# Presentation: 517433

## State of BERMay 19, 2008Anna PalmisanoAssociate DirectorBiological and Environmental Research

** **

***U.S. Department of Energy’s*****Office of Science**

## I.		Introduction and Philosophy
II.		Budget & Transition Planning
III. 	Personnel
IV. 	Science Focus Areas
V. 	Highlights from Divisions
IV.	BERAC Activities: Looking Ahead...

- I.		Introduction and Philosophy
- II.		Budget & Transition Planning
- III. 	Personnel
- IV. 	Science Focus Areas
- V. 	Highlights from Divisions
- IV.	BERAC Activities: Looking Ahead...

***Outline of Talk***

## An introduction...

- Trained in microbial ecology
- Experience with NIH, NASA, industry
- Program management at Office of Naval Research; led Biomolecular and Biosystems Research Division
- DOE/BER program manager (recruited by Michelle Broido!)
- Deputy Administrator at USDA for Competitive Programs
- Back to BER...

- Unique member of SC portfolio – only program with focus entirely on biological and environmental research
- Acknowledged leadership in key areas (e.g. genomics, climate change, bioenergy, environmental remediation)
- Poised for significant breakthrough research
- Strong team approach to program management
- Robust collaborative efforts with other federal agencies (e.g. climate, plant genomics)
- Distinguished and wise advisory committee!

***It’s a great time to be in BER!***

***A time of change, ***
***a time of opportunity....***

- Great people, great programs
- Well-positioned to address major national issues
- Funding that makes a difference
- Recent new investments in bioenergy- getting out front!
- Strong support from SC leadership

***My Priorities for BER***

- Rebuilding the leadership team after a number of retirements
- Telling the BER “story” – clearly articulating BER science, increasing visibility of our successes
- Building even stronger programs through strategic planning and scientific peer review processes
- Encouraging linkages among programs – cross-cutting themes
- Delivering on investments—post-award management
- Empowering program managers to develop and sustain national programs that provide world leadership

## Building Strong Partnerships

- Stronger collaborations within DOE:
- Office of Science: Advanced Scientific Computing Research; Basic Energy Sciences; Nuclear Physics
- Environmental Management
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- Productive collaborations with other federal agencies, for example:
- Joint activities in biofuel genomics, sustainability
- Climate Change Science Program
- Strategic Environmental R&D Program (SERDP)

## BER Budget Profile

***BER Budget Profile***

## Biological & Environmental Research (BER)                           (FY 2009=$568.5M)

**Biological Research:**
**Life Sciences****.** Three Bioenergy Research Centers continue to accelerate research in biofuels. Genomics: GTL research is enhanced, underpinning biotech solutions for DOE energy/environmental needs. Low dose radiation research activities are enhanced. Genome sequencing at the Joint Genome Institute supports BER goals. Radiochemical and imaging research is enhanced to develop new imaging technologies and new applications for radiotracers in biology and the environment.  (FY 2007=$252.5M; FY 2008=$294.7M; **FY 2009=$296.2M**);
**Medical Applications.** Supports fundamental research and instrument development in imaging for an artificial retina that allows patients to see large objects. (FY 2007=$6.6M; FY 2008=$8.2M;    **FY 2009=$8.2M**)
**Environmental Remediation Research.** Providing the scientific basis for understanding DOE's legacy environmental contamination issues; EMSL initiates multi-year program for acquisition of new/improved instrumentation  (FY 2007=$91.4M; FY 2008=$93.8M; **FY 2009=$98.4M**).

## Biological & Environmental Research (BER)

_**Climate Change Research:**_
- Supports the U.S. Climate Change Science Program to develop, test and improve climate models that simulate the responses of climate to increased atmospheric greenhouse gases and aerosols.
- Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility adds a second mobile system to obtain observations of clouds and aerosols in poorly understood regions.
- Climate Modeling increases to exploit leadership class computing (FY 2007=$129.6M; FY 2008=$136.9M; **FY 2009=$154.9M**)

## Transition Planning

- _What we expect over the next 12 months:_
-  We are already preparing for, and will be implementing, the transition to a new administration.
-  We are planning for a possible FY 2009 Continuing Resolution for 6 months at the FY 2008 level.
-  Expectations for the final FY 2009 Appropriated Budget are unknown.

***Personnel Changes and Challenges***

- _Climate Change Research Division:_
- Jerry Elwood retired after 17 years with DOE, plus 23 years at ORNL
- Acting Division Director is currently Mike Kuperberg
- _Life and Medical Sciences Division:_
- Acting Division Director is currently David Thomassen
- _Environmental Remediation Sciences Division:_
- Acting Division Director is currently Paul Bayer
_***Rebuilding the leadership team, optimizing structure to enhance communication***_** **

## Scientific Focus Areas (SFAs) for Labs:

- Integrative research programs, rather than individual projects,  will be supported
- The new approach challenges Labs to build team-oriented, collaborative research programs in support of SC missions
-  National Lab program plans are initially peer-reviewed for scientific merit and relevance; continuing programs require annual progress reporting and tri-annual on-site reviews with external reviewers
-  BER is developing SFA best management practices – Todd Anderson is lead.

***Scientific Focus Areas (SFAs) for Labs:***
***A New Management Approach***

## Life & Medical Sciences Division

**Life & Medical Sciences Division**

-  **COV June 2008** – ensuring we are excellent stewards of science and $
-  **Partnering with EERE** – maximizing impact of GTL & BRC science
-  **Sustainability workshop Fall 2008** – responsible bioenergy solutions
-  **JGI review Fall 2008** – excellent service to the community, BER, and DOE
-  **JGI strategic planning** – high throughput sequencing and beyond
-  **BRC management** – aggressive management to maximize success
-  **Radiochemistry & imaging** – balancing BER and community needs

**Planning for our future – excellence, stewardship, leadership**

| Structural Biology | Genomics:GTL | Joint Genome Institute | Imaging |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Low Dose Radiation | Bioenergy Research Centers | Radiochemistry | Human Subject Protection |

## All three BRCs are currently up and running:
Each BRC has FY2008 funding is $25 M + $10 M in FY2007 for start-up)
 Hundreds of Ph.D.s, postdocs, and graduate students now at work on fundamental science to develop a strategy to produce sustainable biofuels on a national scale

DOE Technical and Management Review, Nov. 2007: 
Strong management plans and systems, clear milestones

BRC Science Coordination Meeting, Feb. 2008:
Aim to foster scientific cooperation and coordination among BRCs
Working groups established in specific areas

DOE year-end onsite review of BRCs, with outside panels:
BESC – October 14-15
GLBLRC – September 23-24
JBEI – September 29-30

- Each BRC has FY2008 funding is $25 M + $10 M in FY2007 for start-up)
-  **Hundreds of Ph.D.s, postdocs, and graduate students now at work on fundamental science** to develop a strategy to produce sustainable biofuels on a national scale
_**DOE Technical and Management Review, Nov. 2007:**_
- Strong management plans and systems, clear milestones
_**BRC Science Coordination Meeting, Feb. 2008:**_
- Aim to foster scientific cooperation and coordination among BRCs
- Working groups established in specific areas
_**DOE year-end onsite review of BRCs, with outside panels:**_
- BESC – October 14-15
- GLBLRC – September 23-24
- JBEI – September 29-30

***DOE Bioenergy Research Centers -  Status***

## BioEnergy Science Center, led by ORNL
Bio-prospecting in Yellowstone hot pools for new, more effective cellulases operating at high temperatures (metagenomic analysis using DOE Joint Genome Institute [JGI])
Creating high-throughput pipeline to screen thousands of genetic variants of switchgrass and poplar for amenability to deconstruction (using genomics-based analysis)

Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, led by U. Wisconsin
Exploiting 454 sequencing capabilities at JGI to identify transcription factors in model-plant cell wall biosynthesis
Playing a leading role in the research and public education effort on biofuels and sustainability

Joint BioEnergy Institute, led by LBNL
Experimenting with ionic liquids as an alternative pretreatment method – shortens enzymatic hydrolysis times by factor of 30
Re-engineering E.coli to create hydrocarbons – first steps toward microbially produced “green” gasoline, diesel, jet fuel

**Bio-prospecting** in Yellowstone hot pools for new, more effective cellulases operating at high temperatures (metagenomic analysis using DOE Joint Genome Institute [JGI])
- Creating **high-throughput pipeline** to screen thousands of genetic variants of switchgrass and poplar for amenability to deconstruction (using genomics-based analysis)
_**Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center**__,_ led by U. Wisconsin
- Exploiting 454 sequencing capabilities at JGI to identify transcription factors in model-plant **cell wall biosynthesis**
- Playing a leading role in the research and public education effort on **biofuels and** **sustainability**
_**Joint BioEnergy Institute**_, led by LBNL
- Experimenting with **ionic liquids** as an alternative pretreatment method – shortens enzymatic hydrolysis times by factor of 30
- Re-engineering *E.coli* to create **hydrocarbons** – first steps toward microbially produced “green” gasoline, diesel, jet fuel

***Some Early BRC Research Highlights***

## Concerns about impact of corn ethanol on food supply and prices and lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions make development of cellulosic biofuels from non-food feedstocks more urgent.

Understanding and ensuring sustainability of biofuels is essential for successful, next-generation cellulosic biofuels and to winning public acceptance.

- Understanding and ensuring **sustainability of biofuels** is essential for successful, next-generation cellulosic biofuels and to winning public acceptance.

***Status of Biofuels***

- The possibility of moving **beyond ethanol** and producing **hydrocarbon fuels** (green gasoline, diesel, and even jet fuel) from plant lignocellulose is being studied.
**Fundamental research** is the nation’s best chance of overcoming current cost barriers, has benefits beyond biofuels.

## FY 2009 President’s Request: Radiochemistry and Imaging Instrumentation Research

- Reconfiguration will reflect BER's _energy and environmental mission focus_, areas distinct from NIH focus on developing disease diagnostics and medical therapeutics
- The program will support:
- Fundamental research to advance DOE’s mission in biology and environmental sciences.
- New methods for real-time, high-resolution imaging of dynamic biological processes in environmentally-responsive contexts
- Research will be _broadly useful and transferable_ to other agencies and industry, including nuclear medicine research at the National Institutes of Health.
_***Goal: Multiple use—multiple benefits from new scientific discoveries***_

## Radiochemistry and Imaging Instrumentation Research

- BER will organize **a workshop** (in Fall 2008) to bring together scientists from nuclear medicine, biological and environmental sciences fields
- Workshop will **foster discussion** on knowledge gaps and opportunities to advance imaging sciences for the reconfigured program, and how to best meet our mission goals
**Dr. Prem Srivastava** is lead Program Manager for this activity
- Ongoing **intra- and interagency** coordination with Office of Nuclear Physics and NIH in isotope production, and radiochemistry research and education.

## Climate Change Research Division

***Climate Change Research Division***

**Jerry Elwood’s retirement** – May 9, 2008
**Partner in CCSP **– Several Synthesis & Assessment Products (SAP) released
**ARM Mobile Facility deployed in China** – May 19, 2008
**Next Generation Ecosystem Experiments Workshop **– report earlier today
**Grand Challenges Workshop Spring 2008** – report tomorrow
**Carbon Cycling and Carbon Sequestration Workshop **– report tomorrow
**Solicitations in play** – Abrupt Climate Change, Integrated Assessment, ARM Science

**Basic science to understand, predict and mitigate climate change**

| Climate Change Forcing | Climate Change Modeling | Climate Change Response | Climate Change Mitigation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ARM Science & Infrastructure
Atmospheric Science
Terrestrial Carbon Processes
Information & Integration | Coupled Earth Systems Models
Abrupt Climate Change | Ecosystem Research
Integrated Assessment
Education | Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration |

## Environmental Remediation Sciences Division

***Environmental Remediation Sciences Division***

-  **Committee of Visitors (COV) review of ERSD Programs**
-  Chaired by Mike Hochella, mid-January 2008, draft report to BERAC for approval
-  **Environmental Remediation Sciences Program (ERSP)**
-  2007 ERSP solicitation (07-18):  17 multi-institutional awards
-  2008 ERSP solicitation (08-09):  105 proposals submitted, review scheduled
-  National Lab Science Focus Area (SFA) Program Plans:  submitted and reviewed
-  Integrated Field Challenge (IFC) project annual reports:  submitted and reviewed
-  **Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)**
-  2008 User Opportunities solicitation:  Science Theme proposals, Computationally 	Intensive Research proposals and Partner proposals
-  ~160 TFlop High Performance Computer System 3 (HPCS-3) on track: Fall 2008
-  Field Emission – Chemical Transmission Electron Microscope:  Spring 2009
-  EMSL review:  September 2008

| Environmental Remediation Sciences Program (ERSP) | Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) |
| --- | --- |

**Notes:**
COV Review: Generally quite positive, but some minor issues to address.

ERSP
- 07-18 – 2008 CR impacted decisions; a few awards remain to be completed.
- 08-09 – reviewers being identified for August 11-14, 2008 peer review at AGU.
- SFA Program Plans – reviewed on April 14th by 6-8 reviewers each, ERSD Response transmitted to each lab. Response to reviewer comments expected by June 13th. Revised Program Plans by July 10th.
 IFC annual reports reviewed by the Field Research Executive Committee (FREC) – a standing committee of field research experts, no major issues. 

EMSL
- 3-part User Opportunities call:  Science Theme proposal part closed May 15th. Computationally Intensive Research proposal part closes June 30th, Partner (capability development) proposal part doesn’t have a closing date. 
Phase I of HPCS-3 delivered and undergoing acceptance testing. Phase II to undergo acceptance testing in early Fall 2008 and then made available to users.
 FE-CTEM will enable users to study chemical reactions at “environmentally” relevant temperatures & pressure.
 Scientific review plus operational efficiency, September 8-11, 2008 at EMSL.

***BERAC – Vital Contributors to BER***

- Strategic thinking – identifying areas of opportunity
- Program reviews, COV’s – staying on the cutting-edge of science
- Science leadership and forward-looking advice
- Visibility—sharing our successes

***Looking ahead....***

- JGI working on Strategic Plan – anticipate inviting BERAC to review in Jan.-Feb. 2009
- Climate Change Strategic Plan (after final reports from “Grand Challenges” workshop, “Next Generation of Field Experiments” workshop.) Anticipate inviting BERAC to review early 2009
- COV for Life and Medical Science – status report at next BERAC

***Vision for BER***

- With the advice of BERAC:
- Strong, sustained, highly productive programs
- Remain on the forefront of science
- World leadership in critical DOE relevant areas

## Thank you!