Vikram Mubayi

Vikram M studies anaerobic bacterial communities for their ability to convert plant biomass (lignocellulose) into valuable chemicals and materials. Although lignocellulose offers great promise as a renewable alternative to petroleum, its lignin component is notoriously resistant to anaerobic biodegradation, posing a major barrier to its utilization. Remarkably, Vikram’s microbial communities have demonstrated the ability to break down unpretreated lignin, though the underlying metabolic mechanisms remain unclear. His work focuses on identifying the microbial species, genes, and biochemical pathways responsible for this process. Gaining these insights will enable targeted microbial engineering and accelerate progress toward sustainable lignocellulose bioprocessing.

Outside the lab:
When not in the lab, Vikram enjoys biking around Santa Barbara and hiking in California’s Sierra Nevada.