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Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC)

Visual mockup of EMSL's in-development Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability facility extension, also known as M2PC.
Click image for higher-resolution view.
Visual mockup of EMSL's in-development Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability facility extension, also known as M2PC.
Click image for higher-resolution view.
Exterior mockup of EMSL's Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability M2PC facility.
Click image for higher-resolution version.

Located at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), the forthcoming Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC) will offer an integrated suite of automated phenotyping instrumentation and analytical tools that advance basic science by unlocking functional knowledge about microbial and microbiome communities of critical importance to the Department of Energy Office of Science's Biological and Environmental Research program. 

Researchers will be able to discover and assign new microbial functions at a scale and pace matching that of next-generation gene sequencing technologies. M2PC will:

  • improve understanding about microbial sciences 
  • impact the production of biofuels and bioproducts to bolster American manufacturing competitiveness 
  • generate insights into how microbes respond to changes in the environment

EMSL will provide a range of 24,500–50,000 gross square feet of instrumentation and support spaces for M2PC's highly autonomous operations. The facility will include analytical instrumentation, microbial culturing, and characterization resources operating in an automated pod.

 

Interior illustration of the Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC). Six rows display categories of processing and analysis, of which includes phenotyping analysis, strain engineering, media prep, sample prep, functional testing, and cell culturing.
M2PC will provide an integrated suite of automated phenotyping instrumentation and analytical tools needed by the scientific community to close knowledge gaps and open endless opportunity for emergent science to accelerate discovery. (Illustration courtesy of Ginkgo and EMSL)

M2PC Timeline 

  • Office of Science approves M2PC: FY 2024 
  • Contracts awarded: November 2025
  • Groundbreaking: October 2026 
  • Open to EMSL users: FY 2029 

Contact

Scott Baker, Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Leader