Successful Construction and Operation of New Demonstration Plant under $1.5 Million FAA Award Produces Drop-In Jet Fuel from 100% Renewable Plant Sugars

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Madison, Wisconsin – May 1, 2013 – Virent announced the delivery of 100 gallons of its bio-based jet fuel to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for testing purposes. Product testing will begin at Wright Patterson Air Force Base to validate Virent’s jet fuel against the standards required for qualification and approval of new aviation turbine fuels established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The validation plan includes fit-for-purpose, fuel system and combustor rig testing.

Dr. Tim Edwards of the AFRL’s Fuels and Energy Branch said, “AFRL is looking forward to working with Virent and the FAA to evaluate the performance of this fuel. This larger sample will help generate the performance data needed to advance the technology toward engine and flight testing.”

The jet fuel was produced at a new Virent demonstration plant built to produce drop-in jet and diesel fuels from 100% renewable plant sugars. The plant was constructed at the company’s facility in Madison, Wisconsin under a $1.5 Million award received in 2011 from the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, and commissioned in January. It has the capacity to produce up to 5,000 total gallons of fuel per year. Design, engineering and construction were performed in-house by Virent employees. This is the second operating demonstration plant built by the Company. Its Madison facility also houses a 10,000 gallon per year system that is optimized to produce gasoline and aromatic chemicals.

Lourdes Maurice, Executive Director of the FAA’s Office of Environment and Energy said, “We are excited that Virent is able to effectively utilize FAA funding to deliver these gallons for testing. The fuel will be used with our partners in the industry and government to progress testing of novel alternative jet fuels that can help meet FAA’s environment and energy goals under the Next Generation Air Transportation System.”

“The successful operation of our new distillate demonstration plant and the validation of Virent’s plant-based jet fuel will advance our efforts to achieve ASTM-certified jet fuel and to prepare for commercial scaling,” said Virent Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Randy Cortright. “In addition, we would like to thank the FAA, AFRL, and Royal Dutch Shell for participating on the project team and acting in advisory roles.”

About Virent

Virent is replacing crude oil by creating the chemicals and fuels the world demands using a wide range of naturally-occurring, renewable resources. Its patented technology features catalytic chemistry to convert plant-based materials into a full range of products identical to those made from petroleum, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and chemicals for plastics and fibers. The products are drop-in replacements that enable full utilization of existing logistics infrastructure without blending limitations. The development of Virent’s BioForming® technology platform is supported through strategic partners including Cargill, Coca-Cola, Honda and Shell, as well as 125 employees based in Madison, Wisconsin. The company has received several grants from the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Energy and Agriculture and has been recognized with many honors, including the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer award and the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. Please learn more at www.Virent.com.

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Contact

Megan Weber
Associate Marketing Coordinator, Virent, Inc.
megan_weber@virent.com
608-210-3368
3571 Anderson St.
Madison, WI 53704

Virent, Inc. provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.  Further, the company takes affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and employees are treated during employment without regard to any of these characteristics.  Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

In keeping with the above conviction, Virent is committed to assuring that:

All recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, and other employment related programs are provided fairly to all persons on an equal opportunity basis without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law;

Employment decisions are based on the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action; and

All personnel actions such as compensation, benefits, transfers, training, and participation in social and recreational programs are administered without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Virent believes in and practices equal opportunity and affirmative action.  Human Resources Manager Jennifer Phillips serves as the Equal Opportunity Coordinator for the company and has the responsibility for monitoring this company’s equal opportunity and affirmative action practices.  All employees are responsible for supporting the company’s equal opportunity and affirmative action policies and programs.  Managers and employers are expected to assist the company in meeting its objectives in these areas.

Virent maintains affirmative action plans for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans.  Any questions regarding these plans should be directed to the company’s Equal Opportunity Coordinator.  If you wish to view the affirmative action plan for persons with disabilities and veterans, contact the Equal Opportunity Coordinator during normal working hours.

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Position Summary

This position leads technical efforts for development of the catalytic-based BioForming® process. This position is responsible for the process development and technical delivery in support of the first commercial scale deployment of Virent’s Bioforming process for production of biobased fuels and/or chemicals. In addition, the candidate will be responsible for advancing the technical concepts involving both catalytic and process chemistry necessary for the BioForming Process, and the generation of data and process models necessary to support commercialization de-risking. The candidate must exhibit technical expertise, effective communication skills and strategic technical leadership. This position must demonstrate advanced technical project leadership and bring a successful track record of developing catalytic processes and commercial scaling for process industries. Starting level of position will be based on relative experience and capability of the candidate.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Adhere to Virent’s EHS policies and procedures, participate in EHS programs and conduct work activities in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
• Build, organize, and lead the Process Development team which is tasked with technical leadership and synthesizing process designs for  chemical and/or liquid fuels production utilizing Virent’s novel catalyst technology. 
• Direct all major technical functions and activities within the process development area.
• Manage introduction of technology enhancement into the process development area.
• Proactively manage technical milestone delivery, identify potential obstacles and issues, devise contingency and risk mitigation plans, and engage stakeholders at necessary decision points.
• Advance methods and approaches for the up-grading and purification of biomass-derived feedstocks and the purification of the resulting end-products.
• Collaborate with the Executive Team, Business Development, R&D and Process Engineering to identify and prioritize development and attainment of key milestones compliant with approved commercialization timeline.
• Participate with the Executive Leadership team in developing and establishing company strategy and objectives.
• Advise on and supports implementation of best practices for the development of process flow diagrams, heat & material balances, piping & instrument drawings, and economic estimates of chemical processes from initial concept to final design with process engineering group.
• Act as key technical advisor for other managers and external parties concerning commercialization projects, and Process Development operational decisions.
• Implement best practices in process safety.
• Coordinate work of internal and external resources to support advancement of process.

Education and Experience Requirements

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

 Click Here To Submit Online Application 

Virent, Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Position Summary
The Director of Catalytic Materials is part of the senior technical team leading the Company’s next phase of growth, progressing the catalytic-based BioForming process from technology research and development to large scale commercialization.  This position will be responsible for development of key catalytic advancements needed to commercialize Virent’s BioForming® process.  The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated technical leadership and a successful track record in the development of large scale catalytic solutions. 

Essential Technical Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide technical leadership for the synthesis and characterization of materials utilized in Virent’s novel catalytic methods to produce liquid fuels and chemicals from biomass-derived feedstocks.  
• Establish fundamental technical understanding of catalytic materials, chemical reactions and deactivation mechanisms utilized in Virent’s catalytic processes.  
• Use in-house knowledge, as well as existing commercial catalytic technologies, discovered through literature reviews, and other means, to synthesize new catalytic materials necessary to convert biomass-derived feedstocks to liquid fuels or chemicals under an agreed to work plan.
• Identify challenges, opportunities, pathways and high impact tasks to move a given process from lab scale to commercial scale and establish work plans to address key challenges and uncertainties.
• Execute work plans with sense of urgency and emphasis on accelerating commercial readiness.
• Collaborate with the following groups to identify high impact tasks and challenges in the following areas:
  • Process Chemistry Group – catalytic performance and catalytic deactivation;
  • Analysis Group – chemical analysis of catalytic materials; and
  • Feedstock Group – determination of feedstock contaminates that will influence catalytic performance.,
• Work with Virent partners and vendors in the development of calalytic solutions. 
• Work with Business Development and Process Engineering to identify influence of catalytic materials on the cost of manufacturing. 
• Provide Virent executive team, clear communication on catalytic material challenges and opportunities, as well as the corresponding plans and actions.
• Support company economic modeling efforts to help calibrate the commercial value of contemplated development efforts and innovations developed by department.

• Participate in the strategic planning process, budgeting for the department and its assigned projects.

Education and Experience Requirements

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

 Click Here To Submit Online Application 

Virent, Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Position Summary

Virent’s Patent Agent position requires the performance of complex, substantive and organizational support primarily in the patent area.  The scope and responsibilities of the position include providing intellectual property services to Virent, focusing on internal patent application preparation and prosecution, and prior art reviews and analysis to assess novelty and freedom to operate issues, both foreign and domestic. The Patent Agent will report to the Vice President of Legal Affairs and will coordinate with inventors and other appropriate management to keep them informed as to the status of pending intellectual property matters.  The intellectual properties of Virent are extremely valuable assets and include patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.

Essential Technical Responsibilities and Duties

• Communicates with inventors, R&D managers, project managers, product managers and executive management.
• Receives inventions disclosures and coordinates and assists with invention review meetings.
• Documents trade secrets and assists in the compliance with Virent’s intellectual property policies.
• Prepare drafts of patent applications and documents related to patent applications, which includes conducting background searches and searches for similar inventions; drafting the specifications and preparing reference figures and providing technical expertise throughout the application process. 
• Responds to attorney and inventor inquiries regarding patent application preparation and filing strategy, and patent application prosecution strategy.
• Analyze assigned patent office actions and prior art from the USPTO and foreign offices to determine response strategy.
• Organize, maintain, and update files and docket information related to Virent’s IP portfolio.
• Conducts prior art searches and assists with patentability, freedom-to-operate, infringement and validity analyses, including the cataloging and maintaining of results in an organized and accessible fashion.
• Assists in managing intellectual property relationships in connection with licensing, joint development and research collaboration relationships.
• Assists in research relating to intellectual property licensing issues as they arise.
• Assists in the review and approval of publications/presentations to prevent disclosure of confidential information. 
• Compile, organize, and maintain resource materials.
• Assist attorneys in patent litigation matters.

Education and Experience Requirements

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

 Click Here To Submit Online Application 

Virent, Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunit

This issue explains the importance of government projects and what Virent has gained from the various projects we have participated in.

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