Affiliated Research Programs
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Algal Biomass Conversion (PI)
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Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership, ATP3 (NREL PI)
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Bio-GTL: Novel Biocatalyst For Conversion Of Natural Gas into Diesel Fuel (NREL PI)
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Algae Biotechnology Partnership (consultant)
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Algae Technology Educational Consortium (consultant)
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Growth of Algae on Solid Supports funded by the NREL Laboratory-Directed Research and Development Program (consultant)
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Biogas to Liquid Fuels and Chemicals Using a Methanotrophic Microorganism (consultant)
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Biogas Valorization: Development of a Methane-to-Adipic Acid Bioprocess (consultant)
Areas of Expertise
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Molecular biology
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Microbial physiology
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Biochemical conversion process development
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Fermentation development
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Metabolic engineering
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Enzyme and protein engineering
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Techno-economic analysis
Education
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Ph.D., Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1980
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B.S., Honors Biology, University of Illinois-Urbana, 1974
Professional Experience
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Member of Board of Directors, Algae Foundation, 2013–present
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Algal Biofuels Platform Lead, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO
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Waste to Energy Platform Lead, NREL
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Principal Group Manager, NREL, May 2011–present
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Member of Board of Directors, Algae Biomass Organization, 2008–2013
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Principal Research Supervisor, NREL, Aug. 2007–May 2011
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Research Director, Molecular Logix, Inc., The Woodlands, TX, Feb. 2003–Aug. 2007
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Interim Research Position, Advisys, Inc., The Woodlands, TX, Aug. 2002–Feb. 2003
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Research Director, Enchira Biotechnology Corp./Energy BioSystems Corp., The Woodlands, TX, Oct. 1994–May 2002
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Staff Scientist, Celgene Corp., Warren, NJ, May 1986–Oct. 1994
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Senior Research Scientist, Celanese Research Company, Summit, NJ, June 1984–May 1986
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Senior Research Scientist, Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, NY, June 1982–June 1984
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Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Microbiology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, Oct. 1979–June 1982
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Engineer, Range Fuels, Inc., 2007–2009
Patents
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"Biocatalysts with enhanced inhibitor tolerance," U.S. Patent No. 9,206,445 (2015)
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"Pan-HER antagonists and methods of use," U.S. Patent No. 7,557,181 (2009)
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"Epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists and methods of use," U.S. Patent No. 7,470,769 (2008)
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"Epidermal growth factor agonists," U.S. Patent No. 7,084,246 (2006)
Featured Publications
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"Draft Genome Sequence of Chlorella vulgaris UTEX395 an oleaginous, freshwater green microalga," (forthcoming)
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"Assessment of photosynthesis regulation in mixotrophically cultured microalga Chlorella sorokiniana," Algal Research (2016)
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"Bioconversion of methane to lactate by an obligate methanotrphic bactgerium," Scientific Reports (2016)
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"Genome-scale metabolic reconstructions and theoretical investigation of methane conversion in Methylomicrobium buryatense Strain 5G(B1)," Microb Cell Fact. (2015)
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"Bioreactor Performance Parameters for an Industrially-promising Methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1," Microb Cell Fact. (2015)
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"Algal omics: unlocking bioproduct diversity in algae cell factories," Photosynth. Res. (2015)
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"Acid-catalyzed algal biomass pretreatment for integrated lipid and carbohydrate-based biofuels production," Green Chem. (2015)
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"Nitrogen recycling from fuel-extracted algal biomass: Residuals as the sole nitrogen source for culturing Scenedesmus acutus," Bioresource Technol. (2015)
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"Improving a recombinant Zymomonas mobilis strain 8b through continuous adaptation on dilute acid pretreated corn stover hydrolysate," Biotechnology for Biofuels (2105)
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"Insights into acetate toxicity in Zymomonas mobilis 8b using different substrates," Biotechnology for Biofuels (2014)
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"Improving xylose utilization by recombinant Zymomonas mobilis strain 8b through adaptation using 2-deoxyglucose," Biotechnology for Biofuels (2014)
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"Strain, Biochemistry and Cultivation-Dependent Measurement Accuracy of Algal Biomass Biochemical Composition," Anal. Biochem. (2014)
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"Bioconversion of Natural Gas to Liquid Fuel: Opportunities and Challenges." Biotechnology Advances (2014)
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"Connecting lignin-degradation pathway with pre-treatment inhibitor sensitivity of Cupriavidus necator," Frontiers Microbiology (2014)
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"An Optimization Framework for Algal Systems in the Energy-Water-Food Nexus," Industrial Biotechnology (2014)
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"Lignin valorization through integrated biological funneling and chemical catalysis," Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (2014)
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"New method for discovery of starch phenotypes in growing microalgal colonies." Anal. Biochem. (2013)
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"Proteomic Analysis of Chlorella vulgaris: Target Identification for Strain-Engineering." J. Proteomics (2013)
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"Inhibition of growth of Zymomonas mobilis by model compounds found in lignocellulosic hydrolysates." Biotechnology for Biofuels (2013)
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"De novo transcriptomic analysis of hydrogen production in the green alga Chlamydomonas moewusii through RNA-Seq." Biotechnology for Biofuels (2013)
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"The Energy-Water-Food Nexus Through the Lens of Algal Systems." Industrial Biotechnology (2013)
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"New Method for Discovery of Starch Phenotypes in Growing Microalgal Colonies." Analytical Biochemistry (2013)
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Renewable Diesel from Algal Lipids: An Integrated Baseline for Cost, Emissions, and Resource Potential from a Harmonized Model, NREL Technical Report (2012)
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"The potential of photosynthetic aquatic species as sources of useful cellulose fibers—a review," J. Applied. Phycol. (2012)
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"Establishment of a bioenergy-focused microalgal culture collection," Algal Research (2012)
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"Examination of Triacylglycerol Biosynthetic Pathways via de novo Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses in an Unsequenced Microalga," PLOS One (2011)
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"Making Biofuel from Microalgae," American Scientist (2011)
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"Comparative Cost Analysis of Algal Oil Production for Biofuels," Energy (2011)
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"Techno-Economic Analysis of Autotrophic Microalgae for Fuel Production," Applied Energy (2011)
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Current Status and Potential for Algal Biofuels Production, IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Report (2010)
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"Betting on algal biofuels," IEEE Spectrum (2010)
View all NREL Publications for Philip T. Pienkos.
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