2007 Southeastern Sun Grant Center: UT Institute of Agriculture Competitive Grants Program

In early 2007, the Southeastern Sun Grant Center announced the availability of its University of Tennessee Insitute of Agriculture internal competitive grants program. To be eligible for the grant, the principle investigator was required to be a faculty member in the Institute.  The RFA requested proposals for projects with a maximum funding request of $100,000 for a period of up to two years.

In total, 20 full proposals were received for the program from many departments and centers across the institute.

After extensive review by a panel with expertise in all the DOT research priority areas, eight proposals were selected for funding.

Funded Proposals:

• Chemical Transformations of Biochemical Intermediates: Converting Biorefinery Sugars to New Polymers and Chemicals - J. Bozell and M. Dadmun
• Identification of Insect Enzymes for Biomass Degredation - J.L. Jurat-Fuentes and B. Oppert
• Improving Switchgrass Stand Establishment Through Seed Technology - F. Chen, S. Zivanovic, and J. Zale
• Introduction of Cellulosomes into Low-Liginin Plants for Improved Cellulose and Hemicellulose Digestion - N. Stewart
• Ionic Liquids: Solubilization Agents for the Chemical Analysis and Pre-Fractionation of Glucan, Xylan, and Lignin - D. Hayes and N. Labbe
• Regional Comparative Advantage for Woody Biofuels Production - D. Hodges, T. Young, and B. Abt