Vayu Hill-Maini
Appointment
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2025-2027
Fungal Kingdom: Threats & Opportunities
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About
Despite their often negative associations, molds and mushrooms are critical for addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time. In addition to helping plants grow and playing critical roles in global climate resilience, fungi are capable of breaking down pollutants and can be used to produce a range of sustainable products, including materials for textiles and construction and nutritious protein sources. Our lab studies the biology of fungi to uncover useful properties and to engineer these organisms to address sustainability challenges. We work closely with stakeholders, such as food producers, to translate our findings into real-world impact.
Awards
- Miller Fellowship, UC Berkeley, 2020
- International Birnstiel Award for Doctoral Studies in Molecular Life Sciences, Birnstiel Foundation, 2020
- Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2017
- Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation, 2015
- Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, Goldwater Foundation, 2014
Relevant Publications
- Maini Rekdal, V., Villalobos-Escobedo, J.M., Rodriguez-Valeron, N. et al. Neurospora intermedia from a traditional fermented food enables waste-to-food conversion. Nat Microbiol 9, 2666–2683 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01799-3
- Maini Rekdal V, Rodriguez-Valeron N, Olaizola Garcia M, Prado Vásquez D, Sörensen P, Munk R, Keasling J. From lab to table: Expanding gastronomic possibilities with fermentation using the edible fungus Neurospora intermedia. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science. 2023 December; 34:100826-. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgfs.2023.100826.
- Maini Rekdal V, van der Luijt CRB, Chen Y, Kakumanu R, Baidoo EEK, Petzold CJ, Cruz-Morales P, Keasling JD. Edible mycelium bioengineered for enhanced nutritional value and sensory appeal using a modular synthetic biology toolkit. Nat Commun. 2024 Mar 14; 15(1):2099. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46314-8.