed techniques. |
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Zhenfeng Liu Graduate Student Email: zxl124@psu.edu Research Project: Genome assembly and comparative analysis of green sulfur bacteria. Characterization of chlorophyll synthesizing genes in green sulfur bacteria. |
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Yu Xu Graduate Student Email: yzx105@psu.edu Research Project: I am characterizing the properties of a bi-directional hydrogenase in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 using molecular, biochemical and physiological methods. My final goal is to enhance the H2 yielding by by heterologous expression of robust, foreign hydrogenases in cyanobacteria and by metabolic and protein engineering methods to modify the expression and functioning of the native bi-directional hydrogenase of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. |
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Amaya M. Garcia Graduate Student Email: amg23@psu.edu Research Project: I am working on the newly discovered phototroph Chloracidobacterium thermophilum. I am in the process of sequencing and annotating its genome and doing some initial biochemical characterization of its reaction center and antenna pigments. I am also interested on its natural distribution and ecological role. |
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Rebecca A. Grimme Graduate Student(Chemistry) Email: rug132@psu.edu Research Project: My research focuses on interactions between proteins and surfaces. More specifically, I study specialized functionalization strategies that result in the specific orientation of proteins on surfaces. I am working on the functionalization of platinum and gold electrode and nanoparticle surfaces for the purpose of photocatalytic hydrogen production. The primary aim of my research is to attach a Photosystem I/Hydrogenase (PS I/H2ase) construct to electrode surfaces via a monolayer of cytochrome c6. This attachment strategy allows for the efficient transfer of electrons from the electrode surface to PS I. Under illuminated conditions, electrons will be supplied to PS I at rates that will allow for H2 production by the tethered H2ase. The second aim of my research is to attach PS I to Pt and Au nanoparticle surfaces via a covalent linker molecule. Utilizing this strategy, H2 can be produced photocatalytically on the nanoparticle surface via electrons supplied by PS I. This research is a part of the joint project with the laboratory of Dr. John Golbeck that seeks to connect PS I directly to a hydrogenase and that is supported by DOE. |
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Steve Romberger Graduate Student Email: spr171@psu.edu Research Project: In the fortunate position of being co-mentored by Dr. Don Bryant and Dr. John Golbeck, my research uses the spectroscopic, biochemical, molecular and physiological techniques of both labs to enhance our understanding of the roles of cofactors in photosynthesis. One aspect of my research regards investigating the structure-function relationships of the poorly understood Type I homodimeric reaction centers, using the reaction centers from Chloroacidobacterium thermophilum and Heliobacterium modesticaldum as model systems. The second aspect of my research involves understanding the biosynthesis of carotenoids in green-sulfur bacteria and cyanobacteria and what roles carotenoids play as these organsims experience photosynthetic stress. |
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Patrick Byrne Undergraduate Student Email: pob5011@psu.edu Research Project: My project involves creating novel clones of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 and studying gene expression. |
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Elizabeth Harvie Undergraduate Student Email: eah224@psu.edu Research Project: My project involves studying the expression of four carotenoid genes from the newly discovered phototroph Chloracidobacterium thermophilum. I am also working on a series of physiological growth curves to help determine the optimal growth conditions of Chloracidobacterium thermophilum. |