The Institute for Plant–Human Interface (IPHI) is pleased to welcome Dr. Rebecca Sherbo, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University, as a new affiliated member. Dr. Sherbo brings to IPHI an interdisciplinary research program that bridges electrochemistry, synthetic biology, and microbial engineering to develop sustainable solutions for food and energy challenges.
Dr. Sherbo’s scientific pedigree reflects a trajectory of innovation across disciplines. She earned her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Manitoba in 2014 and completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of British Columbia in 2019, where she investigated electrocatalytic hydrogenation reactions in palladium membrane reactors—an approach with implications for greener chemical manufacturing. As a Schmidt Science Fellow and NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University, she trained in the laboratories of Daniel Nocera and Pamela Silver, where she pivoted into synthetic biology and microbial engineering. During this time, she pioneered hybrid bio-inorganic systems that use engineered microbes to convert greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen into food products, fuels, and chemicals. Her achievements have been recognized with major honors, including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface (CASI) and the Schmidt Science Fellowship.
Since joining Northeastern in 2023, Dr. Sherbo has launched a research program focused on engineering soil bacteria to recycle waste gases and nutrients into bioavailable forms, directly enhancing plant growth and agricultural sustainability. This work aligns powerfully with IPHI’s mission to integrate plant biology, human health, and environmental resilience. By developing genetic toolkits for autotrophic bacteria such as Xanthobacter autotrophicus, her lab is laying the foundation for living microbial systems that improve soil fertility and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers.
Dr. Sherbo’s expertise complements the research of other IPHI faculty. Potential collaborations include synergistic projects with Dr. Adam Caparco’s lab on protein engineering and biomaterial delivery systems for agriculture, and with Dr. Jing-Ke Weng’s lab on plant specialized metabolism and plant–microbe interactions. Together, these collaborations promise to create innovative strategies at the intersection of microbial engineering, plant biology, and sustainable agriculture.
With her interdisciplinary vision and track record of research excellence, Dr. Sherbo exemplifies the mission of IPHI to forge new connections between plants, microbes, and people for a healthier and more sustainable future.
News source: IPHI