** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE MAJORITY OF PLASTICS ARE CURRENTLY DERIVED FROM PETROCHEMICALS. THEIR INERTNESS BRINGS GROWING ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH CONCERNS WHEN DISPOSED OF DUE TO THEIR LOW DEGRADATION RATES IN THE ENVIRONMENT. LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS IS A PROMISING ALTERNATIVE TO PETROCHEMICALS FOR PRODUCING BIOPLASTICS, THUS ACHIEVING A SUSTAINABLE BIOECONOMY. THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO: (1) DEVELOP COST-EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PATHWAYS TO UPGRADE ALL COMPONENTS OF BIOMASS INTO A BIOPLASTIC PRECURSOR (3-HYDROXYPROPIONIC ACID) AND BIOPOLYMERS, AND (2) FOSTER A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND ENGAGED WORKFORCE. TO ACHIEVE THE RESEARCH GOAL, WE ENCOMPASS MULTIPLE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: (1) IDENTIFYING INTEGRATED BIOMASS PRETREATMENT METHODS TO REDUCE WATER AND CHEMICAL CONSUMPTION AND RENDER THE PRETREATED SLURRY AND RESIDUES AMENABLE TO ENZYMES AND MICROORGANISMS; (2) ENGINEERING BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THAT EFFICIENTLY CONVERT C6 AND C5 SUGARS INTO 3-HYDROXYPROPIONIC ACID; (3) UPGRADING THE FERMENTATION RESIDUES TO A RANGE OF BIOPOLYMER MATERIALS AND EXPLORING THEIR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS; AND (4) CONDUCTING TECHNOECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT TO REVEAL THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. BY INTEGRATING EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, WE AIM TO ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING OF BIOMASS VALORIZATION, INCREASE REVENUES, EMPOWER STUDENTS, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE BIOECONOMY.