Watch Thomas Willis give a two-minute pitch for the 12th Annual 2026 PPG Millennium Café Pitch Competition titled, "Rosetta Stones for Bioprocessing: Decrypting Microbe Metabolism Using Genome-Scale Models for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production." This pitch proposes using genome-scale models to optimize bacteria that convert plants into sustainable aviation fuel. These models could make production more efficient and affordable, reducing oil dependence and transportation emissions.
Congratulations to Thomas and all the winners!
Each year, the Penn State Materials Research Institute (MRI) hosts the Millennium Café PPG Elevator Pitch Competition. Graduate students attend two workshops and learn how to pitch their research ideas in two minutes or less. Then, the graduate students pitch their research and compete for prizes. Sponsored by PPG.
To learn more about this event, visit the events page here.
Materials Research Institute (MRI)
https://www.mri.psu.edu/