Timothy Donohue

Timothy Donohue is a Professor in the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, affiliated with the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences. He holds the prestigious UW Foundation Fetzer-Bascom and Ira Baldwin Professorship and serves as Director of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), a U.S. Department of Energy-funded center focused on renewable fuels and chemicals. Donohue is also Interim Director of the Wisconsin Energy Institute and a leading figure in microbial biotechnology and bioenergy research.

His research centers on understanding and engineering microbial networks that convert renewable resources—such as lignocellulosic biomass and dairy residues—into biofuels and bioproducts. Using tools from genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and synthetic biology, his lab investigates metabolic and regulatory pathways in bacteria like Novosphingobium aromaticivorans and Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The long-term goal is to design microbial 'machines' capable of efficiently producing sustainable replacements for fossil fuel-derived chemicals.

Recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on developing genetic tools (e.g., CRISPRi, inducible promoters, Tn7 transposition), analyzing microbial fermentation under varying pH and temperature, and advocating for the role of microbes in planetary health and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. His work bridges fundamental microbiology with industrial applications, contributing to over 200 patent applications and the formation of multiple startup companies.

• Honorary Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Honorary Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology
• Past President, American Society for Microbiology
• Current Secretary, American Society for Microbiology

Donohue has led large federally funded training programs and currently directs a $7.67M DOE grant for the GLBRC. He mentors students through interdisciplinary programs in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Microbiology. His lab collaborates widely across disciplines, contributing to a sustainable bioeconomy through innovation in microbial engineering and bioprocess optimization. He is actively involved in technology transfer via WARF and emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, leveraging UW-Madison’s strong research infrastructure.