BEE 6570 - Mixed-Culture Engineered Systems: Bioenergy and Microbial Ecology

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Offered alternate years. Enrollment limited to: graduate standing only.

L. Angenent.

We will perform an in-depth analysis of the latest publications that describe undefined mixed cultures of microbes in engineered systems for bioenergy production. Discussion especially focuses on different organic waste treatment options, such as anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, composting, bioelectrochemical systems (such as microbial fuel cells), and carboxylic-acid fermentation systems. The latest and most powerful molecular biology techniques (e.g., 16S rRNA gene surveys, metagenomics, proteomics, metatranscriptomics) are discussed in the context of undefined mixed culture engineered systems. Some bioinformatic and microbial ecology tools will also be used in a hands-on project module. After completing this course, students should be able to critically read and evaluate scientific papers that show results obtained with molecular techniques from engineered systems. More specifically, you should be able to know the limitations of the utilized techniques and be able to give other techniques that may complement or improve the knowledge gained from the study.