Postdoctoral Associate
In Silico Modeling
Contact Info
| Office: | 422E |
|---|---|
| Phone: | 413-577-4666 |
| email: | imounir@microbio.umass.edu |
Education
- PhD. Microbiology. Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada
- M.Sc. Microbiology. Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada
- B.Sc. Biology. Universite Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco
Research description
- Previous studies have demonstrated that Geobacteraceae can harvest electricity from waste organic matter by oxidizing organic compounds to carbon dioxide coupled to electron transfer onto electrode surfaces. Although the conversion of organic matter to electricity in this manner is highly efficient, the process is slow. Furthermore, Geobacter species are limited in the electron donors they can utilize and thus fermentative organisms are required in order to convert complex organic substrates to the organic acids that Geobacter species can oxidize. The possibility of expanding the substrate range of Geobacter species and accelerating their rate of electron transfer in order to enhance electricity production is under investigation. The development of metabolic engineering strategies for this is being guided by a genome-based in silico model of the physiology of Geobacter sulfurreducens.