INL BIOTECHNOLOGY

Science

Biological Sciences

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Key Capabilities

Underpinning INL biotechnology R&D is field sampling technology development and application. For

example, a technical challenge is to obtain high quality

uncontaminated sediment

samples thousands of meters

below the earth’s surface and

determine the indigenous

microbial activities.

We have invented and deployed sampling tools and

techniques to obtain biological

material (e.g., extremophiles)

I

n addition to our international nuclear energy leadership and national security

technology development responsibilities, we at INL are committed to managing a

robust science portfolio built on collaboration. A crucially important part of that

portfolio is in the biosciences – notably, in the business areas of environmental biotechnology, bioenergy and priority pathogen detection. We’re committed to building a worldclass laboratory... and look forward to partnering with others to make certain bioscience

remains a key component of INL research and development.

under unusual but prevailing

natural environmental conditions. Determining the physiological and molecular

characteristics of

extremophilic microorganisms

are important to many INL

projects. Extremophile

research spans environmental

extremes and locations:

• Low pH – sulfide mining,

acid mine drainage,

Yellowstone National Park

• Heavy metal-rich – mining,

industrial, Department of

Energy sites

• High temperature –

Yellowstone, industrial,

geothermal sources

• Deep subsurface – Nankai

trough, DOE sites, Polar

regions

• Cold temperature –

Fremont Glacier, Wind

River, Polar regions

• High radiation environments – DOE spent nuclear

fuel storage pools.

Our general objective in

extremophilic research is to

exploit both natural and manmade environments for microorganisms or their functions

that can be used in harsh

conditions: robust enzymes for

Extremophile sampling

at Yellowstone

National Park.
INL BIOTECHNOLOGY

Melinda Hamiton, Ph.D.

Division Director

Life and Earth Sciences

Melinda.Hamilton@inl.gov

(208) 526-0948

Don Maiers

Department Manager

Biological Sciences

Donald.Maiers@inl.gov

(208) 526-6991

INL BIOTECH

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05-GA50134

bioprocessing, biomimetics,

and fundamental understanding of life.

Genomics plays a central role

in INL biotechnology activities. We have established a

high-throughput sequencing

capability, including automated analysis of sequencing

results and robotics to maximize throughput. We have also

developed and applied

portable field molecular

determinations, for example,

real-time PCR measurements

for pathogens in wildlife or

human antibody profiling for

forensic applications.

Facilities

Biotechnology research is

centered at the INL Research

Center (IRC) in Idaho Falls,

Idaho. Facilities include

modern research laboratory

space configured with special

areas, including environmental

chambers and engineering

high-bay facilities. Laboratory

equipment includes walk-in

incubators, cold rooms, laminar

flow hoods, and numerous

autoclaves. These facilities

house a variety of state-of-theart instrumentation, including

gas, ion, and high-performance

liquid chromatographs; atomic

absorption spectrophotometers;

an inductively coupled plasma

atomic emission spectrophotometer (ICP-ES); mass

spectrometer; transmission and

scanning electron microscopes;

automated DNA sequencers;

nitrogen oxide analyzers;

anaerobic chambers; a DNA

synthesizer; shakers; instrumentation for measuring

interfacial tension; x-ray

fluorescence spectrometer;

fermentors; and specialized

bioreactors. Instrumentation is

coupled with microcomputer

processing control systems to

automate sampling, data

collection, and manipulation.

Expertise

More than 75 scientists and

engineers work on fully

integrated technical teams to

efficiently address multicomponent research needs.

Disciplines represented on

these teams include molecular

biology, biochemical engineering, biochemistry, hydrology,

geochemistry, chemical and

mechanical engineering,

chemistry, metallurgy, microbiology, environmental

engineering, and soil science.

The interdisciplinary and team

structure allows highly

effective technology development, spanning the entire

innovation cycle from bench to

scale-up and application.

Several of the scientists and

engineers serve on committees

of national and international

technical organizations,

industrial and government

working groups, and scientific

technical review panels. In

addition, many of the staff

maintain adjunct faculty status

with regional universities, as

well as teach and mentor

graduate and postdoctoral

students. Undergraduate and

graduate students are given the

opportunity to conduct

biotechnology research, thus

gaining access to scientist and

engineer mentors, state-of-theart facilities, and valued handson research experience.

Technology

Application

An important INL biotechnology mission is to ensure

optimal use of the technologies

we develop. To succeed, we

cultivate close working

relationships between public

and private sector engineers

and scientists and INL researchers. Moving research

through the innovation cycle is

an overall objective. INL

scientists and engineers

identify technological needs

through public and private

sector contacts and ensure that

research targets are consistent

with anticipated uses. Research efforts are complementary and enabling rather than

duplicative. Industrial representatives visit the INL

Research Center to access user

facilities and to collaborate on

technology development.

Basic

Science

Applied

Science

Engineering

Development

Application