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Henrik Scheller

Director of Cell Wall Biosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Emeryville, CA, USA

Synthetic Biology Solutions

Tuesday, September 14, 2010
1:30 - 2:00 pm

Abstract:  How can we design plants with improved properties as feedstocks for production of biofuels?

The conversion of plant biomass into sugars that can be fermented into biofuels is inefficient and expensive. We are investigating how plants can be engineered to provide improved feedstocks.

Biography

PhD in Plant Biochemistry, The Royal Agricultural University, Denmark, 1989
M.Sc. Biology, University of Copenhagen, 1983

2008-present:
Staff Scientist, Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California.
Adjunct Professor, Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California

1999-2008:
Professor of Molecular Plant Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

1989-2009:
Assistant and associate professor, The Royal Agricultural University, Denmark

1984-1986:
Visiting Scientist, Depts. of Entomology and Horticulture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Dr. Scheller is currently conducting research on the biosynthesis and function of plant cell wall polysaccharides. This work aims at providing the basic knowledge of plant cell walls that will enable the eventual development of crops with improved properties as biofuel feedstocks.

Dr. Scheller joined the newly established Joint BioEnergy Institute at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 2008, after having worked in Denmark most of his career. He has published more than 150 papers, mainly in the areas of plant cell wall biosynthesis and photosynthetic electron transport.