Four researchers have been elected to the User Executive Committee of the Joint Genome Institute, a Department of Energy user facility located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Holly Bik of the University of Georgia, Greg Bonito of Michigan State University, Jonathan Eisen of the University of California, Davis, and Michael Köpke of Lanzatech are the latest additions to the now 14-member committee. Go here to view the current UEC roster.
The UEC serves both as a liaison and advisory body, providing input on JGI policies and practices that support its user community. The breadth of scientific expertise of both the recently elected and continuing members of the UEC reflects the diverse research topics that the JGI supports that advance DOE Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research (BER) missions. The JGI provides advanced genomic capabilities, large-scale AI-ready data and expertise to the global research community to study complex biological and environmental systems. The foundational studies enabled contribute to the development of bio-based products and next-generation technologies, and toward a secure energy portfolio for DOE priorities.
- Bik is an associate professor at the University of Georgia whose work is at the interface between biology and computer science. Bik and her research group are regular participants of the JGI annual user meeting and New Lineages of Life symposia. Bik is a recipient of the Community Science Program (CSP) New Investigator call. Through membership in the UEC, Bik aims to serve as an advocate for early-career scientists and unconventional sample types such as low-biomass samples and host-associated holobionts. She is also interested in contributing to discussions on JGI data reuse and attribution.
- Bonito is an associate professor at Michigan State University. He studies fungal biodiversity, ecology, and evolution, with a focus on microbiome sciences and fungal symbioses. He has worked closely with both the Fungal & Algal Program and the Microbial Program over the past decade in gene regulatory network projects supported by the CSP, and as part of microbiome research involving the Bioenergy Research Centers. He is currently also working with the JGI Metabolomics Program. Having served on JGI, DOE, and NSF review and grant panels, he aims to contribute to the JGI’s vision and future success in meeting the needs of its broad user base and research interests.
- Eisen is a distinguished professor at the University of California, Davis. His current research focuses on the evolution, ecology, genomics and function of microbes and microbiomes, especially those found in association with both domesticated and wild animal and plant hosts. One main focus of his service to the community is in the “open science” movement. He is also strongly committed to communicating the importance of microbiology to the broader community. Eisen has been involved in many JGI projects, both as a CSP PI and as a collaborator. He previously held an adjunct appointment at the JGI, during which time he led the development and initiation of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea (GEBA) project. As a UEC member, he aims to help the JGI improve its interactions with the broader user and scientific community and consider new initiatives in areas such as functional studies (e.g., a functional encyclopedia building on GEBA) and in microbiome engineering.
- Köpke is the Chief Innovation officer at LanzaTech, where he has helped to commercialize gas fermentation technology. His research foci have been genomics, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology of non-model microbes, and biomanufacturing of sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials. He’s worked with the JGI’s Synthesis Science Program and participated in CSP and Technical Commercialization Fund projects. On the UEC, his industrial experience could help advance industry partnerships. Köpke is also focused on cross-disciplinary collaborations based on his own accepted proposals. He sees his priorities within the UEC as providing advice on policies and practices, and helping to increase the visibility of and broadening the user community.
Coinciding with the election results, Ashley Shade and Jason Stajich completed their service on the UEC and we thank them for their advice. Christopher Schadt stepped into the UEC chair role effective March 3; Lizzy Wilbanks assumed the vice chair role while Kristen DeAngelis will serve as the Past Chair.
Aside from the duties described above, the UEC also contributes to proposal review procedures and the organization of the JGI Annual Meeting. Any investigator who has been an active user of the JGI at any time in the past two fiscal years is eligible for election to the UEC. Members serve three-year terms, or longer if they serve in chair positions, and can serve no more than two consecutive terms.
