Microbiology student brings home poster award at prestigious symposium

For the past 45 years, the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) has hosted the Symposium on Biometricals, Fuels and Chemicals (SBFC) focusing on the microbiology and biotechnology used in the development of novel, industrially relevant bioproducts.

Steve Daley presenting his poster at the 45th Symposium on Biomaterials, Fuels and Chemicals

This year’s event covered topics ranging from biological degradation and upcycling of plastics to the development of biofuels and other bioproducts from lignocellulosic biomass. The conference attracts microbiologists and chemical or biochemical engineers from universities, government research laboratories and industry from around the world. Their common interest is developing alternative sustainable solutions to our current dependence on petroleum-based products.

In addition to talks given by renowned experts, there were 162 poster presentations, primarily from students. SIMB celebrated the presenters’ achievements by offering two poster awards, each in its own category. One award focused on fundamental biotechnological advancement, while the other related to applications for the development of biomaterials, fuels and chemicals.

Steve Daley PhD student at the Symposium on Biomaterials, Fuels and Chemicals

The department of microbiology at the Faculty of Science is pleased and proud to announce that the Fundamental Research Award for the 2023 symposium went to Steve Daley, a PhD candidate working under the supervision of Richard Sparling, professor at the department of microbiology. Steve’s poster was entitled: “Deciphering the metabolic pathways for alternate carbon substrate utilization by Clostridium thermocellum ATCC27405”. His research examined variations in ethanol yields when different sugars are fermented by the organism.

To learn more about the award, visit the SBFC scientific program page.

Jo Davies