Dr. Tom Collins, Department of Viticulture & Enology
Optimization of barrier sprays for mitigation of smoke impact in vineyards
In the state-of-the-art analytical chemistry laboratory and research winery at the new Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center, Dr. Collins and his group use advanced analytical instrumentation and statistical tools to study the composition of grapes, wines and distilled spirits. They evaluate composition changes while fruit ripens, throughout the winemaking and distilling processes, and as these products age. The goal is to better understand how vineyard, winery and distillery practices affect the composition of grapes, wines and spirits and to correlate chemical composition with sensory perception of these products.
The project for a Teacher Partner to join is focused on how exposure to wildfire smoke affects fruit and wine quality. The teacher would work with Dr. Collins to evaluate aspects of the use of a variety of barrier sprays to reduce uptake of smoke related compounds during simulated smoke exposures. In particular, the teacher would work on evaluating the effectiveness of when the barrier sprays are applied, as well as help to optimize the composition of the sprays for the greatest reduction of smoke-related marker compounds after an exposure. At fruit maturity, wine will be made from the fruit as well, for analysis of the content of smoke related marker compounds in the wine. Yum!
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Dr. Sarah Roley, School of the Environment
Trade-offs in management of river plants
Climate change and river management have led to the overabundant growth of water stargrass, an aquatic plant, in the lower Yakima River. The plant has a negative effect on migrating salmonids: it covers spawning sites and its metabolic activity lowers nighttime oxygen concentrations. However, the plant also removes excess nutrients, potentially preventing algal blooms. In partnership with Benton Conservation District and Yakama Nation, the Teacher Partner would work with Dr. Roley and her research group to examine the effects of water stargrass removal on river water quality, including oxygen concentrations, temperature, flow, sediment characteristics, and nutrient uptake.
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Dr. Bin Yang, Biological Systems Engineering
Multi-Scale Engineering of Microbial Communities Through a Systems Driven Approach
Dr. Yang has dedicated most of his career to the development of renewable energy technologies with particular emphasis on production of biofuels and chemicals from cellulosic biomass feedstocks and other sustainable resources. His current research interests lie in areas of pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and novel pathways that accelerate commercial application of biomass processing to produce cellulosic and lignin fuels and chemicals.
The Teacher Partner would be engaged in two aspects of Dr. Yang’s research in his lab group: 1) deconstructing biomass to investigate enzymes and substrates, and 2) converting biomass to bioproducts. The teacher would start by exploring the diversity of enzymes and begin to learn about and understand the interactions of substrate and biocatalysts. Then the teacher would test the effects of microbial enhancement on biomass quality and yield, and assist in development of biotechnological tools for conversion.
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Dr. Xiao Zhang, Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Center for Bioproducts and Bioenergy
Sustainable biobased materials
Biofuels are produced from plant-derived biomass through the breakdown of the plant cell wall, which contains sugars that can be used for energy. A considerable amount of effort has been directed to developing effective enzymes for degrading the cell wall, but the development of more efficient and cost-effective enzymes for biomass-to-biofuel conversion has been limited for several reasons. For one, it is not well understood how enzymes interact with biomass substrates, which have highly complex and heterogeneous physical and chemical properties. Moreover, there is a lack of adequate biomass model substrates for evaluating the efficacy of different enzymes.
In this project, the Teacher Partner would have the opportunity to learn frontier science and innovative technologies associated with synthesizing sustainable biobased materials. The teacher would start by gaining knowledge in the chemistry of plant macromolecules. Then the teacher would focus on learning techniques to prepare biobased plastics and composites using plant macromolecules.