Project Summary: The overarching goal of this project is to create scientific knowledge that will promote the use of aquatic microorganisms as green energy source. The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is imperative to halt climate change and prevent detrimental environment changes. Photosynthetic microorganisms present an effective CO2-sink, but while plants require an external source of nitrogen and phosphorous for optimal growth, specific strains of cyanobacteria are capable of fixing nitrogen from air. 
Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are an ancient group of aquatic microbes found in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. This project seeks to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms that enable simultaneous photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria, such as Azotobacter, Klebsiella or Anabaena. A specific aim of this research is to improve the efficiency of nitrogen fixation and biofuel production by optimizing the micronutrient profile. Towards this goal, the research will use cutting-edge microscopic techniques to map the distribution of macro- and micronutrients across the cellular ultrastructure. This study will ultimately help us identify environmental factors in nitrogenase regulation and follow microbial community dynamics in South Florida.
