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    Designer DNA: JGI Helps Users Blaze New Biosynthetic Pathways
    In a special issue of the journal Synthetic Biology, JGI scientific users share how they’ve worked with the JGI DNA Synthesis Science Program and what they’ve discovered through their collaborations.

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    A genetic element that generates targeted mutations, called diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs), are found in viruses, as well as bacteria and archaea. Most DGRs found in viruses appear to be in their tail fibers. These tail fibers – signified in the cartoon by the blue virus’ downward pointing ‘arms’— allow the virus to attach to one cell type (red), but not the other (purple). DGRs mutate these ‘arms,’ giving the virus opportunities to switch to different prey, like the purple cell. (Courtesy of Blair Paul)
    A Natural Mechanism Can Turbocharge Viral Evolution
    A team has discovered that diversity generating retroelements (DGRs) are not only widespread, but also surprisingly active. In viruses, DGRs appear to generate diversity quickly, allowing these viruses to target new microbial prey.

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    Algae growing in a bioreactor. (Dennis Schroeder, NREL)
    Refining the Process of Identifying Algae Biotechnology Candidates
    Researchers combined expertise at the National Labs to screen, characterize, sequence and then analyze the genomes and multi-omics datasets for algae that can be used for large-scale production of biofuels and bioproducts.

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    This data image shows the monthly average sea surface temperature for May 2015. Between 2013 and 2016, a large mass of unusually warm ocean water--nicknamed the blob--dominated the North Pacific, indicated here by red, pink, and yellow colors signifying temperatures as much as three degrees Celsius (five degrees Fahrenheit) higher than average. Data are from the NASA Multi-scale Ultra-high Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (MUR SST) Analysis product. (Courtesy NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center)
    When “The Blob” Made It Hotter Under the Water
    Researchers tracked the impact of a large-scale heatwave event in the ocean known as “The Blob” as part of an approved proposal through the Community Science Program.

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    A plantation of poplar trees. (David Gilbert)
    Genome Insider podcast: THE Bioenergy Tree
    The US Department of Energy’s favorite tree is poplar. In this episode, hear from ORNL scientists who have uncovered remarkable genetic secrets that bring us closer to making poplar an economical and sustainable source of energy and materials.

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    Ian Rambo, graduate student at UT-Austin, was a DOE Graduate Student Research Fellow at the JGI
    Virus-Microbe Interactions of Mud Island Mangroves
    Through the DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program, Ian Rambo worked on part of his dissertation at the JGI. The chapter focuses on how viruses influence carbon cycling in coastal mangroves.

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    HPCwire Editor's Choice Award (logo crop) for Best Use of HPC in the Life Sciences
    JGI Part of Berkeley Lab Team Awarded Best Use of HPC in Life Sciences
    The HPCwire Editors Choice Award for Best Use of HPC in Life Sciences went to the Berkeley Lab team comprised of JGI and ExaBiome Project team, supported by the DOE Exascale Computing Project for MetaHipMer, an end-to-end genome assembler that supports “an unprecedented assembly of environmental microbiomes.”

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    With a common set of "baseline metadata," JGI users can more easily access public data sets. (Steve Wilson)
    A User-Centered Approach to Accessing JGI Data
    Reflecting a structural shift in data access, the JGI Data Portal offers a way for users to more easily access public data sets through a common set of metadata.

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    Phytozome portal collage
    A More Intuitive Phytozome Interface
    Phytozome v13 now hosts upwards of 250 plant genomes and provides users with the genome browsers, gene pages, search, BLAST and BioMart data warehouse interfaces they have come to rely on, with a more intuitive interface.

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    screencap from Amundson and Wilkins subsurface microbiome video
    Digging into Microbial Ecosystems Deep Underground
    JGI users and microbiome researchers at Colorado State University have many questions about the microbial communities deep underground, including the role viral infection may play in other natural ecosystems.

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    Yeast strains engineered for the biochemical conversion of glucose to value-added products are limited in chemical output due to growth and viability constraints. Cell extracts provide an alternative format for chemical synthesis in the absence of cell growth by isolating the soluble components of lysed cells. By separating the production of enzymes (during growth) and the biochemical production process (in cell-free reactions), this framework enables biosynthesis of diverse chemical products at volumetric productivities greater than the source strains. (Blake Rasor)
    Boosting Small Molecule Production in Super “Soup”
    Researchers supported through the Emerging Technologies Opportunity Program describe a two-pronged approach that starts with engineered yeast cells but then moves out of the cell structure into a cell-free system.

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    These bright green spots are fluorescently labelled bacteria from soil collected from the surface of plant roots. For reference, the scale bar at bottom right is 10 micrometers long. (Rhona Stuart)
    A Powerful Technique to Study Microbes, Now Easier
    In JGI's Genome Insider podcast: LLNL biologist Jennifer Pett-Ridge collaborated with JGI scientists through the Emerging Technologies Opportunity Program to semi-automate experiments that measure microbial activity in soil.

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    In their approved proposal, Frederick Colwell of Oregon State University and colleagues are interested in the microbial communities that live on Alaska’s glacially dominated Copper River Delta. They’re looking at how the microbes in these high latitude wetlands, such as the Copper River Delta wetland pond shown here, cycle carbon. (Courtesy of Rick Colwell)
    Monitoring Inter-Organism Interactions Within Ecosystems
    Many of the proposals approved through JGI's annual Community Science Program call focus on harnessing genomics to developing sustainable resources for biofuels and bioproducts.

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    Coloring the water, the algae Phaeocystis blooms off the side of the sampling vessel, Polarstern, in the temperate region of the North Atlantic. (Katrin Schmidt)
    Climate Change Threatens Base of Polar Oceans’ Bountiful Food Webs
    As warm-adapted microbes edge polewards, they’d oust resident tiny algae. It's a trend that threatens to destabilize the delicate marine food web and change the oceans as we know them.

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    Integrating JGI Capabilities for Exploring Earth’s Secondary Metabolome
    Natural Prodcast podcast: Nigel Mouncey
    JGI Director Nigel Mouncey has a vision to build out an integrative genomics approach to looking at the interactions of organisms and environments. He also sees secondary metabolism analysis and research as a driver for novel technologies that can serve all JGI users.

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Home › About Us › People › The JGI Leadership Team › David Gilbert
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David Gilbert

David Gilbert

David Gilbert, Senior Manager of Communications & Outreach, DOE Joint Genome Institute

David Gilbert is Senior Manager of Communications and Outreach at the JGI. He joined the JGI in 2003 and drove the communications effort during the transition from the Human Genome Project to its current role as a national user facility tasked with characterizing plants and microbes to advance research in bioenergy, global carbon cycling, and biogeochemistry. Gilbert, a graduate of University of California, Berkeley with a degree in agricultural biotechnology, began his career in the biotechnology industry in 1983 where until 1988 he conducted research in plant molecular biology for Advanced Genetic Sciences located in Oakland, California. When the company then merged with DNA Plant Technology Corporation, Gilbert shifted his role from research to administration, assuming the role of Corporate Communications Manager. In 1992 he joined Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory where until December 2001 he was Development & Communications Officer for the Life Sciences and Genomics Divisions, building the industry partnerships program there. From 2001-2003 he served as Associate Director, Industry Outreach for The UC Discovery Grant, which provided $17 million in matching funds to foster industry-academic partnerships throughout the ten campuses and national laboratories of the University of California. In addition to his professional activities in the field of biotechnology Gilbert served for ten years as president of the board of directors of Biotech Partners, an innovative non-profit, school-to-career program that enables underserved youth to prepare for entry-level skilled technical careers in the biotechnology industry. Gilbert’s current JGI responsibilities also include overseeing educational partnerships.

Education

  • 2018, UC-Coro Systemwide Leadership Collaborative, Leading with Diversity: Strategies for Recruitment and Retention
  • Executive Leadership Management Institute Certificate, Stanford University
  • Leadership Contra Costa Program Graduate (Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce) 
  • Technical Management Program Certificate, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Bachelor of Science, University of California, Berkeley, Conservation and Resource Studies

About the JGI Senior Manager of Communications & Outreach

The Senior Manager of Communications & Outreach is responsible for sustaining the integrity of the JGI brand through an integrated marketing and communications approach in support of JGI’s strategic vision, the Institute’s staff and user community.

Awards and Service

  • 2021 Co-Master of Ceremony, Berkeley Lab Early Career Research SLAM
  • 2020 Co-Master of Ceremony, Berkeley Lab Early Career Research SLAM
  • 2019 Co-Master of Ceremonies, Berkeley Lab Early Career Research SLAM
  • 2018 Master of Ceremonies, Berkeley Lab Early Career Research SLAM
  • 2015, Master of Ceremonies, Berkeley Lab 5th Annual Diversity Cultural Festival
  • 2012: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Director’s Award for Exceptional Achievement  
  • 2003-2014: Berkeley Lab Diversity & Inclusion Council member
  • 1992-2008: Biotech Partners Board Member, Board President (1998-2008)
  • 2005-2009: Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County, Board Member; Co-chair, Business and Economic Development Committee
  • The JGI Leadership Team
    • Nigel Mouncey
    • Tina Clarke
    • Nick Everson
    • Kjiersten Fagnan
    • David Gilbert
    • Len Pennacchio
    • Axel Visel
    • Tanja Woyke

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