Spring Break
URI professor receives $1.5M for biofuel research
Betsy Cohen
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: News
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The Department of Energy recently granted $1.5 million to fund the research of Professor Albert Kausch, the director of the URI Plant and Biotechnology Laboratory.
Kausch has been researching the genetics and usage of switchgrass for biofuels since 2004.
"We use genetic engineering in plants to analyze traits and introduce new traits," Kausch said. "We use DNA sequencing to look at the genome of these plants and understand more about its biology and how we can modify that specifically for traits that we want, such as biofuel."
According to Kausch, switchgrass is a native species of grass that once flourished in the tall grass prairies across North America. It can grow to a height of approximately 12 feet and was once seen all over the country.
"It produces a lot of cellulose per acre and it produces more biomass per acre than any other perennial plant, which is why we would use it for biofuels," Kausch said.
Working in close collaboration with URI genetics professor Joel Chandlee and seven to 30 interns, Kausch can be found in his West Kingston laboratory any day of the week.
According to Kausch, 'innovation' sums up how interested people can become involved in issues.
"I think in a crisis we innovate and that's where we are now, so I'm encouraged by what will happen as an outcome of this crisis," Kausch said. "Focusing on renewable energy is good for the environment, it's good for the economy, it's good for national security. I can't see a downside."
Given that the availability of oil is rapidly declining, biofuels offer a breath of hope for the future.
"There's a consumer problem and the public is interested in that, but there's also an availability problem," Kausch said. "I think that this current administration is doing a lot to draw attention from the general public and the voters about the responsibility of renewable fuels both to the environment as well as to our country."
