Research Opportunity
USAFA: LSRC
Title: Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing and Bioreporters
Discipline: Life Sciences
5 Key words: Biotechnology; Genetic engineering; Synthetic biology; Biocementation; Bioreporter; iGEM; Biomaterials; Biomineralization
Research Opportunity Text and Literature References
Technology is at the heart of capability superiority. The recent advancements in molecular biology tools and synthetic biology have ushered in the era of biotechnology. For over several decades, the US has enjoyed a leading edge on biotechnology over other countries. With the rapid increase of biotechnological capabilities and heavy investment in biotechnology by our adversaries over the past decade, it is crucial for DoD to strengthen the core competency and increase innovation in biotechnology. In response, the Department of Defense recently listed Biotechnology as one of its modernization priorities and the Executive Order from Sept 2022 states that advancing Biotechnology Innovation is critical for America's future. It is critical that DoD and our nation strengthen Biotechnology education and workforce development in Biotechnology in order to maintain the technological advantage (Steel et al., 2019). This research opportunity is for a post doc to come and work with the USAFA iGEM (international Genetically Engineered Machine) team and cadets. The work will include biotechnology and genetic engineering projects aligned with DOD research priorities. Examples include the following
1. Developing reporter systems to detect PFAS contamination and engineering organisms to degrade PFAS compounds.(Harris et al., 2022)
2. Engineering Biocementation for space applications or to reduce harmful Biocementation byproducts. (Vigil et al., 2023)
3. Investigate the ability to detect human pathogens or biomarkers using genetically engineered systems in bioreporter patches or other biotechnology devices. (Mirau et al., 2018)
Biotechnology is a critical research focus area in the DoD and at the Air Force Academy. We are seeking individuals to come and work on advanced genetic engineering and biotechnology projects. Mentoring and advising cadet research will be expected.
Work Cited
Harris, J. D., Coon, C. M., Doherty, M. E., McHugh, E. A., Warner, M. C., Walters, C. L., Orahood, O. M., Loesch, A. E., Hatfield, D. C., Sitko, J. C., Almand, E. A., & Steel, J. J. (2022). Engineering and characterization of dehalogenase enzymes from Delftia acidovorans in bioremediation of perfluorinated compounds. Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synbio.2022.02.005
Mirau, P. A., Smith, J. E., Chavez, J. L., Hagen, J. A., Kelley-Loughnane, N., & Naik, R. (2018). Structured DNA Aptamer Interactions with Gold Nanoparticles. Langmuir: The ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02449
Steel, J. J., Bates, K. L., & Barnhart, M. D. (2019). Investing in our nation's future military leaders' synthetic biology knowledge to understand and recognize threats and applications. Synthetic Biology (Oxford, England), https://doi.org/10.1093/synbio/ysz024
Vigil, T. N., Rowson, M.-J. C., Frost, A. J., & Berger, B. W. (2023). Understanding the relationships between solubility, stability, and activity of silicatein. Materials Advances, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2MA00938B
Biotechnology; Genetic engineering; Synthetic biology; Biocementation; Bioreporter; iGEM; Biomaterials; Biomineralization