EAGER: Engineering Biological Electronic Coupling Pathways

生物技术，生物化学和生物质工程计划的NSF奖项支持新理论，计算方法和实验验证的发展，以使能够设计电子转移的蛋白质。 电子转移反应是生物能量过程的核心，如氢气产生，光合作用和细胞呼吸。 生物体中的电子转移类似于为家用电器供电的电流，因为必须有一个电子源（插座）和一条电流路径，以便为电气设备提供能量，使其能够发挥作用。理解和控制生物机器的能力？也就是说，来源和途径？参与电子转移过程的技术将使生物工程师能够开发出可用于造福社会的微观电子设备。PI将建立一个跨学科的计划，以补充这一研究计划，同时促进多样性，增加生物工程和科学中代表性不足的群体的参与。

This NSF award by the Biotechnology, Biochemical and Biomass Engineering program supports the development of novel theory, computational methods and experimental verification to enable the design of proteins capable of electron transfer. Electron transfer reactions are central to bioenergetic processes, such as hydrogen production, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration. Electron transfer in living organisms is analogous to an electrical current that powers a household appliance in that there must be a source of electrons (an outlet) and a pathway for the current to follow in order to supply energy to the electrical device so that it can function. The ability to understand and control the biological machinery ? i.e., the source and pathways ? involved in the process of electron-transfer will allow bioengineers to develop microscopic electronic devices that can be used to benefit society. The PI will establish and interdisciplinary program that is complementary to this research initiative, while promoting diversity and increasing the involvement of underrepresented groupsin biological engineering and science .