2025 Seed Grant Recipients
Substratum selection to reduce competitive species and improve material performance of structural mycelium-based composites
Investigators: Britta Bielak, NCIDQ (College of Architecture and Environmental Design), Dr. Sarah Eichler (Department of Biological Sciences), Gus Holman (Department of Biological Sciences), Dr. Michelle Bebber (Department of Anthropology ), and Dr. Metin Eren (Department of Anthropology).
The construction industry is responsible for a significant portion of global CO2 emissions, with around 42% of total emissions attributed to the built environment. A substantial part of these emissions comes from the embodied carbon of building materials, primarily steel, cement, iron, and aluminum. Mycelium-based composites (MBC) present a promising sustainable alternative, offering low embodied energy, biodegradability, and compatibility with agricultural waste. This project aims to evaluate the potential of MBC for structural applications by optimizing the production process and analyzing the influence of substrate types and particle sizes on material performance.
The project will utilize a patented process developed by okom works labs, PBC (OWL) to grow MBC using mycelium and plant-based substrates like hemp and sawdust. The research will focus on determining the best substrates for mycelium growth, reducing contamination, and collecting baseline mechanical performance data of the resulting MBC materials.
Primary Research Aims:
- Identify substrates or substrate combinations that best support mycelium development for the construction of
MBC using Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), a trimitic Basidiomycete, while reducing the presence of competitive fungal
and bacterial species.
- Collect data on material performance of MBC constructed using OWL鈥檚 patented technology to establish
baseline characteristics and compare characteristics of different substrate types and particle sizes.
This project will contribute valuable data on the performance of MBC materials, helping to bridge the gap in understanding their structural potential. Expected outcomes include insights into the impact of substrate and particle size on MBC properties, as well as baseline mechanical testing data to support the integration of mycelium-based composites in sustainable construction. The project aligns with the growing need for low-carbon building materials and the advancement of circular economy practices in the built environment.