Institute of Marine & Environmental Technology(IMET)

15,050 m2; 42 research labs; 1,858 m2 “wet” facility

• Sustainable aquaculture

• Marine bioenergy

• Biomedicine

• Sensor development

• Environmental remediation

• Developmental biology

• Molecular and cellular systems

• Sustainable aquaculture

• Marine bioenergy

• Biomedicine

• Sensor development

• Environmental remediation

• Developmental biology

• Molecular and cellular systems

IMET is a joint University System of Maryland Research Institute:IMET is a joint University System of Maryland Research Institute:

University of Maryland Baltimore CountyUniversity of Maryland Medical School

IMETIMETIMET

• Protection and restoration of coastal marine systems

• Sustainable use of marine resources

• Improvement of human health

• Protection and restoration of coastal marine systems

• Sustainable use of marine resources

• Improvement of human health

IMET MissionIMET MissionIMET Mission

Studying shellfish and finfish of commercial importance; improvingfisheries, seafood and algal production methodsStudying shellfish and finfish of commercial importance; improvingfisheries, seafood and algal production methods

Basic and applied studies on life cycle and physiology to mass production: from the bench to the industry

Basic and applied studies on life cycle and physiology to mass production: from the bench to the industry

• Recirculating aquaculture systems• Sustainable nutrition• Molecular studies of reproduction/growth • Population genetics of fish• Immunology• Disease control

• Recirculating aquaculture systems• Sustainable nutrition• Molecular studies of reproduction/growth • Population genetics of fish• Immunology• Disease control

Sustainable Aquaculture & FisheriesSustainable Aquaculture & Fisheries

• Bioconversion of fish waste into biogas• In situ microbial bioaugmentation for PCBs in sediments• Symbiosis between microbes & animals• Biofilm formation

• Bioconversion of fish waste into biogas• In situ microbial bioaugmentation for PCBs in sediments• Symbiosis between microbes & animals• Biofilm formation

Developing environmentally sustainable technologies for remediating environmental contaminantsDeveloping environmentally sustainable technologies for remediating environmental contaminants

Environmental Systems BiologyEnvironmental Systems Biology

• Development of sensing and bioremediation technologies to identify/monitor/remediate pollutants, toxins and pathogens.

• Oceans and Human Health – emerging interest

• Development of sensing and bioremediation technologies to identify/monitor/remediate pollutants, toxins and pathogens.

• Oceans and Human Health – emerging interest

Model Systems & Developmental BiologyModel Systems & Developmental Biology

• Host –parasite interactions• Developmental studies in zebrafish• Immunity & cellular recognition in invertabrates & fish• Microbial models for disease processes

• Host –parasite interactions• Developmental studies in zebrafish• Immunity & cellular recognition in invertabrates & fish• Microbial models for disease processes

Studying compounds with pharmaceutical and industrial potential produced by marine organismsStudying compounds with pharmaceutical and industrial potential produced by marine organisms

Marine Natural Products & BiomedicineMarine Natural Products & Biomedicine

• Microbiology-Molecular Biology-”AquaPharming”• Microbiology-Molecular Biology-”AquaPharming”

Marine BioenergyMarine Bioenergy

Algal Biofuels Hyperthermophilic Cellulases

90 C

Oil bodies

Extremophile Biology & BiotechnologyExtremophile Biology & Biotechnology

• thermophiles (to 121oC)• piezophiles (to 800 atm.)• psychrophiles (to -15oC)

• thermophiles (to 121oC)• piezophiles (to 800 atm.)• psychrophiles (to -15oC)

• halophiles (to 5.2M)• acidophiles (to pH=0)

Origin of life, bio-products and processes, astrobiologyOrigin of life, bio-products and processes, astrobiology

• K-12, undergraduate, graduate, professional education andoutreach programs that reflect IMET’s research

• K-12, undergraduate, graduate, professional education andoutreach programs that reflect IMET’s research

SciTEC Program, Towson University

Education and Outreach ProgramsEducation and Outreach Programs