University of Utah chemist Jessica Swanson has retooled her lab to help develop a process that would harness methane-eating bacteria, known as methanotrophs, which naturally break down methane into carbon dioxide and organic compounds. She aims to discover ways to enable methanotrophs to effectively pull methane from the air at low concentrations in next-generation bioreactors.

The Swanson lab has long explored molecular biophysics using multiscale simulations. She now is focusing this expertise on characterizing each stage of methane uptake, delivery and oxidation. These insights would guide bioengineering approaches to enhance the efficiency of methanotrophs in breaking down methane.

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Utah KSL News also wrote about Swanson’s story here!