This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
The Division of Chemistry supports Aaron Socha of Brown University as an American Competitiveness in Chemistry Fellow. Dr. Socha will investigate the biodegradation of lignocellulose by the soil-dwelling bacteria Streptomyces setonii. Dr. Socha will use isotopic labeling and analytical chemical methods to unravel the catabolic pathways for degradation of lignocellulose in these bacteria. Dr. Socha will work in collaboration with scientists at Brown University, the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. In his plan for broadening participation, Dr. Socha will work with students and teachers at East Providence High School to develop hands-on activities in a unique "Diesel from Dirt" program.
Research like that of Dr. Socha is aimed at developing new, efficient ways of producing technologically useful fuels from plant biomass -- a renewable energy source. The efforts at broadening participation being pursued by Dr. Socha are aimed at increasing the participation of young people from underrepresented groups in the sciences.
