Center for Innovative Recycling and Circular Economy
The Center for Innovative Recycling and Circular Economy (CIRCLE) is one of six National Science Foundation (NSF) Global Centers. CIRCLE international partnerships include funding agencies in Canada, Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, jointly supporting use-inspired research addressing global challenges through the bioeconomy.
CIRCLE will focus on addressing the pressing issues of air pollution reduction, agricultural and food waste treatment, and plastic waste disposal through disruptive solutions—challenges that transcend national borders and require a multidisciplinary approach. By addressing these global challenges through international collaboration and innovative research, CIRCLE aims to make a significant impact on human health and the environment.
The team will focus on scalable solutions for “waste-stream valorization”—the process of taking waste products and giving them renewed economic value through recycling or upcycling. Another aim is to provide sustainable solutions for the commercially viable production of energy, chemicals, and materials.
The scientific aims will focus on developing three core technologies:
- Multi-omics-based bioprospecting to discover new enzymes, gene regulators, and organisms for waste valorization
- Predictive computational approaches to enable forward engineering of proteins and strains for biomanufacturing, and
- Techno-economic analysis (TEA), life cycle analysis (LCA), and risk assessment to develop commercially viable bioprocesses for waste valorization.
These core technologies will be validated for generalizability, scalability, and sustainable bioproduction through three waste streams: mixed plastics, C1 gases (e.g., carbon monoxide and dioxide), and biogenic wastes (e.g., food, agricultural, and paper/cardboard waste).
In addition to scientific output, CIRCLE is committed to training the next generation of scientists and engineers. The Center will offer unique interdisciplinary training opportunities in synthetic biology, systems biology, multi-omics, bioinformatics, computational biology, chemistry, systems engineering, risk assessment, TEA/LCA, and chemical engineering. CIRCLE will also engage the global community through multiple outreach activities, providing free education to ensure the sustainability and broad impact of its innovative approaches.
Funding
This Center is jointly supported by NSF, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the National Research Foundation of Korea, and UK Research and Innovation through NSF award #2435184.
Principal Investigator
Key Staff
- Anna Capria, MS
- Christopher Dupont, PhD
- Lucy Stewart, MBA
Collaborators
Jikai Zhao, PhD
Kansas State University
Reza Zadegan, PhD
North Carolina A&T State University
Sunkyu Park, PhD
NC State University
Kai Lan, PhD
NC State University
Saurav Datta, PhD
Keck Graduate Institute
Gargi Ghosh, PhD
Keck Graduate Institute
Anum Glasgow, PhD
Columbia University
Related
Related Research
Publications
Nature communications. 2025-01-16; 16.1: 728.
Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturing
Trends in biotechnology. 2024-12-04;
Complex waste stream valorization through combined enzymatic hydrolysis and catabolic assimilation by Pseudomonas putida
Biotechnology advances. 2024-12-01; 77.108462.
The current progress of tandem chemical and biological plastic upcycling
Trends in biotechnology. 2024-11-23;
Producing multiple chemicals through biological upcycling of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate)
Revolutionizing plastic waste management through biological upcycling
Innovative research transforms plastic waste into valuable chemicals, paving the way for a circular economy and sustainable space travel
J. Craig Venter Institute awarded 5-year, $5M grant to lead Center for Innovative Recycling and Circular Economy (CIRCLE)
CIRCLE is one of the six new NSF Global Centers focused on advancing bioeconomy research to solve global challenges
Registration and abstract submission deadline is April 14.
Join us at JCVI for this invitation-only event, bringing together our global team to advance waste valorization and circular economy innovations. This team symposium will feature discussions on core research progress, collaborative strategies, and key technology developments, kicking off project collaboration. With a strong emphasis on sharing scientific knowledge and building collaboration within the consortium team members, the symposium will showcase cutting-edge research, data-driven insights, and innovative approaches shaping the future of sustainable biomanufacturing.
Agenda
Day 1: Check in from 8:15am-8:45, sessions from 8:45am-7pm
Foundational Core Updates
- Session 1: Discovery/Bioprospecting
- Session 2: Computation
- Session 3: Systems Engineering
- Discussion Session Day 1
Day 2: 9am-7pm
Highlights from Overarching Themes
- Session 4: Plastic Upcycling
- Session 5: C1 Waste Conversion
- Session 6: Biogenic Waste Valorization
- Discussion Session Day 2
Day 3: 9am-12:30pm
Broader Impacts and Global Insights
- Session 7: Education, Outreach, Innovation, and Policy
- Session 8: Each Nation Update
Event Information
May 13-15. May 15 is a half day.
Lunch will be provided Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hotel information
We have reserved a block of rooms at Hotel La Jolla. If you use this link you will be able to obtain a special rate for the symposium, from May 11 to May 15. The hotel is about 2 miles from JCVI.
Note: if the reduced rate is not showing available at Hotel La Jolla, contact Anna Capria (acapria@jcvi.org) for assistance. The hotel is only releasing rooms at this rate in small blocks.
For information on things to do and explore in San Diego, check out the San Diego Visitor Guide. Welcome to San Diego! We hope you enjoy your visit to JCVI and the beautiful La Jolla area.
Location
J. Craig Venter Institute
4120 Capricorn Lane
La Jolla, CA 92037
There is limited garage and street parking available.
JCVI La Jolla is located approximately 15 miles north of San Diego International Airport (SAN). There are several convenient transportation options available:
Ride-Sharing & Taxis
Uber and Lyft operate throughout San Diego and provide a direct ride to JCVI La Jolla. Rides can be requested via their respective apps, and pick-up zones are designated at the airport.
Rental Cars
A variety of rental car companies are available at the San Diego International Airport Rental Car Center. Free shuttle service runs between the airport terminals and the rental facility. From Alamo to ZipCar one of the 12 rental car servicers at SAN should meet your needs. there is likely a Here are some of the available rental agencies: For more information, visit the San Diego Airport Rental Car Center.
Public Transit
Public transportation is available but may require multiple transfers. The MTS Route 992 bus connects the airport to downtown San Diego, where travelers can access additional transit options via trolley or bus. Visit San Diego MTS for schedules and route details.