Jean VanderGheynst

Professor Jean VanderGheynst is a faculty member in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on transforming plant biomass and agricultural wastes into valuable bioproducts and biofuels, with particular emphasis on algae-based systems, microbial communities, and sustainable waste management strategies.

Her work bridges fundamental and applied research, leveraging microbial ecology, enzymology, and bioprocess engineering to address global challenges in energy and environmental sustainability. Key areas include:

• Lignocellulosic biomass conversion
• Algal-bacterial synergies for wastewater treatment
• Soil biosolarization and waste valorization
• Thermophilic microbiota development
• Plant-based vaccine delivery systems

Her lab's innovations often involve interdisciplinary collaborations, integrating metabolomics, genomics, and systems biology approaches. Recent studies highlight advancements in ionic liquid-tolerant microbial consortia, organic waste-derived amendments, and scalable algal cultivation systems.

Professor VanderGheynst is affiliated with UC Davis's College of Engineering and actively contributes to startup ventures leveraging her research, such as the use of larvae for animal feed and waste reduction.