BioPACIFIC MIP

Advances in synthetic biology are enabling the scalable and sustainable production of non-petroleum-based monomers and the identification of conditions that lead to economical in cellulo polymerization. Similarly, advances in synthetic chemistry now utilize a broad range of functional monomers in controlled polymer synthesis. The NSF BioPACIFIC MIP (DMR-1933487) aims to merge these new realities by providing access to scientific expertise, multiscale computation and simulation for forward and inverse design, physical bio-sourced monomer libraries and digital pathways libraries, and advanced instrumentation capabilities. BioPACIFIC enables data-driven discovery and scalable production of bio-derived building blocks and polymers from yeast, fungi and bacteria, and the conversion of these blocks into next-generation polymers with properties and performance far exceeding those currently available in materials produced through traditional petrochemical-based methods. BioPACIFIC delivers education and training in automated synthetic biology, chemical synthesis, and advanced biomaterials characterization to users and potential users while promoting diversity and inclusion at all organizational levels and in all aspects of the operation. BioPACIFIC Leadership is committed to promoting gender, ethnic, and racial diversity across all facets of the organization through targeted User Recruitment and Training, Education, Outreach, and Hiring, which will ensure BioPACIFIC Fellows, Summer School attendees, and BioPACIFIC MIP users are representative of our nation’s diverse talent.