Living Interfaces Lab Showcases Research at 2025 Bioremediation Symposium
Researchers Hao-Wei Shih and Karolina Sulich will present their work at the Seventh International Symposium on Bioremediation and Environmental Biotechnology, taking place June 23–26, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Hao-Wei will showcase a poster titled “Engineering Microbial Surfaces for Petroleum Hydrocarbon Biodegradation”, highlighting a novel approach that integrates metagenomics, synthetic biology, and materials engineering. The project centers on the development of engineered living materials (ELMs) composed of hydrocarbon-degrading Acinetobacter and a surface-bound, self-assembling protein known as E5C. These ELMs enhance pollutant sequestration and promote microbial aggregation, offering a powerful strategy for the targeted bioremediation of persistent contaminants such as phenanthrene and benzopyrene.
Karolina will present a talk on the development of a field-deployable LAMP-PCR biosensor designed for rapid detection of heavy metals in sediment environments. Her work explores the use of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to target specific microbial gene markers associated with heavy metal degradation. The biosensor integrates nucleic acid amplification with colorimetric detection, enabling low-cost, portable, and user-friendly environmental monitoring. This tool aims to empower communities and researchers with real-time data for decision-making in polluted sites.
Join us in Boston :)