(DRI) determining energetics, thermodynamics, and BIO-agile metabolic strategies in extremophiles of earth's harshest ecosystems

The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded the University of North Texas a Project Grant valued at $484,367 under the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program (CFDA 12.800) for the period September 15, 2025, through September 14, 2028. This award supports a multidisciplinary research initiative titled "Determining Energetics, Thermodynamics, and Bio-Agile Metabolic Strategies in Extremophiles of Earth's Harshest Ecosystems" (DRI). The research project investigates the metabolic strategies and energy management mechanisms of microbial extremophiles in extreme environments, including the Atacama Desert in Chile and hypersaline lakes in Brazil, with the objective of developing predictive models of microbial survival and adaptation. Research findings are intended to inform understanding of potential microbial life on other planetary bodies, biogeochemical cycling processes, and biotechnological applications in self-powered devices and resource optimization.

The research is conducted through an interdisciplinary consortium coordinated by the University of North Texas and includes sub-awards to four research institutions: The Ohio State University, Michigan Technological University, Universidade De São Paulo (Brazil), and the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium (Dauphin Island Sea Lab). Sub-awardees contribute specialized expertise in microbiological analysis, geochemical characterization, field sample collection and laboratory incubations, and data management across multiple research sites. The project deliverables include field and laboratory data, microbial metabolic models, peer-reviewed publications, annual progress reports, and presentations that collectively advance understanding of microbial resilience and adaptation mechanisms in extreme terrestrial environments.