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Deborah Newby and Frank Roberto take samples in Yellowstone National Park to conduct brucellosis research. more

Biotechnology research at INL conducts geomicrobiology, molecular and biocatalysis and industrial microbiology to support advances in environmental biotechnology, energy sciences, and national security. Our biological science and engineering research and development ranges from basic, to applied, to at-scale technologies. Multidisciplinary research and development teams specialize in problem solution on issues of national and international importance.

More than 75 scientists and engineers work on fully integrated technical teams to efficiently address multi-component research needs. Disciplines represented on these teams include molecular biology, biochemical engineering, biochemistry, hydrology, geochemistry, chemical and mechanical engineering, chemistry, metallurgy, microbiology, environmental engineering, and soil science. The interdisciplinary and team structure allows highly effective technology development, spanning the entire innovation cycle from bench to scale-up and application.

Staff is supporting cleanup of subsurface organic and inorganic contamination through investigations into subsurface microbial ecology, microbial activity, and the microbial impacts on fate and transport of organic and inorganic contaminants such as trichloroethene, strontium-90, and chromium, with a focus on deep fractured rock environments. Additionally, we’re studying plant uptake of surface contaminants (e.g. radionuclides) to enhance risk assessment and cleanup activities. We’re conducting a range of energy-related research, including enhancing recovery of oil and gas, methane hydrates production, biocatalysis, whitings production, biocorrosion in geothermal systems, and whole-crop utilization. And we’re conducting genomics research to detect priority bacterial pathogens in support of national security interests.

In addition to serving the needs of the federal government, staff collaborate with both public and private sector colleagues in several areas, including agriculture, chemical processing, energy, environmental restoration, forest products, and mining. To learn more about such research, see our program fact sheets.

Major research groups within the department:

Geomicrobiology - developing a better understanding of the interactions between microbes and the subsurface. Research is either fundamental or basic in nature and designed to elucidate biogeochemical processes that may impact contaminant fate and transport through the environment as well as the recovery of oil from underground reservoirs.

Contact: Mark Delwiche, 208-526-1870, Send E-mail

Molecular and biocatalysis - focused on fundamental molecular microbiology and genomics to apply molecular techniques to the DOE’s National Security mission. The current thrust is development of novel and rapid methods for pathogen detection. Examples include Real-Time PCR development and application, and detection of microorganisms responsible for the disease brucellosis.

Contact: Francisco Roberto, 208-526-1096, Send E-mail

Industrial microbiology – conducting basic and applied research using microbes and microbial processes to enhance environmental remediation and industrial practices. Research areas include biofiltration of vapor/gas phase pollutants, bioremediation of chlorinated solvent contamination, and bioprocessing of crop residues for bioenergy and bioproducts.

Contact: Don Maiers, 208-526-6991, Send E-mail

Long term, our goal is to exploit both natural and man-made environments for microorganism functions that can be used in harsh conditions: robust enzymes for bioprocessing, biomimetics, and fundamental understanding of life. Genomics also plays a central role in our activities. We have established a high-throughput sequencing capability, including automated analysis of sequencing results and robotics to maximize throughput. We have also developed and applied portable field molecular determinations, for example, real-time PCR measurements for pathogens in wildlife or human antibody profiling for forensic applications.

Extremophile sampling at Yellowstone National Park

Underpinning INL biotechnology R&D is field sampling technology development and application. We have invented and deployed sampling tools and techniques to obtain biological material such as extremophiles under unusual but prevailing natural environmental conditions. Much of our research focuses on determining the physiological and molecular characteristics of extremophilic microorganisms that span environmental extremes and locations.

Biotechnology research is conducted primarily at the INL Research Center (IRC) in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Facilities include modern research laboratory space configured with special areas, including environmental chambers and engineering high-bay facilities. Laboratory equipment includes walk-in incubators, cold rooms, laminar flow hoods, and numerous autoclaves. These facilities house a variety of state-of-the-art instrumentation, including gas, ion, and high-performance liquid chromatographs; atomic absorption spectrophotometers; an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer (ICP-ES); mass spectrometer; transmission and scanning electron microscopes; automated DNA sequencers; nitrogen oxide analyzers; anaerobic chambers; a DNA synthesizer; shakers; instrumentation for measuring interfacial tension; x-ray fluorescence spectrometer; fermentors; and specialized bioreactors. Instrumentation is coupled with microcomputer processing control systems to automate sampling, data collection, and manipulation.

We cultivate close working relationships between public and private sector engineers and scientists and INL researchers to ensure optimal use of the technologies we develop. We welcome the opportunity to participate in collaborative research with scientists from universities, industry, and other federal agencies. Other opportunities include post-doctoral fellowships, sabbaticals and staff positions.