CBiRC began operation on September 1, 2008, so this first report represents the initial six months of center operation. The center infrastructure has been established and all key administrative and administrative support positions have been filled. The research projects have been initiated and primarily staffed, although some additional graduate students will begin in the Fall. Our education programs will commence during the Summer, 2009. We have initiated a number of exciting projects in the Learning, Discovery, and Research Infrastructure areas, as summarized below.

• Learning: Initiated RET and REU programs, which include unique interactions with Minority-Serving Institutions and collaborative efforts with the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future.
• Discovery: Novel methylketone synthase elucidation; cloned methylketone synthase gene into higher copy number E. coli plasmid; enhanced niobia hydrothermal stability through silica incorporation.
• Research Infrastructure: Construction of the Biorenewables Research Laboratory (BRL) at Iowa State University, which will be the administrative home and research focal point for CBiRC, has commenced.

These projects are expected to yield deliverables in the upcoming year that will provide specific highlights in the next annual report.