Scott BantaView profile
Professor
Scott Banta is the Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University. His research focuses on protein engineering, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology to address challenges in bioengineering, including biotechnology, nanotechnology, and environmental applications. He leads the Banta Lab, which develops novel biomaterials like calcium-dependent beta-roll peptides for applications in hydrogel formation, bioseparations, and biofuel production. Notable projects include engineering thermostable alcohol dehydrogenases for diverse catalytic functions and founding Ironic Chemicals LLC to create biofuels from copper mining waste. Professional experience includes roles as Professor (2015–present), Associate Professor (2009–2015), and Assistant Professor (2004–2009) at Columbia. Prior to this, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School (2002–2004). He earned his BSE from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (1997) and MS/PhD from Rutgers University (2000/2002). He holds honors such as AIMBE Fellowship (2016) and the James M. Van Lanen Award (2016). His lab’s work spans enzyme engineering for biofuel production, microbial systems for metal recovery, and synthetic biology tools for cofactor regeneration. Key collaborations include development of protein-nanomaterial interfaces and electrofuels from CO₂. His research has generated over 70 publications, with recent emphasis on biomining microbiology, calcium-responsive peptides, and sustainable metallurgical processes. He serves as Associate Editor of Biotech. Eng. J. and leads the Biochemical Technology Division of the American Chemical Society.
