Microbial metabolism is a profound source of innovation that has global-scale impacts. Diverse metabolic pathways are linked through trophic networks enabling electrons to flow through ecosystems and drive the geochemical cycles of our planet. As microbes colonized diverse ecosystems, they evolved a range of proteins to control electron flow across spatial scales that span seven orders of magnitude (from the nm to cm scale).

The Atkinson Lab in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute at Princeton University focuses on using protein engineering and synthetic biology approaches to program electroactive proteins and cells to (1) interface bacteria with electronic devices to control and measure fluxes through metabolic circuits, and (2) control geochemical cycles by altering how electrons flow through microbial ecosystems.

Our work is delivering fundamental insights into the biophysical properties that enable microbial redox proteins to interact with insoluble materials, including electrical devices, to improve our capabilities in information processing and sustainable catalysis.