Engineered microbial extraction and separation of rare earth elements
A U.S. Department of Energy-supported research program used genomics, high-throughput screening, synthetic REE minerals, and synthetic biology to engineer microbes that extract rare earth elements from ores, spent catalysts, coal ash, and electronic waste, then separate them into single-element batches under comparatively benign conditions. The project has already spawned REEgen, indicating a technology-transfer path.
About Cornell University
Cornell University is a comprehensive private, land-grant research university with campuses in Ithaca and New York City, combining significant scale with cross-disciplinary breadth. Industry connects through open-access user facilities and prototyping labs, pilot-scale testbeds, and a research and technology park that provide pathways from discovery to demonstration. A statewide extension network and integration with a major hospital system enable real-world deployment, while a graduate campus embedded in New York City’s tech corridor provides direct access to startups, venture investors, and corporate R&D teams. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP management, licensing, startup formation, and corporate partnerships across campuses.
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