Blake Joyce

Graduate Student

bjoyce3@utk.edu

Currently pursuing a PhD in the Department of Plant Science:
            My dissertation research primarily involves characterizing the terpene biosynthesis pathway of Copaifera officinalis. Trees in the genus Copaifera produce an oleoresin rich in terpenoids that are used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other industries; most notably, these oleoresins can be used as diesel fuel in engines directly after being tapped from the tree.  Because of this amazing ability the trees are commonly referred to as “diesel trees.”  I have recently received a W.K. McClure Scholarship to travel to Brazil and collect oleoresin to run further tests on these oleoresin’s properties as biodiesel.  This work is an ongoing collaboration with Dr. Feng Chen in the Plant Sciences Department at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Dr. Hani Al-Ahmad in the Department of Biology & Biotechnology at An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine; and Dr. Joshua Yuan in the Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.  We have also begun collaborative efforts with Dr. Valdir Veiga Jr. and Dr. Spartaco Astolfi-Filho at the Universidade Federal do Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil.  In addition, we are partnering with Dr. Bruce Bunting, Dr. Sam Lewis, and Dr. John Storey at the Fuels, Engines, and Emissions Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for engineering testing of several new biodiesel chemistries.
            I’m originally from Marietta, Georgia.  I’m an avid traveler; when I’m not doing that I’m into homebrewing, cooking, SCUBA diving, gardening, and archery.

Articles

Chen, F., H. Al-Ahmad, B. Joyce, N. Zhao, T. G. Köllner,  J. Degenhardt, C. N. Stewart, Jr. SubmittedWithin-plant distribution, developmental changes in accumulation and emission of sesquiterpenes from Copaifera officinalis. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Burris, J.N., D.J.G. Mann, B.L. Joyce, C.N. Stewart, Jr. 2009. An improved tissue culture system for embyrogenic callus production and plant regeneration in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). BioEnergy Research 2: 267-274

Book Chapter
Joyce, B.L., H. Al-Ahmad, F. Chen., C. Basu., and C. N. Stewart, Jr. to be submitted Jan 2009.
Diesel tree: Copafeira. In: Chittaranjan Kole, Chandrasekhar P. Joshi and David R. Shonnard (Eds).  Bioenergy Crops: Volume 3, Emerging Bioenergy Crops. Springer Verlag, Heidelberg.

Awards and Scholarships
W.K. McClure Fund for the Study of World Affairs. May 2009.
ESPN/UT Athletic Department Graduate Student Award. July 2009.