Blake Joyce

Graduate Student

bjoyce3@utk.edu

Education:

B.S. Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens 2006
B.S. Biology, The University of Georgia, Athens 2006
M.S. Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 2008

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.