BER Science Highlights
U.S. Department of Energy | Office of Science | Biological and Environmental Research Program

Biosystems Design

  • Agile Biofoundry 2019 Photos

    Biodesign Scientists in Laboratory Study Agar Plates

    Crosscutting and Multiscale Approach. Biodesign lies at the core of the Genomic Science Program’s three primary research focus areas: Bioenergy, Environmental Microbiome, and Biosystems Design. Here, Nurgul Kaplan (left) and Garima Goyal examine microbial colonies on agar plates in front of an automated microbial transformation-plating and colony-picking robot. The two scientists work in the Robots Room on DNA construction and robotics at the Agile BioFoundry.

  • Three scientists in a laboratory prepare an instrument for use.

    Bioproducts with Engineered Fungi

    Joint Bioenergy Institute researchers work in the laboratory on the biological production of indigoidine by Rhodosporidium toruloides.

  • Two microbes with graphic representation of enzymes inside.

    Genetic Engineering in Microbes

    A new method uses Escherichia coli to generate DNA with methylation patterns that targeted microbes recognize and accept as their own, facilitating customization of microbes for biofuels production.

  • A researcher injects a plant while a second researcher gives instructions.

    Plant Scientists in Laboratory

    Crosscutting and Multiscale Approach. Biodesign lies at the core of the Genomic Science Program’s three primary research focus areas: Bioenergy, Environmental Microbiome, and Biosystems Design. Plant scientists tend to tobacco plants, an important research tool for transient genetic transformation and protein expression. Pictured are Jillian Curran and her mentor Chien-Yuan “Kevin” Lin from the Biotech Partners Student Interns at Emery Station East.