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:

  1. Multi-omics-based bioprospecting to discover new enzymes, gene regulators, and organisms for waste valorization
  2. Predictive computational approaches to enable forward engineering of proteins and strains for biomanufacturing, and
  3. 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.

Publications

Metabolic engineering. 2025-07-11; 92.22-38.

Establishing Vibrio natriegens as a high-performance host for acetate-based poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production

Politan RJ, Della Valle S, Pineda L, Joshi J, Euler C, Flematti G, Fritz G
PMID: 40653003

Nucleic acids research. 2025-07-08; 53.13:

Expanding genetic engineering capabilities in Vibrio natriegens with the Vnat Collection

Faber A, Politan RJ, Stukenberg D, Morris KM, Kim R, Jeon E, Inckemann R, Becker A, Thuronyi B, Fritz G
PMID: 40650977

Nature communications. 2025-01-16; 16.1: 728.

Developing an alternative medium for in-space biomanufacturing

Lee H, Diao J, Tian Y, Guleria R, Lee E, Smith A, Savage M, Yeh D, Roberson L, Blenner M, Tang YJ, Moon TS
PMID: 39819985

Canadian journal of microbiology. 2025-01-01; 71.1-20.

Harnessing synthetic biology to empower a circular plastics economy

Yip A, Weldon M, Dharmasiddhi I, Zubrzycki B, Euler C, Prince E, Liu Y, Ingalls B, Aucoin MG
PMID: 40638940

Microbial cell factories. 2024-12-30; 23.1: 349.

A single-plasmid-based, easily curable CRISPR/Cas9 system for rapid, iterative genome editing in Pseudomonas putida KT2440

Wen Q, Chen J, Li J, Dharmasiddhi IPW, Yang M, Xing J, Liu Y
PMID: 39734219

Trends in biotechnology. 2024-12-04;

Complex waste stream valorization through combined enzymatic hydrolysis and catabolic assimilation by Pseudomonas putida

Chacón M, Alvarez-Gonzalez G, Gosalvitr P, Berepiki A, Fisher K, Cuéllar-Franca R, Dixon N
PMID: 39638703

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England). 2024-12-03; 60.97: 14360-14375.

Sustainable production of aromatic chemicals from lignin using enzymes and engineered microbes

Sodré V, Bugg TDH
PMID: 39569570

Biotechnology advances. 2024-12-01; 77.108462.

The current progress of tandem chemical and biological plastic upcycling

Hu Y, Tian Y, Zou C, Moon TS
PMID: 39395608

Trends in biotechnology. 2024-11-23;

Producing multiple chemicals through biological upcycling of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Diao J, Tian Y, Hu Y, Moon TS
PMID: 39581772

Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC. 2023-05-09; 25.9: 3549-3560.

Application of Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 glycolate oxidase as an efficient accessory enzyme for lignin conversion by bacterial Dyp peroxidase enzymes

Alruwaili A, Rashid GMM, Bugg TDH
PMID: 37179958

Microbial cell factories. 2021-01-19; 20.1: 15.

Metabolic engineering of Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 for production of pyridine-dicarboxylic acids from lignin

Spence EM, Calvo-Bado L, Mines P, Bugg TDH
PMID: 33468127
10-Dec-2025
Press Release

Scientists engineer microbial teams to transform mixed plastics into valuable products

31-Jan-2025
Press Release

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

02-Oct-2024
Press Release

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

Join us at CIRCLE Symposium Manchester — an invitation-only gathering of the consortium to review progress and priorities across the six CIRCLE work packages, strengthen collaboration between the core technologies and waste-theme activities, and agree the scientific, translational and management roadmap for the next project period.

Dates
2–3 November 2026
Venue
Manchester Institute of Biotechnology
University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN

Registration and Abstract Submission for Posters and Talks

Deadline for abstract submission and registration: 2 October 2026

Registration Abstract Submission

Agenda

Note: schedule is tentative and subject to change.

Day 1 — Feedstock-specific processes

Time Session
09:30–10:00Opening Plenary — overview of progress, milestones and roadmap (Neil Dixon, welcome · Tae Seok Moon, update)
10:00–10:30Session 1 — Plastic feedstocks and enabled processes (Chair: Valerie Ward · Bryan or Spence)
10:30–11:00Coffee break
11:00–12:00Session 1B — Plastic feedstocks and enabled processes (Chair: Valerie Ward · Mekonnen, Pinho)
12:00–12:30Flash poster presentations, 5 minutes each
12:30–13:30Lunch and networking
13:30–15:00Session 2 — C1 feedstocks and enabled processes (Chair: Christian Euler · Kim, Weldon)
15:00–15:30Coffee break
15:30–17:00Session 3 — Biogenic feedstocks and enabled processes (Chair: Neil Dixon · Visinoni & Gosalvitr, Bugg, Tramontina)
17:00–17:30Session 4 — Outreach (Chair: Erin Garza)
17:30–18:00Day 1 wrap-up and actions
18:00–19:30Pizza and posters

Day 2 — Enabling technology

Time Session
09:00–10:30Session 5 — Enabling technology (1) (Chair: Alex Darlington · Palladino, Tsakonas, Sandoval, Dadzie)
10:30–11:00Coffee break
11:00–12:30Session 6 — Enabling technology (2) (Chair: Joshua Pulsipher · Benedict, Esen, Blacker)
12:30–13:30Lunch and networking
13:30–14:30Session 7 — Other work package and country updates
14:30–15:00Session 8 — Grant writing workshop: ideation
15:00–15:30Coffee break
15:30–16:30Session 8B — Grant writing workshop
16:30–16:45Session 8C — Grant writing: project pitches
16:45–17:30Day 2 wrap-up, actions and future vision (Tae Seok Moon)
18:00–20:00Evening meal — House of Social (M15 4ND)

Important Information for Attendees

Visa and UK Entry Requirements

  • Check whether a Standard Visitor visa or UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is required: gov.uk/eta/apply
  • Proof of purpose of visit (conference attendance)
  • Evidence of funds and intention to leave the UK
  • Maximum stay typically up to 6 months

Travel Logistics (Manchester Arrival)

  • Primary airport: Manchester Airport (MAN)
  • Many direct international flights to MAN, plus connecting flights to hubs (LHR, CDG, AMS)
  • Train (20–25 min), taxi (20–40 min), and bus/tram options available

Accommodation

  • Maldon Hotel, 60 Charles St, Manchester M1 7DF (mid-range)
  • IBIS Hotel, Charles St / Princess St, Manchester M1 7DG (budget)
  • Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA (upscale)

Weather and Packing (November)

  • Expected temperature ~4°C to 11°C
  • Frequent rainfall
  • Warm layers and waterproof clothing recommended

Financial and Practical Information

  • Currency: British Pound (GBP)
  • Cards / contactless widely accepted
  • Travel insurance strongly recommended

Health and Safety

  • Travel / health insurance advised
  • Emergency numbers: 999 (emergency), 111 (non-emergency)

On-site Logistics

  • Registration location and opening times
  • WiFi access via Eduroam
  • Catering arrangements
  • Accessibility information

Past Events

CIRCLE Symposium La Jolla 2025