Engineering cyanobacteria and microalgae to perform dual N- and P-accumulation for high performance biofertilisers
This is a suggestion for a Degree Project for Bachelor's and Master's levels at the Department of Marine Sciences. Degree projects at the Department of Marine Sciences are done independently and must be written and assessed individually.
Area: Marine Biology
Level: Master project
Contact: Johan Svenson, Cawthron Institute, Pierre de Wit, University of Gothenburg
Location: Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
Background
Most countries rely on the use of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) fertilisers to support their agricultural industry. However, importing and making N- and P-fertilisers is environmentally unsustainable and costly, and leaching of these nutrients into waterways causes widespread ecological problems such an excessive algae growth.
Ironically, the microorganisms negatively impacting water quality (i.e. cyanobacteria and microalgae) could provide the key to mitigating global issues related to N- and P-pollution. This is because cyanobacteria and microalgae have evolved to become particularly efficient at harvesting and storing either N or P.
If controlled, these storage abilities could provide the basis for removing nutrients from water, thereby preventing algal blooms, mitigating eutrophication, and even enabling nutrient recovery as N-/P-rich biomass.
Project description
Our team has made considerable advances in the fundamental understanding of N and P metabolism in cyanobacteria and microalgae. However, N or P accumulation have, to date, been investigated independently. The aim of this project is to improve our understanding on the dual accumulation of both N and P in cyanobacteria and microalgae, to ultimately develop a process design for N- and P-upcycling.
The project will involve:
- Development of algal cultivation protocols that reproducibly induce or repress N and P accumulation in cyanobacteria and microalgae.
- Perform assays to determine the potential for dual N and P accumulation in cyanobacteria and microalgae, including lab-scale cultivation, sample analysis, microscopic evaluation.
- Optimise N and P accumulation for one promising cyanobacteria or microalgae strain at pilot scale to evaluate scalability and the industrial potential.
Contacts
Maxence Plouviez: Maxence.Plouviez@cawthron.org.nz
Jonathan Puddick: Jonathan.Puddick@cawthron.org.nz
Johan Svenson: Johan.Svenson@cawthron.org.nz
More about Cawthron
Cawthron Institute is New Zealand’s largest and oldest independent research organisation with a 100-year history of delivering practical research solutions that benefit New Zealand and the rest of the world.
The majority of the research undertaken at Cawthron is focused on the marine and freshwater environment. Cawthron’s purpose is to deliver world class science for a better future. We partner with Māori, industry, academia, international stakeholders and government to deliver on our outcomes of healthy ecosystems, a prospering blue economy, thriving people and communities and our five impact pathways:
- Turning the tide on climate change
- Protecting and enhancing aquatic environments
- Securing safe and sustainable food
- Realising the potential of algae
- Supporting resilient communities in the Pacific
Project resources
During the New Zealand-based phase of the project, Cawthron will provide full host support, including:
- Access to necessary practical research facilities and materials
- Supervision, training, mentoring and technical support, as required
- Personal desk space and access to internal network and internet
- Incorporation into Cawthron staff, student and early career researcher networking groups
Support costs (including Cawthron staff time) will be covered by Cawthron.