Professor Arash Komeili has joined the ranks of the Bakar Fellows, a program that provides five years of funding for faculty whose STEM innovations can become commercial products that stimulate California's economy.
Komeili's lab uses a combination of cell biological, genetic, and biochemical approaches to understand the genesis and function of magnetosomes, miniature iron-based magnets synthesized by some bacteria for use as a compass. As a Bakar Fellow, Komeili will use these bacteria to engineer microorganisms capable of biomining important metals. The system will simultaneously produce iron-based magnetic particles and concentrate metals of interest, providing a novel solution to the environmental issues in the mining industry.
Related:
- Breakthroughs article on Komeili's work
- The Bakar Fellows