Author: Angela Bywater

CBM Net Event: Engineering the membrane for improved cell factories

The use of whole-cell biocatalysts for the large scale production of biomolecules, fine chemicals and biofuels is a key theme within industrial biotechnology and bioenergy. However, cells that have been engineered for these purposes are often subject to membrane stress, leading to a loss of integrity at the cell membrane.

This event brings together stakeholders with an interest in understanding and re-engineering cell membranes to enhance the productivity of cell-based factories used in industrial biotechnology and bioenergy. More details can be found at: http://cbmnetnibb.group.shef.ac.uk/event/engineering-the-membrane-for-improved-cell-factories/

EXPERTS NEEDED!

BBSRC are looking to appoint suitably qualified and motivated individuals from academia, industry and other BBSRC user communities to fill a number of vacancies on our Strategy Advisory Panels, the Pool of Experts, Committee E and Follow-on-Fund Committee.

This is an opportunity to work with other highly experienced people from across the academic, public, private and civil sectors to make an important contribution to the future direction of bioscience research.

http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/about/structures/committees/committee-pool-membership/call-for-pool-experts-strategy-panels-and-committees/

There are vacancies for:

  • Assessment Committee (pool) members
  • Strategy Panel members
    • Agriculture and Food Security Strategy Advisory Panel
    • Bioscience for Health Strategy Advisory Panel
    • Bioscience For Industry Strategy Panel
    • Bioscience for Society Strategy Panel
    • Exploiting New Ways Of Working Strategy Advisory Panel
    • Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy Strategy Advisory Panel
  • Committee E members (fellowship funding)
  • Follow-on-Fund committee members

If you know of anyone who you think would be interested in applying to this, please can you pass this information on to them.

The call is open until midnight Sunday 5th July

IEA Bioenergy Task 37 Country Reports Summary 2014

Members of Task 37 recently published an annual summary of their Country Reports for 2014. The individual country reports include information on the number of biogas plants in operation, biogas production data, biogas utilisation, number of upgrading plants, number of vehicles using biomethane as fuel, details of financial support mechanisms and some information on key national research and development projects.

Find out more here: http://www.iea-biogas.net/country-reports.html

Research fellow in biomethanisation of CO2

Applicants are invited for a Research Fellow position to investigate microbially-mediated power-to-gas systems.

You will investigate microbially-mediated power-to-gas systems and develop continuous laboratory-scale systems for biological production of methane at high concentrations both from gas-fed bioreactors and through modification of conventional anaerobic digestion.  The research is intended to assess the optimum conditions and the performance limitations and to link these with metabolic functionality and control, in collaboration with other consortium partners.

The post funded by a BBSRC IB Catalyst grant with partners in the Universities of York and Sheffield.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 11 June 2015.

Informal enquiries are welcome and can be directed to Prof Charles Banks: cjb@soton.ac.uk

Upcoming competition on ‘omics’ – Innovate UK – Registration from 18 May

The upcoming competition : Finding value in complex biological data – integrated ‘omics’, run by Innovate UK and BBSRC is opening shortly for registration.

The aim of this competition is to build a commercial ecosystem to exploit the commercial opportunities of ‘omics (e.g. genomics, proteomics etc.), systems biology and complex biological data streams with a particular focus on bioinformatics and bio-data based business models. More information on this competition.

Competition Briefing Event – 2 June, London

This event is an excellent opportunity for you to receive first hand information about the competition – its scope, application process, key dates etc. as well as network with peers, potential partners, market leaders & innovators in the industry.

Register here for the briefing event or webinar.

 

Interested in algal research? Try Spark Plus funding

The KTN has announced the new Spark Plus award. Closing date is 22 May 15. These are awards of £10K to an academic partner if an industry partner provides £5K match funding. Further details can be found at https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/algal-biotechnology-special-interest-group/algal-spark-plus-awards 

If you are looking for industry or academic partners, contact us – we have a large member list, many of whom are interested in algae.

UK AD Biogas 2015: 1-2 July 2015

The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association’s annual trade show takes place on 1-2 July 15 at the Birmingham NEC. The R&D Hub at the show was extremely successful last year and is destined to be even better this year. This is one of the main annual tradeshows in the AD calendar and is well worth a visit. Come along and find out about cutting edge research in the field of anaerobic digestion and how the Anaerobic Digestion Network can help you. More information can be found here: http://adbioresources.org/uk-ad-biogas-2015