Walker, Larry P

Professor
A native of Detroit, Michigan, and a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.S. in physics, Larry’s interest in renewable resources and environmental research led him to complete M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at Michigan State University in agricultural engineering. During his 25 years at Cornell he has been involved in a number of biomass to energy and chemical projects including an assessment of New York State biomass resources available for ethanol production, farm-scale methane production and co-generation, the application of nanotechnology to characterizing and studying important biocatalysts for industrial biotechnology, and optimization of solid-state fermentation for the production of biocontrol products. He is the Director of the Northeast Sun Grant Institute of Excellence, he is a member of the National Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC) Executive committee that oversees the research activities of the Center, and the coordinator of a Cornell faculty cluster that is interested in the development of sustainable bio-based industries. He is a member of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), Higher Education Committee (HEC) Steering Committee, and the Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science (KIC). Some of Dr. Walker’s extramural activities include current Co-Editor in Chief for the journal Industrial Biotechnology, and former membership on the National Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. In addition, Larry is a recent recipient of a NYSTAR Faculty Development Program award for Industrial Biotechnology research.

research

research and scholarship focus

Dr. Larry P. Walker is a national leader in industrial biotechnology: the application of biotechnology to industrial production. The type of research projects that intrigue him are found at the interface between engineering and the life sciences. He is also excited by the challenges and opportunities of integrating industrial biotechnology activities into the cause of global sustainable economic development. His nanotechnology research is focused on using single molecule detection methods to study cellulase adsorption and hydrolysis mechanisms and the application of these methods for molecular ecology study of important microbial communities. His current research activities are very much in keeping with the national goal of using plant-based resources to meet future energy and industrial chemical needs. His research will help contribute new technologies for biotechnology and bioenergy corporations through both prospecting and engineering of useful industrial enzymes from microbes and plants.

research areas

domestic geographic focus

submitted impact statement

affiliations

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faculty appointment in

administrative appointment

member of graduate field

other Cornell affiliations

member of advisory group

service

outreach focus

Dr. Walker is very active in farm and rural communities and with the Leadership in Albany for advancing the biofuels and bioproducts agenda in New York State.

background

educational background

  • B.S. Physics, 1974
  • M.S. Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, 1975
  • Ph.D Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, 1978

awards and distinctions

  • 2006 Alice H. Cook and Constance E. Cook Award for support of women at Cornell
  • 2006 New York Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) Faculty Development Award
  • 2005 Recognized for Outstanding Contributions as a member of the Biomass Research and Development Committee, the National Biomass Initiative, U.S. Dept. of Energy and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
  • 1997 Stephen '57 & and Marilyn Miles College of Engineering Teaching Award
  • 1996 The Howard University Outstanding Achievement Award
  • 1994 Member, Gamma Sigma Delta - The Honor Society of Agriculture
  • 1990 Faculty Advisor Award from the National Society of Black Engineers Cornell University
  • 1985 Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship for Minorities.
  • 1975 Member, Alpha Epsilon - Agricultural Engineering Honor Society
Keywords: aerobic degradation processes, agricultural and environmental bioprocessing engineering, agricultural biotechnology, biocontrol, biofuels, bioprocessing, bioproducts, cellulases, environmental biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, industrial ecology, molecular ecology, nanotachnology