Phase Genomics Inc., a biotech provider of proximity-ligation next-generation sequencing solutions for metagenome assembly, is set to receive $325,000 as part of a $73 million funding package from U.S. DOE’s Office Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Phase Genomics said its technology will be leveraged to sequence the genomes of new microorganisms to help detect and manage microbial pests in the creation of algae-based biofuels. “The unique data produced by Phase Genomics will be utilized to track the underlying causes of periods of low productivity and identify novel likely pests and pathogens,” the company stated.

“This funding further recognizes the value of our proprietary metagenomic technology,” said Ivan Liachko, founder and CEO of Phase Genomics. “Discovering the microorganisms responsible for decreasing algal biofuel yield, without culturing, is virtually impossible with traditional genomic methods. Our technology yields deeper insights into the amazingly complex world of environmental microbiology, allowing us to develop improvements in existing industrial processes as well as potentially discovering entirely new ones.”

Phase Genomics previously announced funding through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop an improved computational method for extracting genomic information from complex microbiome samples.