Lauren uses plants to solve our most pressing sustainability issues. From microbes in compost to hydroponics, agricultural field health to production of novel biofuels, Lauren is dedicated to the discovery of biology-based solutions.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Increasing Plant Growth with Soil Microbe Cultivation
As a postdoctoral scholar, Lauren researched plant-growth promoting microbes using microfluidic devices called ecological fabrications (EcoFABs, pictured below).
Improving Algae Growth Methods for Bioenergy
For her dissertation, Lauren used techno-economic analysis, a science-based prediction technique, to evaluate emerging methods in algae cultivation.
Using the Whole Algae Cell
Lauren's masters work focused on examining the cell wall of algae. She developed a method of carbohydrate analysis and applied it to algae cultivated under varying growth conditions.
Enzyme Exploration
Compost is an important source of microbes and enzymes that can break down agricultural and municipal waste. Lauren's compost discoveries has potential to improve biofuel production from waste.
C. Heredia
EDUCATION
Ph.D., 2018
Biological Systems Engineering
UC Davis
Dissertation Topic: Microbial Communities for Algal Biomass Production and Protection
M.S., 2016
Biological Systems Engineering
UC Davis
Thesis Topic: Characterization of Algal Cell Walls for Biofuels Development
B.S., 2011
Biological Systems Engineering
UC Davis
Senior Capstone Topic: Increasing the Susceptibility of Romaine Lettuce to Agrobacterium tumefaciens for Protein Production
Junior Honors Thesis Topic: Localization of Zebrafish Nanos1 Protein in Ovaries
Soil Solarization
Farmers can use the heating power of the sun and of microbes to reduce their use of harmful fumigants and herbicides. Worker safety, environmental preservation, and a sound food supply all come together in this area of Lauren's research
L. Jabusch
L. Jabusch, Ecological Fabrication (EcoFAB) with Brachypodium distachyon