John Love's team have been shortlisted in the Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology category. Image credit: Marian Littlejohn

Biosciences research shortlisted for Times Higher award

A team from the University of Exeter which has designed and developed special strains of E. coli capable of producing diesel that is structurally and chemically identical to retail transport fuel has been shortlisted for a Times Higher Education (THE) award.

Professor John Love of Biosciences and his team have been working with Shell to design, encode and express in bacteria, completely artificial metabolic pathways for the production of customized oils that are identical to those in retail diesel.

This was achieved by the coordinated expression of up to nine genes obtained from two different bacterial species, one blue-green alga and one species of tree.  

It was announced today (4 September) that the University of Exeter had been shortlisted for three of the prestigious THE accolades in the categories of Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology, Outstanding International Student Strategy and Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Steve Smith commented: “I am delighted by our three nominations, and hope we have three winners on the night. Every team within the University strives to lead the sector and it’s great when that effort is recognised independently.”

The University was selected from hundreds of nominations from the very best institutions, departments and individuals that were submitted across 18 categories covering the full range of university activity. These awards showcase the pioneering spirit, adaptability and sheer quality of the HE sector.

John Gill, THE editor, said: "This celebration marks the tenth anniversary of the Times Higher Education Awards, 10 years in which higher education has undergone huge changes but has always risen to the challenges it has faced. Our universities and colleges are among the nation’s most respected institutions, both at home and internationally, and it’s THE’s great privilege to have played a part in celebrating their achievements over the past decade.”

The full shortlist for all 18 categories is published in today’s issue of Times Higher Education, and is also available on the awards website: www.the-awards.co.uk  

The winners will be announced on Thursday 27 November 2014 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. Once again this promises to be a spectacular event with over 1000 guests expected to attend, including politicians, senior sector figures, and academic and university staff from all corners of the UK. 

Date: 4 September 2014

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