Rice University biosciences professor Matthew Bennett has received a $1.99 million grant from the National Science Foundation to lead research on engineered bacterial consortia that could form the basis of biological computing systems. The four-year project will also involve co-principal investigators Kirstin Matthews, Caroline Ajo-Franklin and Anastasios Kyrillidis from Rice along with Krešimir Josić from the University of Houston. The research team aims to develop platforms that integrate microbial sensing and communication with electronic networks, paving the way for computing systems constructed from living cells instead of traditional silicon-based hardware.
The project highlights the growing potential of synthetic biology, where microbes are examined not just as living organisms but as processors of information. If successful, Bennett’s research could accelerate medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and the development of next-generation computing applications.
“Microbes are remarkable information processors, and we want to understand how to connect them into networks that behave intelligently,” Bennett said. “By integrating biology with electronics, we hope to create a new class of computing platforms that can adapt, learn and respond to their environments.”
Microorganisms have the ability to sense and adapt to their surroundings naturally, often communicating chemically or electrically to produce collective responses. Bennett’s research team views each cell as a processor that, when linked with others, could function like a parallel computing system. One envisioned application is smart biosensors that can identify chemical signatures, such as disease biomarkers or environmental contaminants, and relay the results electronically.
The project aims to develop microbial consortia capable of integrating chemical and electronic signals to recognize patterns and learn through cellular memory. Continuous culture systems will maintain microbial activity while allowing electronic interfacing to refine responses over time. This approach could enable computing systems to respond to real-world chemical inputs in ways that traditional hardware cannot.
In addition, the project will also explore the ethical, legal and social implications of programmable living computers, including regulatory frameworks and public acceptance.
“Beyond diagnostics and monitoring, living computers may one day adapt and evolve in ways that surpass the capabilities of traditional machines,” Bennett said.