Four Japanese researchers from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology visited Virginia Tech, and Professor Barry Goodell’s lab to discuss research and give a presentation entitled:  “Eco-Materials Research in Japan - Applications for Nanocellulose, New Fungal Enzymes, and Physiological Control.”  Their seminar was sponsored by the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials and also by the Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute (MII) on campus. Dr. Kose discussed his latest research on nanocellulose while Dr. Nakaba reviewed his research on tree physiology and heartwood formation.  Dr. Yoshida and his graduate student, Ms. Yuka Kojima, reviewed their research on fungal biotechnology with Professor Goodell, and they advanced discussion on a new concept for the biorefinery industry to deconstruct lignocellulose.  Professors Goodell and Yoshida are both part of a new $1.1 million research project lead by Dr. Gry Alfredsen in Norway (formerly a visiting foreign scholar on sabbatical with Goodell), and funded by the Norwegian Forskningsrådet, to examine interactions between enzymes and the chelator-mediated Fenton system for development of advanced lignocellulose bioprocessing technologies.

Four Japanese visitors from the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology visited Professor Barry
Four Japanese visitors from the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology visited Professor Barry Goodell at Virginia Tech January 10 – 14, 2015. Here they tour the Blue Ridge and the Rocky Knob region near Floyd, Virginia. From left: Graduate Student Yuka Kojima (Tokyo Univ Ag Tech), Professors Jody Jellison (VT), Asst. Professor Ryota Kose (Tokyo Univ Ag Tech), Assoc. Professor Makoto Yoshida (Tokyo Univ Ag Tech), Professor Barry Goodell (VT), and Asst. Professor Satoshi Nakaba (Tokyo Univ Ag Tech).

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