2007 Sun Grant/DOT Competitive Grants Program Awardees

In March 2007, the Southeastern Sun Grant Center announced the availability of its regional competitive grants program with a Request for Applications, which was sent to key contacts at all land-grant universities in the region.  The RFA outlined two grant categories: Integrated Projects with a maximum funding request of $300,000 for a period of up to three years; and Seed Grants of up to $50,000 for a one year period.

In total, more than 130 Letters of Intent were submitted, resulting in 93 full proposals by the submission deadline.  Full proposals were received from 11 different land-grant universities in the southeast region.

After extensive review by a panel from academic, business and government sectors with expertise in all the DOT research priority areas, 13 proposals were selected for funding.

Seed Projects

• Identifying novel lignin and lignocellulose degrading enzymes from natural decomposer communities - Alison Buchan, PI, University of Tennessee
• Agglomeration of Biomass Feedstocks for Bioenergy Applications - Oladrian Fasina, PI, Auburn University
• Conversion of agricultural materials to biofuels and bioproducts by Thermotoga neapolitana, a hyperthermophilic, anaerobic bacterium - Mike Henson, PI, Clemson University
• A novel approach to facilitate accessibility of cellulose and hemicellulose: characterization of hybrid poplar transformed with a tyrosine rich peptide gene - Haiying Liang, PI, Clemson University
• Evaluation of Reduced Lignin Softwood and Hardwoods for Improved Conversion to Bioethanol - Gary Peter, PI, University of Florida
• Use of Complex Fluids for Enhanced Cellulosic Pre-treatment - Orlando Rojas, PI, North Carolina State University
• Biological energy production from biomass by wood-feeding termites, Jian-Zhong Sun, PI, Mississippi State University

Integrated Projects

• Optimization of Pretreatments for the Production of Ethanol from Genetically Modified Hardwoods with High Cellulose and Low Lignin Content - Hasan Jameel, PI, North Carolina State University
• Bacterial Adaptations for Enhanced Cellulose Utilization: A Systems Approach - Sue Nokes, PI, University of Kentucky
• Enzymatic and Multiphase Solution Processing of Lignocellulosic Biomass - Subramanian Ramakrishnan, PI, Florida A&M University
• Mechanisms of Surfactant Effects on Biomass Conversion - Maren Roman, PI, Virginia Tech
• Comparative Genomics Guided Genetic Modification of Switchgrass Cell Wall for Improved Lignin Characteristics and Increased Cellulose Availability - Neal Stewart, PI, University of Tennessee
• Development of a Microbial factory for Efficient Conversion of Biodiesel glycerol to value-added products - Sang-Jin Suh, PI, Auburn University