Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation

Our People

Douglas ArchibaldDouglas D. Archibald, Ph.D.
Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-865-8449
E-mail: dda10@psu.edu
Department Website
My research group aims to develop model experimental systems that extend our understanding of the molecular structure of lignocellulose surfaces and their physicochemical interactions with biopolymers that are important for the assembly and stabilization of cell walls. 
Nicole Brown Nicole R. Brown
School of Forest Resources, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-865-7423
Email: nrb10@psu.edu
Department Website
The Brown group will explore the physiochemical nature of lignocellulosic materials via techniques such as NMR, dynamic mechanical analysis, and rheology, including analysis of both plant cell walls and model cell wall systems.  The techniques utilized will detect differences in chemical structure and morphology due to genetic manipulations, enzymatic treatments, and various configurations of model systems.
John CarlsonJohn Carlson
School of Forest Resources, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-863-9164
Email: jec16@psu.edu
Department Website
My research group is collaborating with the Tien, Kao and Haigler groups to study wall polymer interactions from plant systems.  My groups is specifically developing a protoplast cell wall regeneration system for studying the initial stages of cellulose synthesis, cellulose structure, and cell wall polymerization in Arabidopsis and Populus cells.  
Jeff CatchmarkJeffrey Catchmark
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-863-0414
Email: jcatchmark@engr.psu.edu
Department Website
Prof. Catchmark’s research focuses on cellulose synthesis and assembly; microbial cellulose production; cellulose nanocomposite materials; and the interaction of cellulose with proteins, enzymes, and biological polymers.
Dan CosgroveDaniel Cosgrove
Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-863-3892
Email: dcosgrove@psu.edu
Research Website
With a  research background is in the biophysics and biochemistry of plant cell wall growth, my research group studies the interactions of plant cell wall matrix polysaccharides with cellulose and the biomechanical consequences of disrupting these interactions.
Vincent CrespiVincent Crespi
Physics Department, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-863-0163
Email: vhc2@psu.edu
Department Website
My research investigates the dynamical and statistical properties of the assembly of nanoscale systems such as biopolymers related to cell wall structure, as revealed by molecular dynamics simulation and statistical physics.
Alan EskerAlan Esker
Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech
Phone: 540-231-4601
Email: aesker@vt.edu
Department Website
Our group chemically modifies cellulose and hemicelluloses to create derivatives that are capable of forming model surfaces.  For this project, we are exploring the interactions of hemicelluloses, pectins, and lignin with cellulose surfaces, and lignin with hemicellulose and composite hemicellulose/cellulose surfaces.
Ying GuYing Gu
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State
Phone: 814-867-3827
Email: yug13@psu.edu
Department Website
Our main objective is to characterize the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling cellulose biosynthesis in higher plants.
Candace HaiglerCandace Haigler
Department of Crop Sciences, North Carolina State University
Phone: 540-231-4601
Email: Candace_Haigler@ncsu.edu
Department Website
The Haigler lab will perform cryo-fracture deep-etch transmission electron microscopy in combination with immunolabeling of particular protein constituents to explore further the composition and function of the cellulose synthesizing complex. The aim is to understand the composition and operation of the cellulose synthesizing nanomachine from a bioengineering perspective.
James KubickiJames Kubicki
Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-865-3951
Email: jdk7@psu.edu
Research Website
Kubicki's research concentrates on using quantum mechanical calculations to understand the structure and energetics of cell wall interactions on a molecular level.  These calculations are used to predict small-scale bonding arrangements such as H-bonding and van der Waal's forces. The results are also used to test and develop classical force fields for larger scale simulations (see Maranas, Zhong, Crespi) and help interpret experimental data (e.g., Catchmark, Archibald).
Janna MaranasJanna Maranas
Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-863-6228
Email: jmaranas@psu.edu
Department Website
The Maranas group has both experimental and computational projects related to the Center.  We are using neutron scattering methods to determine the mobility and structural location of water within and near cellulose microfibrils, and model hemicelluloses around the microfibril surface.  We are also developing coarse-grained molecular dynamics force fields for cellulose and model hemicelluloses to understand  structure and organization within the plant cell wall.
Ming TienMing Tien
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-863-1165
Email: mxt3@psu.edu
Department Website
Tien's lab works on the ensemble of enzymes that is required to degrade lignin to carbon dioxide.
Virenda PuriVirendra Puri
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-865-3559
Email: vmpuri@psu.edu
Department Website
Fundamental understanding of the role and contribution of cell wall constituents to the overall mechanical response is of considerable importance. Toward that end, a mechanics principles-based computational model embodying the cell wall architecture will be developed and verified.
Teh-hui KaoTeh-hui Kao
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-863-1042
Email: txk3@psu.edu
Kao Lab
The Kao lab will use protein-protein interaction assays to identify protein components of cellulose synthase complexes in Acetobacter and in more complex systems (algae and plants); will identify novel cellulose-binding motifs; will modify plant cellulose to change its crystallinity.
Tom RichardTom Richard
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-863-1042
Email: trichard@psu.edu
Richard Lab
Richard's Bioconversion Research Group applies fundamental engineering science to microbial ecosystems, developing innovative strategies for a more sustainable agriculture and the emerging bio-based economy.
Alex SmirnovAlex I. Smirnov
Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University
Phone: 919-513-4377
Email: Alex_Smirnov@ncsu.edu
Department Website
Research activities in the lab are focused on biophysics of lipid bilayerand membrane proteins, magnetic resonance, and hybrid nanostructures. With CLSF funding the Smirnov lab initiated biophysical spectroscopic studies of CesA to elucidate structure and dynamics of the transmembrane helice sand to develop efficient approaches for incorporating this protein into nano-engineered platforms. 
Bernhard TittmannBernhard Tittmann
Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 814-865-7827
Email: brt4@psu.edu
Department Website
State of the art quantitative high resolution Atomic Force Microscopy techniques are being used to image and measure cell wall structure components and associated mechanical properties in natural and changing environments.  The quantitative measurement capabilities allow the determination of physical properties of the cell wall structure which can be used to both inform and validate the respective assumptions and predictions of the multi-scale modeling effort.
Yaroslava YinglingYaroslava Yingling
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University
Phone: 919-513-2624
Email: yara_yingling@ncsu.edu
Department website
Computational prediction of secondary and three-dimensional structure of proteins in cellulose synthase complex. Molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo modeling of rosette and mechanisms of cellulose fiber production.  
Linghao ZhongLinghao Zhong
Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, Mont Alto Campus
Phone: 717-7496240
Email: luz4@psu.edu
Department website
Our research will explore the interactions between various cell wall components (such as cellulose, lignin and proteins) by computer modeling.  Complement to comprehensive experimental researches, our study will provide a better understand the structure of cell wall structure and functions.