In Iowa, ethanol is taken for granted. We fill up our cars without a second thought, except maybe to congratulate ourselves on helping the environment. But one Central student spent her summer figuring out how to make that process even more efficient. And her article on the subject was published by a top journal in the field.
Senior biology major Megan Strait worked with a Ph.D. student from Iowa State University through the REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program, funded by the National Science Foundation. “I think doing this type of research is a really rare opportunity, especially for undergraduates,” says Strait.
The team’s goal was to determine if a byproduct of corn ethanol production, called thin stillage, could be used to grow the fungi Pythium irregulare. The fungi can then produce EPA, a high-value omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. “Finding a new outlet for thin stillage will make corn ethanol production a more profitable process,” says Strait.
Strait was led to the program by Dr. Ellen Du Pre, associate profess of biology, who recommended Pathways to Science, a website that connects students with science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects. Strait saw an opportunity with the REU program “Sustainable Biomass Production and Processing” and applied.
Through their research, Strait and her colleagues were able to determine that mediums containing thin stillage can support fungi growth and EPA production, so their hypothesis was supported. They also found the optimal percentage to use. Although more research needs to be done on this topic, the results could lead to groundbreaking implications. In February their paper, for which Strait was a co-author, was published by Bioresource Technology, a prestigious peer-reviewed journal.In the laboratory, Strait used many of the techniques and scientific communication skills she learned at Central. But she was also exposed to a new environment with different ways of doing things. “This is a fairly new area of research, and it’s going to be exciting.”
Strait enjoyed her summer research so much that she is now considering graduate school. Medical school is another option. And a published article on her resume won’t hurt her chances at either.
Read the abstract for Strait’s article.