Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Yang Hai University of California, Santa Barbara Omics-based study of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in extremophilic and extremotolerant fungi.

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Yang Hai aims to uncover how extremophilic fungi produce stress-response compounds, informing the development of robust biomanufacturing systems. @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

In FY25, the JGI generated 1.1Pb of sequence, synthesized 8.5 Mb of DNA, and conducted 17K+ metabolomics analyses.

Learn more in our latest Progress Report: jointgeno.me/ProgressReport_FY25

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Sarah Gonzalez Henao Michigan State University Holistic characterization of microbial biofilms in a hyperalkaline serpentinizing ecosystem

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Microbial biofilms in Costa Rica's hyperalkaline springs produce metal-capturing molecules. Sarah Gonzalez Henao will characterize EPS compounds for critical mineral recovery.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

The @jgi.doe.gov is an amazing partner! I am grateful they have accepted some of our proposals as it has helped us immensely.

pictured is a multi-colored paper helix

We provide genomic capabilities, large-scale data & professional expertise to researchers advancing energy & infrastructure security.

🧬Opportunities: https://jgi.doe.gov/work-with-us/proposals
🧬Resources: https://jgi.doe.gov/work-with-us/offerings-capabilities
🧬Mission: https://jgi.doe.gov/mission

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Jennifer Goff SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Trailblazers of PyOM Breakdown: Are actinomycetes taking the lead?

From our FY26 New Investigator call: @jlgoff.bsky.social will use multi-omics to identify which soil microbes degrade PyOM from prescribed burns, providing insights for biochar use in bioenergy systems.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Audrey Goeckner University of Florida Microbial drivers of carbon cycling across the terrestrial-aquatic interface of wetlands

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Examining microbial drivers of biogeochemical cycling across Florida wetlands, @pondgator.bsky.social will use multi-omics to link water level variability to carbon flux.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

A Sorghum Pangenome Opens More Doors to Discovery | Joint Genome Institute Leveraging decades of technological development, dozens of reference genomes and thousands of resequenced sorghum varieties, a resource for breeders and researchers to harness the traits that let this...

"We wanted to build a resource that demonstrates DNA sequence diversity, gene repertoire, and the phenotypic diversity across this plant in one accessible resource." — John Lovell, JGI Plant Program

More: jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-sto...

The deadline for letters of intent is TODAY. We’re looking for genomic projects that address biological functions for biomanufacturing, critical minerals and materials, inter-organismal interactions, and predictive biology, modeling and biodesign.

MORE: jointgeno.me/LargeScaleCSP

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Gareth Gillard Norwegian University of Life Sciences Genome annotation and expression atlas of the lipid-producing dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Gareth Gillard will sequence C. cohnii RNA under varied conditions to build the first expression atlas for this oil-producing dinoflagellate, advancing bioproduct development.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

Hear from Mikayla Borton of Colorado State University on how our Large Scale call, through our Community Science Program, helped further her research and career. Submit an LOI by April 9 for our FY27 call!

Details: jointgeno.me/LargeScaleCSP

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Chandan Kumar Gautam North Dakota State University Multi-omics insights into plant microbe partnerships for sustainable control of iron deficiency chlorosis.

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Iron deficiency chlorosis limits soybean yields. Chandan Gautam will use multi-omics to identify soil microbes that enhance iron uptake, advancing resilient bioenergy crops.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Zachary Garvin Georgetown University Linking microbes to mineralogy across spatial and temporal gradients in Icelandic hydrothermal systems.

From our FY26 New Investigator call: In search of novel extremophile pathways for biotechnology, Zachary Garvin will compare Icelandic microbial communities and mineralogy across hydrothermal gradients.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

Our vision is to lead AI-driven genomic innovation to advance biotechnology. We provide advanced genomic capabilities, large-scale AI-ready data & professional expertise to support the global research community.

More at jgi.doe.gov/mission

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Nicole M. Fernandez ETH Zürich Elucidating microbial host-virus dynamics and metabolic plasticity underlying biogeochemical cycling in subsurface groundwater ecosystems.

From our FY26 New Investigator call: @nicolefernandez.bsky.social will use metagenomics & geochemistry to probe how viral-host dynamics drive biogeochemical cycling in Sierra Nevada aquifers @eth-eaps.bsky.social

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

CSP Large Scale Call | Joint Genome Institute The Community Science Program Large Scale Call is focused on genomic science projects that address sustainable biofuel and bioproducts production.

📢 Letters of Intent for our Large Scale call, part of our Community Science Program, are due April 9. Projects should leverage systems-based approaches to address biofuel and bioproducts production.
🖥️ 🧬

More info: jgi.doe.gov/work-with-us/proposals/c...

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Adrian A. Estrada-Graf Duke University Mechanistic insights of microbiome acclimation to changing environments towards improving the biomass production of Nannochloropsis oceanica CO18

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Algal microbiomes shape biomass productivity. Adrian A. Estrada-Graf will examine Nannochloropsis microbial communities to improve algal cultivation for bioproducts.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

Deadline is TOMORROW for our joint Critical Minerals & Materials call with @molecularfoundry.lbl.gov! 🖥️🧬
Details ⬇️

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Colleen J. Doherty North Carolina State University Developing genomic resources for Phytolacca to advance plant-based approaches as a supporting pathway for domestic rare earth element recovery.

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Pokeweed naturally accumulates rare earth elements from soil. Colleen J. Doherty will sequence its genome to uncover biological pathways for plant-based domestic REE recovery.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

Four Researchers Join JGI User Executive Committee | Joint Genome Institute Four researchers were elected to the JGI User Executive Committee in 2026.

Welcome four new members to our User Exec. Committee—they will provide input on how to best support our user community.
@hollybik.bsky.social @phylogenomics.bsky.social @lanzatech.bsky.social

More: jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-sto...

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! JGI Lital Davidi Northeastern University Towards genomic insights into stress adaptation in extremophilic algae

From our FY26 New Investigator call: By generating genomic and metabolic profiles of Dunaliella, Lital Davidi will identify how these stress-tolerant algae produce oils and pigments to advance bioenergy research.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

🚨DEADLINE 3/31🚨 We're looking for projects that drive development of bio-based technologies to address challenges in the sourcing, recovery & utilization of critical minerals and materials 🖥️🧬 @molecularfoundry.lbl.gov

Details: jointgeno.me/TMF-CMMcall
Webinar recap: jointgeno.me/MiningNewFrontiers

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Nicholas Darci-Maher University of California, Berkeley Exploring the evolutionary maintenance of symbiosis through comparative metatranscriptomics of carbon exchange systems in wild lichens.

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Comparing nutrient-exchange across lichen species, Nicholas Darci-Maher will reveal principles of microbial symbiosis to advance biotechnology. @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Rory Craig University of Melbourne Genomic adaptations of the green alga Chlamydomonas acidophila to extreme heavy metal concentrations in acid mine drainage

From our FY26 New Investigator call: By sequencing alga thriving in metal-rich mine drainage, @rorycraig.bsky.social will ID genetic adaptations to inform critical mineral recovery from contaminated environments.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

I'm very happy to have been selected as a JGI New Investigator! It's exciting to know we will work closely with their fantastic team and help generate new genomic data for the wider community 🪸

Complete Genome of Oil-Rich Alga Reveals Ideal Platform for Bioengineering | Joint Genome Institute Streamlined genome with precise gene targeting transforms oil-producing alga into a powerful platform for developing ​​bio-based industrial products.

New research points to the oil-producing alga Auxenochlorella as a powerful platform for producing specialty oils, chemical feedstocks and industrial precursors—as well as to better enable the mining of critical minerals and materials.
🖥️🧬

@berkeleylab.lbl.gov @axelvisel.bsky.social @biosci.lbl.gov

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! JGI Michael Borg Max Planck Institute for Biology Genomic insights into osmotic adaptation of mangrove red macroalgae

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Decoding genomes of salt-tolerant mangrove macroalgae, @borglab.bsky.social will ID stress-adaptation genes to improve bioenergy crop development. @maxplanckcampus.bsky.social

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

The image shows a collage of six photos featuring gloved hands handling scientific devices and equipment, with the words "SIGN UP with the JGI" in bold letters. The JGI logo, incorporating a double helix design, is visible.

Stay in touch! The JGI Primer is our bimonthly newsletter featuring updates on everything from new users, tools and capabilities to upcoming deadlines and noteworthy research.

Sign up: jointgeno.me/newsletter

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Laura Bogar University of California, Davis Metatranscriptomes and MAGs to reveal function and biogeochemistry in Douglas-fir forests

From our FY26 New Investigator call: @laurabogar.bsky.social will examine how Douglas-fir soil microbes respond to drought & seasonality via metatranscriptomics, providing data to improve biogeochemical models.

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Shauna M. Bennett Georgetown University Viral-host dynamics and biogeography in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valley soils

From our FY26 New Investigator call: Using metatranscriptomics, Shauna Bennett will ID viruses infecting microbes in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys to see how viral-host dynamics drive biogeochemical processes

jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio