Algal Biotechnology

Addressing the climate crisis is the priority of our times. We have reached a common understanding that reducing greenhouse gass emissions will not be sufficient. New innovation for carbon capture and sequestration or utilization (CCSU) is now mandated for reaching our net-zero sustainability goals. The M2RG is actively addressing this from a biotechnology persective through multiple research and educational activities:

• AlgScaleUp - A Norwegian "Green Platform" collaboration between UiT, Sintef and Finnfjord AS aimed at industrial scale CO2 capture using cold-adapted marine diatoms in northern Norway - AlgScaleUp

• EcoTech4CCU - Professional workshop and student training on biotechnology for CCSU from ecosystem inspired solutions - Innovating carbon-capture biotechnologies through ecosystem-inspired solutions

• Heterotrophic cultivation using organic waste - investigating carbohydrate-based heterotrophic algae growth as an alternative to photosynthetic-based biotechnology. The M2RG is investigating the utility of industrial organic waste in a circular economy model by employing bioprocess engineering in combination with integrated multi-omics, and synthetic biology.

Marine Microbiomes

The Arctic marine environment is warming at an unprecedented rate, which makes its native biota vulnerable to extinction and invasion. Of specific concern are changing microbial (phyto)-plankton habitats, which underpin major portions of the global carbon cycle and marine ecosystem functioning.

Why is this important? Shifts in marine microbiome structure and function can perturb and reshape marine ecosystems. This can be acute and rapid; such as the effects caused by harmful algae blooms. Marine ecosystems are also undergoing slow, constant and likely permanent changes due to human activities.

The M2RG uses a combination of culture-independent multi-omics and model microbial consortia to better understand the ecological principles that underpin community succession and metabolic interactions between the prokaryotes and microeukaryotes that inhabit cold, marine environments. In addition, we recognize that there is much to be gained by reconciling these ecological processes with new engineering design principles for innovating new biotechnologies.

Synthetic Biology

Modern synthetic biology relies on the principle that well-characterized genetic parts and can be reused and reconfigured for different functions. However, this paradigm has only been successful to-date in a limited number of hosts, mostly comprised from common lab strains. We recognize that new microbial hosts will expand the scope of synthetic biology and are working to understand the fundamental science required develop ´broad-host-range´ tools for programming and controlling microbial functions.

Our focus on biodesign applies to:

• Engineering microbial communities - Reconciling ecological and engineering design principles for building microbiomes
• Marine Biotechnology (CCSU, biosensing and remediation)
• Directed evolution platforms

ABSORB

ABSORB – Arctic Carbon Storage from Biomes is a UiT strategic project designed establish new biotechnologies that harness biology unique to Arctic biomes for carbon draw-down. ABSORB is a partnership between UiT’s Research Groups Microalgae & Microbiomes, Microorganisms & Plants and Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (USA) and the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (Nibio). 

 Goals:

1. Gain a mechanistic understanding of how select Arctic microbial communities and plants convert CO2 and/or CH4 into “long-lived” organic bioproducts that can be stored in soils and in the ocean.
2. Translate natural principles of ecological carbon drawdown into biotechnology and microbial biodesign principles that support both “blue” (ocean) and “green” (land) sustainable food, feed and bioproducts.

Join us for a master´s degree

Would you like to join us, do a research project and be part of the action? The M2RG works closely with a MS degree program in Marine Biotechnology, yet we are open to hosting students from other areas of study.

Current list of MS projects

• Modelling the chassis effect on the performance of a broad-host-range genetic toggle switch engineered into marine bacteria - Vanja Verusevski (MS candidate in Marine Biotechnology)
• Phototrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth of cold-adapted marine microalgae - Ana Lilia Tovar Aguirre (MS candidate in Marine Biotechnology)

Potential projects for new students in 2022/2023

• Towards engineered marine microbiomes - Combinatorial growth physiology of diatom-bacterial co-cultures. Contact: Hans Christopher Bernstein
• Understanding and discovering plastic biodegradation by microalgae. Contact: Daniela Morales-Sanchez

Start your career with us

Looking for funding to start a postdoc or become a principle investigator? Get in contact with us to brainstorm and grow your network!

UiT provides support for exceptional candidates to search for funding as a postdoc or research project leader.

• The Tromsø Research Foundation provides support for long term activities to train the next generation of scientific leaders here at UiT.
• The Arctic Marie Skłodowska-Curie - Individual Fellowships at UiT can provide an opportunity to receive training and mentorship on your MSCA-IF application to be a distinguished postdoctoral researcher in our group.

Teaching and training

• Quantitative Microbial Biotechnology (Bio-3615/8607) - aims enable MS and PhD students to develop quantitative problem-solving skills in the context of modern microbial biotechnology applications including growth kinetics, bioreactors and engineered genetic devices
• We plan to hold a training workshop in scaling up cultivation of cold-water diatoms (to be announced after the world settles down from Covid). Please stay tuned...