Prestigious Novo Nordisk funding for the first time to University of Turku – Researcher Laura Wey seeks solutions for developing living energy systems
Postdoctoral Researcher Laura Wey has been awarded €1.5 million in research funding for investigating the use of photosynthetic bacteria in the production of green energy.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded the Emerging Investigator Grant to Laura Wey, who is a Postdoctoral Researcher in molecular plant biology at the University of Turku. This is the first time that the University of Turku has been awarded this prestigious funding for an early career researcher in the field of industrial and environmental biotechnology.
“With this grant, I am launching my independent research group in bioelectricity in plant sciences at the Department of Life Technologies. Our work bridges fundamental science and practical applications to address pressing global challenges in sustainable energy and agriculture," says Wey.
The core of Wey's research focuses on photosynthetic bacteria, which can transfer electrons outside their cells. This is a process tied to photosynthesis and already harnessed in biophotovoltaics to generate green electricity.
“However, the functioning of this mechanism is not yet fully understood. Recent evidence from my postdoctoral fellowship research hint at the possibility of developing bidirectional photo-bio-batteries from the bacteria which can charge, store, and discharge electricity based on environmental cues like sugar availability, light, and temperature," says Wey.
In her previous research, Wey observed that these bacteria may be able to switch between exporting and importing electrons. Now, Wey's research team aims to uncover the biological and environmental mechanisms that govern this switch in electron transfer.
“Understanding this could open up new pathways for living energy systems," says Wey. The new, sustainable, biologically integrated power solutions could potentially be applied in agriculture, remote sensing, and beyond.
“I am excited to start my own group at the University of Turku, a world-famous place for excellence in plant science. I also look forward to becoming more integrated into the Nordic research community and mentoring young scientists," says Wey.
