At present, Dr. David Serrano is the Director of the IMDEA Energy Institute and Full Professor of Chemical Engineering at Rey Juan Carlos University. He is also Head of the Thermochemical Processes Unit at IMDEA Energy. He received his Ph.D. from Complutense University of Madrid (1990) awarded with the Extraordinary Mention. He has been Visiting Associated in the California Institute of Technology (CALTECH, 1991) and in the California University of Santa Barbara (2006). He was appointed as Associate Professor at Complutense University of Madrid (1990-1999), and subsequently at Rey Juan Carlos University. In the latter, he was appointed as Full Professor (2002) and was in charge of different management and academic positions: Coordinator of the Environmental Sciences Area (1999-2001), Vice-rector for Research and Technological Innovation (2001-2002) and Head of the Chemical and Environmental Technology Department (2002-2007). His teaching activity has been focused on subjects related to Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Energy Engineering in a number of degrees, masters and Ph.D. courses. He has participated in about 50 research projects funded by both public and private institutions, with a significant number of collaborations established with the industrial sector. Currently, he is coordinator of the FP7 EU CASCATBEL project, aimed to the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into advanced biofuels through catalytic routes. He has been author of about 150 publications in scientific journals. Likewise, he has been author of more than 200 communications to congresses and scientific meetings, of 5 patents and of 4 books. He has been supervisor of 19 Ph.D. theses. He has been member of the Executive Board of the ACENET network (ERA-NET for Applied Catalysis Research in Europe) and of the “Círculo de Innovación en Tecnologías Medioambientales y Energía” (CITME). He is member of the Scientific Committee of CIESOL (Almería, Spain) and of the German Biomass Research Centre (Leipzig, Germany), as well as of different scientific associations. He has been member of the scientific committee of several journals and of a number of scientific workshops and congresses. In 2011 he was Chairman of the 6th edition of the International Symposium on Feedstock Recycling of Plastics (ISFR2011, Toledo, Spain).

Development of novel zeolitic and mesostructured materials, synthesis of hierarchical zeolites, catalytic applications of zeolites in petrochemistry, fine chemistry reactions catalysed by ordered mesoporous materials, chemical recycling of plastic wastes, production of biofuels and chemicals from different types of biomass, hydrogen production free of GHG emissions and CO2 valorization.

Professor Xuefeng Lu received his Ph.D. degree at University of New Mexico in 2005 and did his Postdoc research at Stanford University during 2005 to 2008. Dr. Lu currently is the Deputy Director-General of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) and the Director of Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Dr. Lu is leading microbial metabolic engineering research of the CAS-QIBEBT and two major research areas of his group are including: (1) Photosynthetic production of biofuels and biochemicals in genetically engineered cyanobacteria; (2) Genetic engineering and omics- study of Aspergillus terreus for itaconic acid production

Photosynthetic production of biofuels and biochemicals in genetically engineered cyanobacteria & Genetic engineering and omics study of Aspergillus terreus for itaconic acid production.

Anthony Bridgwater is Professor of Chemical Engineering at Aston University in Birmingham UK. He has worked at Aston University for most of his professional career and is currently director of the European Bioenergy Research Institute. He has a world-wide research portfolio focussing on fast pyrolysis as a key technology in thermal biomass conversion for power, heat, biofuels and biorefineries. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and a Fellow of the Institute of Energy. He was technical Director of the UK Flagship SUPERGEN Bioenergy programmes for 8½ years until the end of 2011. In addition he has led and coordinated nine major EC research and development projects in bioenergy and has an active current involvement in six further research and development projects. He has attracted funding from national research funding councils in Canada, Holland, Norway and the USA. He has been responsible for raising over £28 million during his research career. He formed and led the IEA Bioenergy Pyrolysis Task – PyNe from 1994 to 2008 with parallel European networks on pyrolysis, gasification and combustion which included the EC sponsored ThermoNet and ThermalNet networks. He was awarded the following: • The European Johannes Linneborn Prize in 2007 for “Outstanding contributions to bioenergy.” • The North American Don Klass Award in September 2009 for “Excellence in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion.” • The Aston University Chancellor’s medal in July 2010 for “outstanding service to the University.” • Green Leader in the West Midlands in 2011 in recognition of individuals who are having a positive environmental impact in helping the West Midlands achieve its vision for a low carbon economy. • UK Environmental Capital Peterborough Clean Energy Award in 2012 to recognise outstanding contributions to the development, implementation and promotion of clean energy technologies.

Thermal conversion of biomass for production of fuels and chemicals , Second generation biofuel technologies.

Dr. Lew Christopher holds a Masters degree in Chemical Engineering and a Ph.D. degree in Biotechnology & Biochemical Engineering. He has more than 20 years of industrial and academic experience in the field of industrial biotechnology and bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass. He worked as industrial research scientist and held faculty positions in departments of biotechnology, chemical and biological engineering, and environmental engineering in South Africa and USA. Currently he also served as Director of the Center for Bioprocessing Research & Development at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology lead a team of over 130 researchers from 15 departments at 2 universities in South Dakota, USA. His research mission is to add value to the national and global bioeconomy by applying an integrated biorefinery approach for the development of renewable energy technologies. Dr. Christopher is a member of the editorial board of several international biotechnology journals, advisory boards, and professional societies. He has over 400 contributions that include 8 patents, 4 books, 80 peer-reviewed publications, and over 290 presentations and invited lectures delivered in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.

Industrial biotechnology and bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass

Dr. Foster Agblevor is currently the Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) endowed Professor of Biological Engineering at Utah State University (USU), Logan UT and Director of USTAR Bioenergy Center, Utah State University. He is also Adjunct Professor of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. He received Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry from the University of Toronto. He did postdoctoral work at the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus, Honolulu, HI. Prior to joining USU in 2011, Dr Agblevor was Professor of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. He was also a Senior Chemical Engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Co. before joining Virginia Tech. Some of his awards and recognitions include the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Excellence in Basic Research Award, the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research. US Department of Energy Special Research Award. His research involves the thermochemical and biochemical conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals. He is currently working on the fractional catalytic pyrolysis of biomass to produce biochar, chemicals, and biogasoline.

Thermochemical and biochemical conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals & fractional catalytic pyrolysis of biomass to produce biochar, chemicals, and biogasoline.

Professor. Daniela Thrän is Head of the Department of Bioenergy Systems at the German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ) and Head of the Department “Bioenergy” at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). She is a graduate Diplom-Engineer for environmental technologies from the Technical University of Berlin and did her PhD at the University of Weimar. Her doctoral-thesis dealt with “Material Flow Account in rural areas”. Since 2011 she holds the professorial chair bioenergy systems at the Institute for Infrastructure and Resources Management, University of Leipzig. Further she is responsible for the coordination and management of national and international research projects for governmental, industrial and nongovernmental organisations in her leadership role as head of the department bioenergy systems at DBFZ and the department bioenergy at UFZ. Her work focuses on resource analysis on biomass, standardisation of solid biofuels, assessment of biomass technologies and trade, sustainability aspects and system integration of biomass and bioenergy, and development of market implementation strategies and support schemes for bioenergy. Furthermore she is member of working groups at ISO, CEN, VDI, DIN and European technology platform for biofuels. She has a long term work experience with over 100 publications in the biomass field.

Biomass & Bioenergy

Dr. Frank Rosillo Calle has done PhD in Biological Sciences and Policy, in the year 1985 from University of Aston, He has been working in the area of biomass for energy for more than 30 years. His areas of interests are: Biomass resource assessment, biomass energy (production, conversion and use, biofuels), agriculture, biofuels and food security implications. He has published about 100 research articles in the respective area. He is also the editorial board member and advisor of various scientific journals.He has worked on EU funded Projects on Biomass Energy since early 1990s. He also acted as Consultant in biomass energy for over 30 years which include Rockefeller Foundation’s Global Environmental Leadership Programme 1991-1992, BUN, FAO, The Beijer Institute/SEI, UNDPCSD, Shell International, WEC, OTA of the US Congress, DTI, SOPAC-South Pacific Applied Geo-science Commission, etc.He also acted as Coordinator of a British Council/CESPES project in Brazil- Kings College London (KCL)/BUN, 1996-1999, Coordinator of British Council, KCL- Jos University, Nigeria, Higher Education Exchange, 1999-2002. He has been UK Representative of the IEA Bioenergy Task 40 from 2004 to 2012. He has taught biomass energy-related subjects to PhD and MSc level at Universities of Campinas and Manaus, Brazil, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonbury, Bangkok, Thailand; and Basque Country (Bilbao), Oviedo and Vigo, Spain.

Biomass resource assessment, biomass energy (production, conversion and use, biofuels), agriculture, biofuels and food security implications

Dr. Blake Simmons joined Sandia National Laboratories in 2001 as a Senior Member of the Technical Staff, serving as a member of the Materials Chemistry Department. He participated on and led a variety of projects, including the development of cleavable surfactants, enzyme engineering for biofuel cells, microfluidics, and the synthesis of silicate nanomaterials. He was promoted to Manager of the Energy Systems Department in 2006. The primary focus of the department was the development of novel materials-based solutions to meet the nation’s growing energy demands. He is one of the principal co-investigators of the Joint BioEnergy Institute, a $259M, ten-year DOE funded project tasked with the development and realization of next-generation biofuels produced from non-food crops. He is currently serving as the Chief Science and Technology Officer and Vice-President of the Deconstruction Division at JBEI, where he leads a team of 43 researchers working on advanced methods of liberating fermentable sugars and lignin from lignocellulosic biomass. He is also the Senior Manager of Biofuels and Biomaterials Science and Technology at Sandia, where he also serves as the Biomass Program Manager. He has over 220 publications, book chapters, and patents. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the KQED televised science program quest.

Biofuel cells, nanophotonic materials, microfluidics, nanofluidics, desalination, biomineralization and enzyme engineering. Most recently, he has been studying enzymes isolated from extremophile organisms that could be applied to the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuel material.

Adam Lee holds a BA in Natural Sciences and PhD in surface science and catalysis from the University of Cambridge, and was appointed a Lecturer in Physical Chemistry at the University of Hull in 1997. After moving to the University of York and promotion to Senior Lecturer, he was appointed Professor of Physical Chemistry within the Cardiff Catalysis Institute at Cardiff University in 2009, and subsequently joint Chair of Sustainable Chemical Synthesis at the University of Warwick and Monash University. He was recently appointed Professor of Sustainable Chemistry in the European Bioenergy Research Institute, Aston University, where he holds an EPSRC Leadership Fellowship in “Nanoengineered Materials for Clean Catalytic Technologies”. Adam was awarded the 2000 CR Burch Prize by the British Vacuum Council, the 2004 Fonda-Fasella Prize of the Elettra synchrotron, the 2011 McBain Medal of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Society of Chemical Industry, and 2012 Beilby Medal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, IOM3 and Society of Chemical Industry for outstanding contributions in the field of heterogeneous catalysis and surface science. His research spans heterogeneous catalysis, green chemistry and synchrotron science, in which he has authored over 140 articles (h-index = 33), with particular focus on the rational design of functional materials for sustainable chemical processes and energy production. Adam is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Associate Fellow of the IChemE, chair of the international spectroscopy peer review panel of the Diamond Light Source, and member of the international catalysis peer review panel of the Elettra Synchrotron.

Transformation of renewable and waste biomass into valuable fuels and chemicals.

Edward A. Bayer is a professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel. In his early work, he helped in development of avidin and streptavidin-biotin system as a general tool in the biological sciences. He is co-discoverer of the multi-enzyme cellulosome concept and has organized and chaired Gordon Research Conferences on this subject. He has also pioneered the development of designer cellulosomes for research and biotechnological applications. He has authored over 350 articles and reviews in these fields, is editor or serves on editorial boards of several journals in the field of biotechnology, on the scientific advisory board of the DOE BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), and was elected to Fellowship of both the American Academy of Microbiology and the European Academy of Microbiology. His interests focus on the structural and functional consequences of protein-protein, protein-carbohydrate and protein-ligand interactions, protein engineering, synthetic biology, nanobiotechnology, microbial and enzymatic degradation of plant biomass and biomass-to-biofuels processing.

Structural and functional consequences of protein-protein, protein-carbohydrate and protein-ligand interactions, protein engineering, synthetic biology, nanobiotechnology, microbial and enzymatic degradation of plant biomass and biomass to biofuels processing.

Dr. Philip T. Pienkos earned his BS in Honors Biology at the University of Illinois and his Ph.D, in Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin. He has nearly 30 years of biotechnology experience in the pharmaceutical, chemical and energy sectors. He is a co-founder of two companies: Celgene, an established biotech/pharma company, and Molecular Logix, a case study for technology-rich/funding-poor biotech startup. He joined NREL in 2007 as a section supervisor and now holds the title of Principal Group Manager for the Bioprocess R&D Group in the National Bioenergy Center. His group is involved in various aspects of strain development, process integration, compositional analysis, catalytic upgrading, and molecular modeling for advanced biofuels based on a wide variety of feedstocks including lignocellulosic biomass, algal biomass and methane. In addition to his line management responsibilities, he is also the Algal Biofuels Platform Lead for the National Bioenergy Center at NREL and serves as lead for a number of projects that are relevant to this proposal, including the BETO funded Lipid Catalysis Project and the ARPA-E funded Biological Gas to Liquid Project (part of the REMOTE Program). He is part of a team of algae experts from NREL and Sandia National Laboratories who worked with the Department of Energy to organize National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap Workshop held in December, 2008 and was a contributor to the National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap document, published in May, 2010. Philip is a founding member of the Algae Biomass Organization and has served as a member of the board of directors for that organization from 2008 to 2013. He is currently on the board of directors of the Algae Foundation. He was named in Biofuels Digest’s list of the top 100 people in biofuels for four running years.

Algae Biofuels,Biological toxicity characterization and mitigation,Biological transformations Advanced biomass deconstruction Feedstock process interface Zymohydrocarbon fuels Techno-economic modeling Biomass characterization Productivity modeling

Dr. Mark Nimlos received B.S in chemistry from University of Massachusetts, Boston in 1981 and Ph.D in Chemical Physics from University of Colorado, Boulder in 1986.Currently he is a Principal Scientist in the National Bioenergy Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He has more than 25 years of experience in the design and management of complex, multiparty biomass-related research programs and projects, with a focus on thermochemical conversion research. Dr. Nimlos has served as lead scientist and manager on numerous projects funded by the Department of Energy and by private industry. His responsibilities have included DOE reporting, financial tracking and management, staff and subcontractor direction, and coordination of efforts by partner organizations. His areas of expertise are chemical and physical processes in thermochemical biomass conversion, including chemical kinetics and molecular modeling. He has authored or co-authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers/book chapters.

Chemical and physical processes in thermochemical biomass conversion, including chemical kinetics and molecular modeling.

Luis Puchades Rufino was born in 1980 in Valencia (Spain). He is an Agricultural engineer and currently the managing director of Ludan renewable energy and biogas operation Spain. He was director of the Spanish branch of Biogas Nord AG (Germany), a German listed company (BG8:) and one of the pioneers and largest biogas companies in the world, from 2006 to 2009. In 2010 He founded a company called Biovic to run agricultural businesses (corn, elephant grass), trading of raw materials and waste management. He had been involved in the development, design, construction and operation of more than 40 biogas projects. His areas of interest includes conversion of waste to energy, waste to food and waste to fertilizers. He also have more than 20 publications and research articles .

Biogas and waste management.

Prof. Praveen Kumar Ramanujam is currently is working as Head of the Department in Department of Biotechnology, Arunai Engineering College, Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, India. He has published 18 research papers in renowned journals and 1 book. He was the chair for 1st International Conference on Bioenergy, Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST2013) and organized various national level symposiums and conferences. He is also the chair for 2nd International Conference on Bioenergy, Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST2015) which is going to be held during 28-31 January 2015. He served as International Scientific Advisory Committee member in “The 2012 Asian Biohydrogen and Bioproducts Symposium (ABBS)” conducted by Chongqing University, on November 9-12, 2012 in Chongqing, China. He has visited various countries including USA, Australia, China, Italy & Bangladesh to attend various conferences. He has chaired sessions and delivered invited talks in various International conferences which include “World Renewable Energy Congress – Australia 2013” and “International Conference on Advances in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics organized by Dr. DY Patil University– ICABB2013”. He had done provisional registration for patent for his work on “Production of Paper from Algae”. He is a life member in various professional societies which includes Biotech Research Society of India (BRSI), Indian Institute of Chemical Engineering (IICHE), International Forum on Industrial Bioprocesses (IFIBiop), Biogas Forum of India (BigFin), Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), Engineers Without Borders, India (EWBIndia).Currently he is serving as Management council member in Biotech Research Society of India

Renewable energy from biomass and municipal waste.

Dr. BHARATHIRAJA has 11 years of academic teaching experience. He has published 30 research papers in the field of Biofuels, Bioproducts and Environmental Engineering. .He is a Life Member in ISTE, IIChE, BIOGAS INDIA FORUM (IITD),BRSI and has guided more than 40 undergraduate students in their projects.

Biofuels, Bioproducts, Environmental Engineering.

Dr. Abd El-Latif Hesham is Associate Professor of Microbial Genetics and Environmental Meta-Genome Biotechnology at Assiut University, Egypt. He graduated and got his M.Sc from Genetics department, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt and his PhD degree from Chinese academy of Sciences in Microbial Genetics and Environmental Meta-Genome Biotechnology. He awarded postdoctoral studies from CAS-TWAS. He expert in molecular biological techniques, including Clone library, RFLP and gene sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, florescent in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR-DGGE, MPN-PCR, reverse transcriptase PCR , and real time PCR (RT-PCR). He has published about 40 papers in reputed journals and serving as an editor in chief, editorial board member and reviewer of many international reputed journals.

Microbial Genetics, Environmental Meta-genome Biotechnology and Renewable Biofuel Production.