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Auburn University Assistant Professor Hossein Jahromi was recently selected as part of the Alabama Biomanufacturing Labs (ABL) cohort, an opportunity that will allow his lab to move their biolubricant technology to the next stage of development.  This project is supported by Alabama Biomanufacturing Labs (ABL), funded by Innovate Alabama.

Alabama Biomanufacturing Labs is a partnership between Opportunity Alabama, Measured Capital and Arrowpoint Labs that aims to boost life sciences manufacturing startups in rural Alabama. Backed by the Accelerate Alabama 2.0 Plan and Innovate Alabama Tax Credit Program, ABL offers in-kind technical, regulatory, and commercial support to biomanufacturing startups.

Jahromi has been working on a new class of bio-based lubricants developed through research at Auburn.

“I am currently in the process of forming a C-Corporate startup named BioCraft Lubricants,” Jahromi explained. “Receiving this award is very meaningful because it provides critical support to move our biolubricant technology closer to commercialization. Much of our research has focused on developing sustainable, high-performance lubricants from waste cooking oil and other bio-based feedstocks.

“This award helps us take the next important step beyond the laboratory by supporting scale-up, product validation, and market-readiness activities. It is also a recognition of the hard work of my students, collaborators and Auburn’s broader innovation ecosystem.”

Jahromi is an assistant professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at Auburn. The department is jointly administered by the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture. This partnership combines engineering principles with agricultural and biological sciences, allowing the department to support teaching, research and extension programs that serve both colleges' missions.

“Dr. Jahromi’s project is an excellent example of how a biological resource can be converted to a product that is of high value,” said Oladiran Fasina, head of the Department of Biosystems Engineering. “This project is a critical step in achieving this goal of translating the patented biolubricant technology into alternatives to conventional lubricants. I congratulate Dr. Jahromi for reaching this important milestone towards commercialization of his patent biolubricant technology.”

Jahromi said being part of the cohort is exciting because ABL brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, industry partners and commercialization experts who are all working to strengthen biomanufacturing capacity in Alabama.

“For our team, this is an opportunity to translate university research into practical products that can support sustainability, reduce dependence on petroleum-derived materials, and create new economic opportunities in the state,” he said.

Sushil Adhikari, professor of biosystems engineering and associate dean for research, is the other investigator on the project.

For more information about Jahromi’s research, go to https://ausme.auburn.edu/hzj0048.