UCLA, UCSB share $23.7 million grant to study biologically based polymers

Collaboration aims to advance the use of microbes for sustainable production of new plastics

On July 29, 2020 it was announced that the National Science Foundation has named UCLA and UCSB partners in a collaboration called BioPACIFIC MIP — for BioPolymers, Automated Cellular Infrastructure, Flow, and Integrated Chemistry: Materials Innovation Platform — and has funded the effort with a five-year, $23.7 million grant. The initiative is part of the NSF Materials Innovation Platforms program, and its scientific methodology reflects the broad goals of the federal government’s Materials Genome Initiative, which aims to develop new materials “twice as fast at a fraction of the cost.”

Researchers from UCLA and UC Santa Barbara are working to develop new high-performance alternatives to petroleum-based polymers that can be produced sustainably from biological sources.

“It will take both resources and collaboration to realize a future where we can address crucial concerns about environmental sustainability while also producing the materials that society needs,” said Roger Wakimoto, UCLA’s vice chancellor for research. “The NSF’s wonderful support advances this vitally important vision by deepening the connections between the California NanoSystems Institutes at UCLA and UCSB, and combining complementary strengths on both campuses.”

UCLA’s Heather Maynard and Adam Stieg and UC Santa Barbara’s Tal Margalith and Javier Read de Alaniz (left to right) are the project’s executive team. (Tony J. Mastres/UC Santa Barbara)

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