In the world of fungi, Aspergillus is an industrial superstar, playing a critical role in biofuel production, and plant and human health, among other applications. But the majority of its 350 species has yet to be sequenced. A team including JGI researchers sequenced the genomes of 10 novel Aspergillus species, more than doubling the number of Aspergillus species sequenced to date. Read more in the JGI News Release.
Like mother, like son. In May 2016, Krishna “Kris” Niyogi, who grew up in Oak Ridge, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Eighteen years earlier, in 1998, his mother Audrey, who worked at Oak Ridge Lab for 44 years, was elected to the academy, which is a private, nonprofit organization of the country’s leading researchers.
The NAS recognizes and promotes outstanding science through election to membership; publication in its journal, PNAS; and its awards, programs, and special activities. Through the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the NAS provides objective, science-based advice on critical issues affecting the nation. Election to membership in the NAS is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive.
Niyogi, a faculty scientist affiliated with the Molecular Biophysics & Integrated Bioimaging Division, and his mother were recently featured in a “Historically Speaking” post of the Oakridger which includes several quotes of Niyogi.
Seven LBNL Biosciences Area researchers are among the 47 new investigators chosen by the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub to receive up to $1.5 million each to conduct cutting-edge biomedical research — with no strings attached. The investigator awards are the first individual grants by the CZ Biohub as it seeks to foster unconventional scientific exploration and encourage researchers to invent new tools to accelerate the pace of discovery. Senior investigators will each receive 1.5 million over five years while the younger faculty will receive half the amount, $750,000.
Biosciences Area’s senior investigators are: Jill Banfield and Michal Maharbiz (EGSB), Dan Fletcher and Amy Herr (BSE). The junior investigators are Ke Xu (MBIB) and Wenjun Zhang (EGSB). Read more at UC Berkeley News.
Adam Arkin, senior faculty scientist in the Environmental Genomics & Systems Biology Division, will lead the new NASA Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES). One of two Space Technology Research Institutes (STRIs) funded, CUBES will advance research into an integrated, multi-function, multi-organism biomanufacturing system to produce fuel, materials, pharmaceuticals and food on long-term space missions.
In a New Scientist article profiling the new STRIs, Arkin said, “CUBES will work on an integrated way to use biology, starting from the available building blocks, to create all the things that astronauts and settlers will need, from food to pharmaceuticals to fuel.” Read more in the NASA press release.
Chris Mungall, computer research scientist in the Environmental Genomics & Systems Biology (EGSB) Division, has been awarded the society’s 2017 Exceptional Contributions to Biocuration Award. EGSB’s bioinformatics scientist Monica Munoz-Torres was recently selected society chair following the 2016-2017 executive committee elections in November.
More »Was this page useful?
