Dr. Martin Keller is Director of the BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) and Director of the Biosciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He also manages over 150 scientists and technicians. He also conducts his own research into biofuels. Research teams from other universities and laboratories also work with BESC. Together, they all work on different part of making biofuels.
Martin studied microbiology at the University of Regensburg in Germany. After finishing his PhD, Martin conducted research on the origins of life. He then went to work for a private company in San Diego, California. As the company grew, he took on more staff and larger projects to manage.
In 2006, Martin joined Oak Ridge National Lab to be the Director of BESC. There, he manages a $125 million program initiated by the Department of Energy. He coordinates research to find biofuel processes that would be alternatives to using fossil fuels.
Dr. Keller and his staff hope to develop an inexpensive and industrial process to make ethanol and other biofuels from plants like switchgrass and poplar trees. In the United States, ethanol is made mostly from corn. Using corn for ethanol takes away from food supplies. Using non-food crop plants and growing them in places that cannot be used for food crops would be a significant benefit to both the biofuel and food production industries.
Martin manages many related research projects that are tasked with solving a portion of the biofuel production process. When all of this is put together, they would have a complete solution.
For example one team identifies locations around the world that may have bacteria and other organisms that can turn cellulose into simple sugars. This team looks for bacteria that might be better at processing cellulose. They have been to places like the hot springs in Yellowstone National Park in the United States.
Another team sequenced the genes of poplar trees. They are exploring how the genes can be altered so the trees will produce easier to digest plant cell walls.
Dr. Keller believes that meeting the energy needs of the world will require every scientific discipline to contribute. He also believes that a diverse portfolio of energy resources will be needed, including solar and wind, to meet all of the world's demand.
Martin lives with his family on a farm and raises alpaca.