Project Title:

Oxymist  - Understanding how oxygen contributes to the enzymatic degradation of plant biomass. 

Project Summary:

I will be studying the biodegradation of plant cell walls, specifically in low oxygen environments, such as peat bogs. We are interested to see how oxygen plays a role in the enzymatic degradation of plants such as Sphagnum moss species and hope to discover novel enzymatic pathways while doing so. Enhancing our understanding of such mechanisms could have an important role to play in improving industrial processes, such as the conversion of biomass to biofuels, and will allow us to better conserve ecosystems which serve as vital carbon sinks.