Bio-derived materials development at biotic-abiotic interface for energy and environmental applications

Speaker

Zihang Su
Postdoc Researcher at University of California, Los Angeles

Title

"Bio-derived materials development at biotic-abiotic interface for energy and environmental applications"

Abstract

My research centers on understanding biomolecular interactions mechanisms at biotic-abiotic interfaces, with enhanced integration of living matters and non-living materials, to address the central challenges in clean energy and environmental sustainability. Inspired by the high degree structural and functional controlled biological systems, my work has focused on biomolecular engineering, from small peptides to proteins and microbial systems, combined with electrochemistry and protein engineering, to understand interfacial reactions and develop novel applications.

In this talk, first, I will introduce immobilized-peptide systems for renewable energy and environmental remediation, including spatial controlled interaction with ion exchange polymers, and critical materials capture and separation; second, I will using bioelectronics systems to decode the electron transfer pathway in conductive proteins; and the last part, I will share my perspective of applying these molecular designs into industrial microorganisms systems.

About Speaker

Zihang currently is a postdoc researcher at University of California, Los Angeles, where he is developing biomaterials inspired processes for critical materials capture and separation, such as rare earth elements. Prior to that, Zihang conducted his first postdoc research at Columbia University, where he applied bioelectronics to readout electron transfer pathways in conductive porin proteins, and engineered industrial microbial for enhanced biomining and bioleaching. Zihang did his PhD at Case Western Reserve University, where he focused on surface-immobilized peptide development and applications. His research career has largely applied different engineered biomolecules to address challenges in clean energy and environmental applications.