Kathryn Fixen

Kathryn Fixen serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota's College of Biological Sciences. Her research laboratory and office are housed in the Biological Sciences building on the university's St. Paul campus, with dedicated lab space in rooms 747/753 BioSci.

Dr. Fixen's research program centers on microbial physiology in anoxygenic phototrophs, specifically investigating intracellular electron flow mechanisms in Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Her work examines redox regulation of metabolism under anaerobic conditions and the functional roles of electron carrier proteins including ferredoxin, flavodoxin, thioredoxin, and glutaredoxin. This research has significant implications for biotechnological applications in bioremediation of aromatic compounds and bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass into energy-rich compounds like hydrogen and methane.

The Fixen Lab maintains an active collaboration with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, utilizing proteomic approaches to identify redox-sensitive proteins. The lab recruits undergraduate researchers through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, graduate students via the Plant and Microbial Biology (PMB) and Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology (MICaB) programs, and postdoctoral fellows, emphasizing an inclusive environment that values innovation and learning through scientific experimentation.

Research facilities are supported by campus infrastructure on the St. Paul campus, with laboratory operations focused on understanding how microbial physiology can be directed toward sustainable energy production and environmental remediation applications.