ThermoK: Thermophilic break-down of keratin-laden biomass waste
Focus on feather degradation
The ThermoK project addresses the use of thermophilic anaerobic bacteria and their heat-adapted enzymes to degrade keratin-laden waste material. We focus on chichen feathers, an enormous rest resource from the poultry industry. Microbial decomposition using selected thermophiles results in products with potential use as feed components or fertilizers (partially hydrolysed keratin) and higher-value products e.g. peptides and amino acids.
Funded by the ERA-Net Cofund program on Food Systems and Climate
Partners:
- University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway - Nils-Kåre Birkeland
- University of Exeter, Exeter, UK - Jennifer Littlechild
- CEA, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France - Jean Armengaud
- University of the Free State, Bloemfountain, South Africa - Dirk Opperman
- University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya - Francis Mulaa
- Norwegian Research Center, Stavanger, Norway - Catherine Boccadoro
Open Positions ThermoK
- Research Fellow in Artistic Research at the Department of Design
- Research Fellow in Artistic Research at the Grieg Academy – Department of Music
- PhD Research Fellow in Artistic Research – AI in Artistic Processes
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Artistic Research - AI in Artistic Processes
- Researcher in genome engineering and germline vs cardiac fate choices in the tunicate Ciona