THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

BioTechnology Institute

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

BioTechnology Institute

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

BioTechnology Institute

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

BioTechnology Institute

About BTI

Since its inception in 1984, The BioTechnology Institute (BTI)

has supported world-class biotechnology research at the University of Minnesota and provides critical infrastructure, training, and connections to partners in the state’s thriving biotechnology industry. Through the Biotechnology Training Program and the Graduate Program in Microbial Engineering, and our research initiatives, cutting-edge microbial cell fermentation and downstream processing services, we continue to support research within the University and serve as a vital link to industry partners.

“Awesome quote: We Love BTI. It teaches great things. Nunc consequat justo eget enim finibus porta. Suspendisse orci nunc, rutrum quis nunc sed, feugiat hendrerit massa. In cursus ornare sollicitudin.”

-BTI Director, Claudia Schmidt-Dannert

Minneapolis skyline at sunset with roads and trains in the foreground

What We Offer

Biotechnology Resource Center (BRC)

The BRC provides contract development and manufacturing services for University researchers and external partners. The BRC is a vital part of the state’s thriving biotech ecosystem.

 

Biotechnology Training

BTI is home to the NIH supported Biotechnology Training Program which provides interdiscplinary, lab-based training and mentorship for students pursuing careers in academia and industry.

Graduate Program

BTI’s Graduate Program in Microbial Engineering draws on faculty from across the University in a dual-track program designed for students coming from life science and engineering backgrounds.

Research News

Learn About Our Research

BTI is home to cutting-edge research in bioremediation, synthetic biology, protein engineering, and natural product discovery. Read our Gateway blog for stories about research, partnerships with local industry and the impact of our work on communities across Minnesota.

BTI publications: September – October 2024

BTI Publications September - October 2024 Boatman, S., Khan, M. H., Ganesan, N., Nalluri-Butz, H., Kohn, J., Troester, A.,…Staley, C. (2024). Anastomotic leak occurs independently from microbiota shifts associated with surgical bowel preparation. Sci Rep, 14(1),...

BTI publications: March – mid April 2024

BTI publications: March - mid April 2024 Collins, J., & Hackel, B. J. (2024). Sequence-activity mapping via depletion reveals striking mutational tolerance and elucidates functional motifs in Tur1a antimicrobial peptide. Protein Eng Des...

BTI publications: February 2024

BTI publications: February 2024 Achberger, A. M., Jones, R., Jamieson, J., Holmes, C. P., Schubotz, F., Meyer, N. R., . . . Sylvan, J. B. (2024). Inactive hydrothermal vent microbial communities are important contributors to deep ocean primary productivity. Nat...

BTI publications: January 2024

BTI Publications January 2024 Elias, M. H., Sompiyachoke, K., Fernández, F. M., & Kamerlin, S. C. L. (2024). The ineligibility barrier for international researchers in US academia. EMBO Rep. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-023-00053-x Haq, I. U., Christensen, A.,...

BTI publications: October – December 2023

BTI publications: October - December 2023 Abdul Halim, M. F., Fonseca, D. R., Niehaus, T. D., & Costa, K. C. (2023b). Functionally redundant formate dehydrogenases enable formate-dependent growth in Methanococcus maripaludis. J Biol Chem, 105550....

A new perspective on research

A new perspective on research Liangning Lu reflects on experiences and insights from BTI and University of Tokyo research exchange program. By Lance Janssen As part of an ongoing academic exchange program, colleagues from the BioTechnology Institute at the University...

Building up biotech

Building up biotech Carmen Schicklberger talks about her role in growing a new center at the University dedicated to boosting biotechnology and biomanufacturing. Late last year, the University of Minnesota Research and Innovation Office launched the Biotechnology and...

BTI publications: June – September 2023

BTI publications: June - September 2023 Publications by BTI faculty Bohn, B., Chalupova, M., Staley, C., Holtan, S., Maakaron, J., Bachanova, V., & El Jurdi, N. (2023). Temporal variation in oral microbiome composition of patients undergoing autologous...

Modeling microbial complexity

Will Harcombe combines experimental and computational models to decode complex microbial interactions.

Mapping uncertainty

Can gene regulatory networks help scientists predict cell behavior and improve therapeutics for cancer and other diseases?

Seminars and Events

BTI Fall 2023 Seminar Series: Joanne Emerson

BTI Fall 2023 Seminar Series Joanne Emerson University of California, Davis THURSDAY  I  November 30, 2023 I 3-4 P.M. I GORTNER 239

BTI Fall 2023 Seminar Series: Adam Deutschbauer

BTI Fall 2023 Seminar Series Adam Deutschbauer University of California, Berkeley and LBNL THURSDAY  I  December 7, 2023 I 3-4 P.M. I GORTNER 239

Enzyme advances promise to boost the bioeconomy

Enzyme advances promise to boost the bioeconomy Enzyme technology symposium brings together researchers from North America and Japan working on cutting-edge applications. By Stephanie Xenos Around 85 researchers and industry partners involved in developing new...

Bio&Tech Innovation Series: TBD

Speaker TBD

April 6, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. | Gortner 239

Boswell Wing

University of Colorado Boulder

April 20, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. | Gortner 239

Brian Murphy

University of Illinois Chicago

April 27, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. | Amundson 151D

Terry Papoutsakis

University of Delaware

April 13, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. | Gortner 239
Reception to follow

Faculty Research Insight Talks #6

Claudia Schmidt-Dannert and Brett Barney
University of Minnesota

March 30, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. | Gortner 239
Reception to follow

Faculty Research Insight Talk #5

Christine Salomon and Mark Distefano
University of Minnesota

March 16, 2023 | 3:30 p.m. | Amundson 151D

Faculty Research Insight Talks #4

Mike Travisano and Mike Smanski
University of Minnesota

February 16, 2023
3:30 p.m., Gortner 239

Our seminar and event series supports the research and educational mission of the University through a biweekly lecture series, symposia, and community programming. Spring semester lectures and seminars will be held in either a hybrid format or online via Zoom. Please see our full schedule for format details.

BTI is an interdisciplinary research institute whose members come from departments and colleges across the University.

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