Bioenergy and Biofuels
Biography
Supervising Faculty: Frank E. Löffler
Nannan initially developed an interest in global sustainability at the undergraduate level while working with Clifford F. Weil at Purdue University. In pursuing this interest, he was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) internship to work in the laboratory of Louis A. Sherman with mentor Vilas B. Shukla to investigate polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis in the photosynthetic cyanobacteria. During this time, Nannan realized the power of harnessing microbes to produce compounds such as PHAs, which can be processed into biodegradable plastics. Following his B.S. in Biological Sciences, Nannan pursued his M.S. in Microbiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Here, he worked under the direction of William W. Metcalf to study gene regulation in the strictly anaerobic, methanogenic archaea, which produce the clean and renewable energy source methane. With an interest in bioenergy, Nannan then took a post-masters metabolic engineering position at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Here, he applied molecular genetics to develop microbial strains as candidates for consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) in the BioEnergy Science Center (BESC). Currently, Nannan is advised by Frank E. Löffler in his studies to enhance the ability of microbes such as Geobacter to perform bioremediation.
Research
Research interests:
- Bioremediation
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Outreach
Other Links:
Education
Master of Science in Microbiology - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Science in General Biology – Purdue University
Professional Service
- Mentor for Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) internship at ORNL
- Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EUReCA) judge
- Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair (SASEF) judge
Awards and Recognitions
- NSF EAPSI
- SAS Certified Statistical Business Analyst Using SAS® 9: Regression and Modeling
- Best Practices in Teaching Certificate
- Graduate Teacher Certificate (University of Illinois Center for Teaching Excellence)
- Teacher Scholar Certificate (University of Illinois Center for Teaching Excellence)
- Outstanding Undergraduate Student Teaching Intern Honor Roll (Purdue University)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) internship (Purdue University)
Publications
Google Scholar Profile: Nannan Jiang