Alptekin Aksan 

Mechanical engineering
University of Minnesota

Design & manufacturing of active biomaterials for biotechnology applications

My research focuses on two interwoven areas: bioencapsulation, and biopreservation. In biopreservation area, I focus on establishing the low-temperature and low-hydration physicochemical transitions of the solution environment on the stability of macromolecules and cells.

In bioencapsulation area, I focus on developing synthetic organic materials for a wide range of applications including bioremediation, biocatalysis, and self-healing materials.

Larry Wackett

Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics
University of Minnesota

Enzymes for PFAS, pesticides, phramaceuticals & pools

The Wackett lab focuses on unconventional enzymes and their real-world implementation. We have discovered the enzymes making b-lactones and biodegrading PFAS, prominent pharmaceutical pollutants, and a water disinfection chemical. I will talk about the biodegradative enzymes, one of which is now being produced at multi-ton scale.

THURSDAY  I FEB. 2 I  3:30-4:30 PM CST  I  HYBRID SEMINAR