Bioprose Blog: On July 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office will host its annual conference—Bioeconomy 2020.
June 30, 2020
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Dr. Mark A. Shmorhun
Dr. Mark A. Shmorhun is a Technology Manager with the Bioenergy Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Mark collaborates with biotechnology companies and national laboratories to develop and mature mid-stage biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower research and development (R&D) with an emphasis on chemical process development and plant engineering and design. He has several lower technology readiness level projects and a variety of scale-up, pilot-scale, and demonstration-scale projects with a goal to produce sustainable aviation fuel.
Mark has more than 20 years’ experience in the specialty chemicals and biochemical industries in R&D, engineering, and business development roles. He started his career at Goodrich in the 1980s commercializing new polymers. He then worked for WR Grace, an internet start-up company, which was a chemical and construction materials enterprise where he led an R&D group in new materials and product development. In 2005, Dr. Shmorhun started work for Delta T, a company that was building first generation ethanol plants around the world and eventually became Vice President of Business Development.
Prior to joining DOE, Dr. Shmorhun was the Vice President of Engineering and General Manager for the Myriant Corporation where he oversaw the daily operation of a succinic acid biorefinery located in Lake Providence, Louisiana. “It was a disadvantaged community, and the facility was hugely impactful. The influx of construction jobs, about 70 full time employees at that facility, was important to that community. It was a real privilege to be there,” said Dr. Shmorhun.
Mark received his B.S. in chemical engineering and M.S. in materials engineering from Drexel University. Mark earned his Ph.D. in macromolecular science and engineering from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary.
Bioprose Blog
On July 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) will host its annual conference—Bioeconomy 2020. Partnering with the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC 2020), this year's conference focuses on opportunities to eliminate barriers and advance break-through technologies to achieve a stronger bioeconomy.
The original in-person event was scheduled for March 2020 in Washington DC. The unfortunate coronavirus outbreak interrupted those plans, but our important event has been adapted. Featured speakers have pre-recorded their presentations and the event will go fully virtual on July 10, 2020. As in previous years, we have again partnered with ABLC 2020 and Biofuels Digest to ensure we reach the broadest possible audience in the global bioeconomy. ABLC 2020 is diligently working to ensure the event is digital-ready in light of travel restrictions and local regulations. This is a first-of-its-kind event for both entities as we create a new digital experience for our stakeholders.
As BETO’s flagship stakeholder event, the conference enables the Office to communicate its accomplishments, exchange insights, and share strategic goals for the upcoming year. This year’s conference will bring together experts from industry, academia, and government representing the entire bioenergy supply chain.
Bioeconomy 2020 is a forum for stakeholders to share perspectives on technical and market issues, which help advance the commercialization of an advanced biofuels and bioproducts industry. The event also educates the banking and investment community and helps facilitate the alignment of investors with technology providers. Finally, BETO conferences provide the opportunity for government officials to confirm high-level, interagency support of national goals for an industry that is on the verge of technological breakthroughs and the commercial-scale production of secure, renewable, and sustainable energy for America.
BETO has invited speakers from academia, industry, and National Laboratories to share insights on innovations resulting from R&D investments in biotechnologies.
Sessions include:
- Algae Products: Making Green by Going Green, in which speakers will present on the diverse products from the global algae industry and how research and development supports the innovators in this market.
- Innovative Sensing Technologies for Biomass and Feedstock Production and Logistics, in which presenters will focus on new advancements in sensor technologies to evaluate the quality of biomass and feedstocks as well as sensors in farming applications.
- Marine and Heavy Duty Biofuel Opportunities, which will focus on bio-based alternatives for marine and heavy-duty fuel applications.
- Bio-Optimized Technologies for Plastics Recycling, which will highlight selective, scalable technologies for plastics deconstruction and upcycling, and recyclable-by-design plastics.
- System Integration and Advancements, in which presenters will cover biorefinery operations with a focus on robustness and feedstock handling, process and systems integration, and lessons learned and successes.
- AI/Machine Learning in Bioenergy, which will review how AI/machine learning innovations accelerate the pace of bioenergy research and development.
- Innovations in Biomass Pretreatment, in which presenters will discuss the technical and economic advantages of new pretreatment strategies such as reductive catalytic fractionation, disc refining, and other mechanical means of preprocessing biomass.
- Performance Advantaged Biofuels and Bioproducts, in which presenters will focus on how biofuel blendstocks can provide fuel properties that improve performance and reduce emissions.
- Lower Carbon Intensity Fuels, which will discuss how transportation sector fuels developed from CO2 and other sources of waste carbon can lower life-cycle carbon intensity.
For a full schedule and information on speakers, visit the conference agenda and the speaker bios.
Register here to join us on July 10 for this “can’t miss” event for BETO and our stakeholders!
Dr. Mark A. Shmorhun is a Technology Manager with the Bioenergy Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).