Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2011 Model-Guided Systems Metabolic Engineering of Clostridium thermocellum Christopher Gowen Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Engineering Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/2529 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. ©Christopher M Gowen 2011 All rights reserved. MODEL-GUIDED SYSTEMS METABOLIC ENGINEERING OF CLOSTRIDIUM THERMOCELLUM A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY. BY CHRISTOPHER MARK GOWEN M.S. ENGINEERING, VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY, 2008 B.S. BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, 2006 DIRECTOR: STEPHEN S. FONG, PH.D. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, CHEMICAL & LIFE SCIENCE ENGINEERING VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY RICHMOND, VIRGINIA MAY, 2011 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT For Grandy. "Can't never did do nothin'" I have many people to whom I am indebted for incredible love, support, and guidance. To begin, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Fong, for his guidance, instruction, and flexibility. Few educators can balance so well the sometimes competing drives for impactful research and scientific education, and I am grateful for the patience and flexibility he shows in letting his graduate students find their own independence. I would also like to thank Dr. Sherry Baldwin, Dr. Paul Brooks, Dr. Mark McHugh, Dr.