Yi Wang, assistant professor in biosystems engineering, is a co-PI on a new $3 million NASA-MIRO grant.

The goal of the grant is to establish a Center for High-Pressure Combustion in Microgravity that includes conducting research, training students and providing professional development for faculty in this research area. 

Wang’s contribution will be to produce n-butanol from biomass hydrolysates using the metabolically Clostridium strain that he developed in his lab. 

“The broader impacts of this work include that influence of high-pressure environments on liquid-fuel combustion developed has the potential to lead to advanced engine designs with increased engine efficiency and reduced carbon emissions,” Wang said.

The work will also have a far-reaching impact on education in attracting students to pursue careers in science and engineering.

“This work will provide graduate students with opportunities to discover new knowledge and explore practical applications, as well as opportunities for undergraduate students to conduct independent research early on in their careers,” he said.