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Grant recipient

Suvi Santala

Improving metabolic diversity and efficiency of bacteria for lignin valorization
Grant amount: DKK 9,942,617
Suvi Santala says “Plant-based biomass serves as a sustainable alternative to replace fossil-derived resources in the production of chemicals and commodities. Biological upgrading of biomass is considered as a potential approach, but it suffers from low carbon recovery efficiency as the lignin fraction of lignocellulose remains unutilized. In the project “Improving metabolic diversity and efficiency of bacteria for lignin valorization” a new approach for upgrading lignin to value-added compounds by engineered bacteria is developed. In the approach, accelerated evolution, protein engineering, synthetic biology, and synergistic metabolic engineering are combined in a novel way to achieve more efficient and comprehensive lignin utilization. My research conducted at Tampere University produces new molecular tools and strategies to increase the value and relevance of one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth.”
Suvi Santala
Suvi Santala
Postdoc and University Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University