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Subsurface Biogeochemistry

Develop Biological Solutions for Intractable Environmental Problems

DOE has intractable contamination challenges at diverse sites around the country, making accurate prediction of contaminant behavior critical in determining the need for restoration and in suggesting stabilization or restoration strategies (see A Legacy of Hazardous Waste).

Understanding the complex interactions of microbes with contaminants and the subsurface environment— a Genomic Science goal—will allow such predictions to be based on fundamental biological, geochemical, and hydrological properties of specific environments.

Subsurface Biogeochemistry: Goals and Impacts

Understand and incorporate the effects of biological processes into computer models describing the fate and transport of contaminants in the environment. This knowledge could result in savings in the billions of dollars by supporting decisions to take advantage of natural attenuation alternatives, use subsurface biogeochemistry for previously intractable problems, or improve the efficiency of conventional technologies.
Develop new or improved subsurface biogeochemical strategies and technologies to save potentially billions of dollars over traditional treatments. This may offer solutions in previously intractable cases (i.e., where there was no solution at any price).
Develop new suites of biosensors and performance assessment and monitoring techniques to track progress of environmental cleanup strategies and optimize operation of current cleanup techniques.

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Text adapted from Genomics:GTL Roadmap: Systems Biology for Energy and Environment, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, August 2005. DOE/SC-0090.

Related DOE BER Report

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Complex Systems Science for Subsurface Fate and Transport [03/10]

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News

DOE GSP Funding Call: Systems Biology Enabled Research on the Role of Microbial Communities in Carbon Cycling [02/13]
New Opportunity: Call for Exploratory Collaborations between the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and Joint Genome Institute Letters of Intent Accepted February 11 - April 8, 2013 [02/13]
JGI CSP accepting letters of intent for large-scale sequence-based genomic science projects. Details and LOI submission. April 8, 2013 deadline [02/13]
8th Annual DOE Joint Genome Institute Genomics of Energy & Environment Meeting: March 26-28, 2013 in Walnut Creek, California. http://bit.ly/JGI-Meeting
Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy. DOE and USDA announce funding call. Close: Feb 25, 2013; Pre-applications Due 12/18/2012 [11/12]
DOE JGI Strategic Planning for the Genomic Sciences: Workshop Report published
KBase User Interface launches alpha release
More News and Announcements »

Reports

DOE JGI Strategic Planning for the Genomic Sciences: Workshop Report [9/12]
Plants and Their Environment: Biology, Molecular Interactions and Homeostasis [2/12]
Biosystems Design: Report from the July 2011 Workshop [4/12]
Applications of New DOE National User Facilities in Biology [2/12]
Switchgrass Research Group: Progress Report [1/12]
DOE Genomic Science Program Overview Handout [5/11]
Genomics for Energy and Environmental Science Placemat [1/11]
Grand Challenges for Biological and Environmental Research: A Long-Term Vision Report [12/10]
DOE Systems Biology Knowledgebase Implementation Plan [9/10]
Bioenergy Research Centers Overview [7/10]
New Frontiers in Characterizing Biological Systems Report [10/09]
Sustainability of Biofuels: DOE-USDA Report [4/09]
Systems Biology Knowledgebase Workshop Report [3/09]
Carbon Cycling and Biosequestration [12/08]
Information & Data Sharing Policy [4/08]
Biomass to Biofuels Plan [7/06]
Roadmap [10/05]
More Publications »

Funding

Research

Genomic Science-Related BER Research Highlights

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Citation and Credit

Unless otherwise noted, publications and webpages on this site were created for the U.S. Department of Energy Genomic Science program by Biological and Environmental Research Information System (BERIS). Permission to use these documents is not needed, but credit the U.S. Department of Energy Genomic Science program and provide the URL http://genomicscience.energy.gov. Materials provided by third parties are identified as such and not available for free use.

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Last modified: Thursday, February 03, 2011

Citation and Credit

Unless otherwise noted, publications and webpages on this site were created for the U.S. Department of Energy Genomic Science program by Biological and Environmental Research Information System (BERIS). Permission to use these documents is not needed, but credit the U.S. Department of Energy Genomic Science program and provide the URL http://genomicscience.energy.gov. Materials provided by third parties are identified as such and not available for free use.

Last modified: Thursday, February 03, 2011