EC-US Working Group on Environmental Biotechnology

Ioannis Economidis, EC DG ResearchAnna Palmisano, Dept. of Energy

June 2008

Working Group Mission

To foster the collaboration of researchers in the EU and US in the field of environmental biotechnology.

Special Focus: To increase scientific interchange and collaborative research between early career scientists in the US and in the EU.

Current Working Group Members

Prof. Spiros Agathos, BelgiumProf. Jerome Kukor, USDr. Barb Methe*, USDr. Ivonne Nijehuis*, GermanyDr. Juan Ramos, SpainProf. Joseph Suflita, USProf. Judith Wall, US

Prof. Lily Young, USProf. Gerben Zylstra, USDr. Ioannis Economidis, EC co-chairDr. Anna Palmisano, US co-chair

Dr. Victor de Lorenzo, Spain Special Advisor

* Former participants in WG activities for early career scientists

Summary of Working Group Activities

US-EC WorkshopsUse of Molecular Methods in Bioremediation

(Granada, Spain -1996), Genomics and Environmental Biotechnology

(Rockville, US - 2004), 10 year Celebration of Working Group

Activities (Brussels, 2005)Metabolomics and Environmental

Biotechnology (Mallorca, Spain – 2008)

Summary of Working Group Activities (cont’d)

Short Courses:EC-US Short courses on environmental biotech with lab and field elements (Rutgers Univ. - 1998, U. of Madrid -2003);

Fellowships:US-EC Short Term Exchange Fellowships (1999--ongoing)

Workshop on Environmental Biotechnology and Metabolomics, Mallorca, June 16-17, 2008

Workshop Goal: To identify important advances in environmental

biotechnology derived from the use new approaches in metabolomics of microorganisms and microbial communities.

EU EU OrganizersOrganizers: Dr. : Dr. BalbinaBalbina Nogales (U. de les Nogales (U. de les IllesIllesBalearsBalears) and Dr. Juan Ramos (CSIC, Granada)) and Dr. Juan Ramos (CSIC, Granada)

US Organizer: Dr. Lily Young (Rutgers University)US Organizer: Dr. Lily Young (Rutgers University)(Jointly funded by the European Commission, National (Jointly funded by the European Commission, National

Science Foundation, Dept. of Energy, USDA, and Office of Science Foundation, Dept. of Energy, USDA, and Office of Naval Research) Naval Research)

Workshop on Environmental Biotechnology and Metabolomics - Format

• The WG will bring together 20 renowned, senior scientists from the EU and the US.

• Each senior scientist was asked to identify a very promising young scientist to attend the workshop, as well.

Workshop Agenda

• Platform talks by senior scientists• Poster Session by early career scientists• Discussion on future perspectives led by

Dr. Victor de Lorenzo and Dr. Judy Wall• Topics include: Metabolite profiling,

proteomics, microbial metabolic networks, new high resolution technologies for metabolomics

Proposed Activities: Short Course

• A short course is proposed to be held at the U. Oklahoma for July 2009.

• Follow-on to highly successful short courses at Rutgers U., 1998, and U. of Madrid, 2003

• Students, lecturers shared equally between US, EU

• Course will include lecture/lab/field activities with state-of-the-art techniques, including bioinformatics, metabolomics, and metagenomics)

Continuing US-EU Exchange of Early Career Scientists

• Short term, trans-Atlantic exchange fellowships

• Learn new skill/expertise in environmental biotech

• 1-6 month tenure• Require leveraging of costs from host, parent institution

US-EU Exchange Fellows

• US effort led by Prof. Joe Suflita (U. of Oklahoma) and Prof. Judy Wall (U. Missouri)

• Began in 2000; Working Group served as selection committee

• 18 US fellows have been supported to date to work in 7 EU countries

• Support provided by US Federal Agencies (DOE, NSF, and ONR)

The total number of exchange fellows from the US side was 24. The number of EU countries visited is 8: Belgium 1, Denmark 4, Germany 6, Italy 4, Spain 3, Sweden 2, The Netherlands 1, United Kingdom 3

EC-US Exchange of Early Career Scientists

• EC-US Short Term Exchange Fellowships in environmental biotechnology * Applicants from cross-section of EU* Projects ranging from microbial ecology

to genomics and bioremediation* International selection committee

• The EU effort is led by Prof. Spiros Agathos (U. Louvain, BE) starting in 2002.

• Nine EU fellows from six Member States have been supported to date to work in US labs.

EC-US Working Group on Biotechnology for the Environment:

Vision Statement

“Training the next generation of scientific leaders in environmental biotechnology to work collaboratively across the Atlantic.”