News
FF21 Lab Quickly Pivots to COVID-19 Research
FF21 UC San Diego
May 7, 2020
A team of Food and Fuel for the 21st Century researchers working on a DOE grant focused on helping reduce the cost of algae biomass used to produce renewable fuels, has refocused efforts to aid in the effort to combat the Covid-19 epidemic. The team of Postdoc Anthony Berndt (FF21), Researcher Frank Fields (FF21), Postdoc Ashley Sproles (FF21), Asst Project Scientist Ryan Simkovsky (FF21) Grad Students Bijie Ren and Yasin Torres (Biology) and Professor Stephen Mayfield (FF21) are applying their system developed for the production of high value recombinant proteins, to produce a portion of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for use in antibody testing assays. Collaborating with UCSD scientists from the UCSD Medical Center, the Skaggs Schools of Pharmacy, and the Tata Institute, the team will use this recombinant protein to develop ELISA assays for population-scale screening to identify individuals with antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Identifying immune individuals will be an enormous help to restarting the economy and protecting health care workers. To read more about this important research click here.
In Memory of Mark Hildebrand
Scripps Institute of Oceanography
Aug 20, 2018
We are sorry to report the passing of marine biologist Mark Hildebrand, the leader of one of the United States' top centers for algal biofuel research.
A Guilt-Free Flip-Flop
UC San Diego News Center
Aug 16, 2018
The world’s first flip-flop that is sustainable, biodegradable and invented by students at UC San Diego!
Enroll Today: Introduction to Algae Online Course
FF21 UC San Diego
Feb 26, 2018
New online course: Introduction to Algae, available now through Coursera. Taught by Dr. Steve Mayfield (UCSD) and Dr. Ira "Ike" Levine (University of Southern Maine"), this course is an excellent opportunity to explore the fascinating field of algae from some of industry's and academia's foremost experts.
Michael Burkart and William Gerwick named 2017 AAAS Fellows
UC San Diego News Center
Nov 20, 2017
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the largest general science organization in the United States and publisher of the journal Science, has awarded the distinction of fellow to six UC San Diego professors. Read more »
A Flip Flop Revolution
Triton Magazine
Oct 6, 2017
UC San Diego students and researchers have produced the world’s first algae-based, renewable flip flops. The first prototypes of their new invention, developed over the summer in a York Hall chemistry laboratory, consist of a flexible, spongy slipper adorned with a Triton logo and a simple strap—fairly basic, as flip flops go. Read more »
Solar Fuels Conference Comes to Campus
UC San Diego News Center
Jun 18, 2017
More than 300 researchers from around the world will travel to UC San Diego next month for an international meeting designed to showcase new biological and chemical approaches to utilizing solar energy for direct fuel production. Officially billed as the second biannual International Solar Fuels conference, the scientific meeting is being held on U.S. soil for the first time. Read more »
FF21 Biologist Named Pew Scholar
UC San Diego News Center
Jun 15, 2017
Rachel Dutton and Elizabeth Villa, researchers in UC Diego’s Division of Biological Sciences, have been selected as Pew scholars in biomedical sciences. Selected as part of a group of 22 exceptional early-career researchers, Dutton and Villa each will receive four years of flexible funding to pursue foundational research. Read more »
Algae May Help Feed a Hungry World
Learning English
Jun 12, 2017
Nearly 790 million people around the world do not get enough to eat. Most of them live in developing countries.Many parts of the developing world do not have transportation systems in place that can bring food to people. It can be difficult to get food to those who need it without good roads and other necessary infrastructure.. Read more »
Cal-CAB Scientists Complete First EPA-Approved Outdoor Field Trial for Genetically Engineered Algae
UC San Diego News Center
May 4, 2017
FF21 scientists at the University of California San Diego teamed up with Sapphire Energy to successfully complete the first outdoor field trial sanctioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for genetically engineered algae. Read more »
2016
UC San Diego Biologist Awarded Prestigious Packard Fellowship 10/14/16
FF21 research to support the new Deep Decarbonization Initiative at UC San Diego 10/13/16
UC San Diego’s Algae Biofuels Program Ranked Best in Nation 5/23/16
CAB-Comm reports on six years of algal research 5/11/16
Say Cheese 4/21/16
2015
Founders Celebration Festivities Kick Off Nov. 12 10/8/15
Surfing's Clean Break 10/01/15
Algae, Innovating the Future 09/09/15
Growing Foam 08/25/15
DOE funds 2 algae biomass projects under Carbon Capture Program 08/19/15
6 New Things Happening with Biofuels 06/19/15
UC San Diego Professors Elected to National Academy of Sciences 04/28/15
Surviving the next population boom with resistant crops and biofuels 04/23/15
San Diego Featured as One of "World's Smart Cities" in National Geographic Documentary 04/14/2015
How Scientists Are Engineering Algae To Fuel Your Car And Cure Cancer 03/30/15
Green Revolution 2.0: Advancing from lab to industrial algae production 03/23/15
Meeting on ‘Green Revolution 2.0’ Draws Researchers and New Ideas 03/19/215
MiraCosta, Mesa Colleges Chosen To Offer 4-Year Degrees 01/20/2015
2014
Algae's promise rebounds after setbacks 10/06/14
Building Agricultural Research 10/03/14
Opinion: The Planet Needs More Plant Scientists 10/01/14
Algae as biofuel focus of summit 09/29/14
San Diego's Thriving Algae Biotechnology Industry Continues to Fuel Region's Economy 06/24/14
Algae Science Articles — Stephen P. Mayfield and the UCSD Laboratory 05/04/14
Dr. Stephen Mayfield: When Will Algae-based Transportation Fuels Be
Economically Viable? 04/17/14
Biologists Develop Nanosensors to Visualize Movements and Distribution of Plant Stress Hormone 04/15/14
Research Highlight: Powered by Plankton 04/07/14
Scale the Trick in Getting Algal Biofuel Cost Down 03/08/2014
UC San Diego Takes Top Two Positions in National Rankings for Biofuel Research 03/04/2014
10 Hottest Trends in Algae: #3 Bring on the Apps 02/25/2014
Algae Biomass Advocates Push Past Exuberance, Aim for Sustainability February 11, 2014
20 Reasons To Love San Diego: #19 Because We Are Using Algae To Fight Cancer February 2014
The Last Decade in Research: "Startling New Avenues of Discovery" January 9, 2014
2013
Environment-harming Fossil Fuel Use Can Be Reduced by Algal Biofuel November 22, 2013
Algal Biofuel Could Help Reduce Environment-Harming Fossil Fuel Use; Researchers Step Closer to Making it a Reality November 21, 2013
Breakthrough in Biofuel from Marine Algae Could Lead to New Energy Source November 21, 2013
Researchers Engineer Breakthrough for Biofuel Production November 21, 2013
Scripps Oceanography Researchers Engineer Breakthrough for Biofuel Production November 21, 2013
UC San Diego Professors Test Waters of Massive, Open Online Learning October 31, 2013
Algae Biomass Organization Recognizes Six Students with Young Algae Researcher Awards at Algae Biomass Summit in Orlando October 3, 2013
Turning Algae’s Golden Corner: Triton, Sapphire Energy, Heliae, Rincon, and Monsanto October 2, 2013
Triton Algae Innovations Announces $5 Million Series-A Financing September 4, 2013
Under San Diego Sun, Some Clouds for Algae and Solar - June 27, 2013
UC Classes Easing Into Online World - May 7, 2013
New Plant Protein Discoveries Could Ease Global Food and Fuel Demands - May 1, 2013
Quest for Edible Malarial Vaccine Leads to Other Potential Medical Uses for Algae - April 19, 2013
Are Algae Biofuels a Realistic Alternative to Petroleum? March 20, 2013
UC San Diego Biologists Produce Rainbow-Colored Algae - March 7, 2013
UCSD is among 29 universities joining with Coursera - February 21, 2013
Course Seeks to Educate World about Sustainable Food and Energy Issues - February 21, 2013
Algae Fuel Could Help Solve The Navy’s Oil Dependence - January 17, 2013
2012
UC San Diego Researchers Create A ‘Designer’ Cancer Drug With Algae - December 10, 2012
Biologists Engineer Algae to Make Complex Anti-Cancer ‘Designer’ Drug - December 10, 2012
Bioengineered Marine Algae Expands Environments Where Biofuels Can Be Produced - November 26, 2012
Algae Are a Growing Part of San Diego's Appeal - October 11, 2012
UC San Diego Chemists Develop Reversible Method of Tagging Proteins - September 16th, 2012
Researchers Hope to Scrub Out Pollution With Algae - August 8th, 2012
Plant Biologists From Across Country to Converge in San Diego to Discuss Future of Food, Fuel - May 8th, 2012
New UC San Diego Research Unit Focuses on Food and Fuel for the 21st Century - May 7, 2012
