The Dauenhauer research group focuses on the fundamental reaction engineering technology necessary to produce fuels and chemicals from alternative feedstocks such as shale, natural gas, and lignocellulosic biomass. Renewable carbon sources such as hybrid poplar trees and switchgrass are fundamentally different feedstocks than conventional carbon-sources such as petroleum. Biomass exists as a complex mixture of biopolymers which form a solid and fibrous composite material that is highly oxygenated and overfunctionalized. Conversion to fuels and chemicals requires a significant reduction in species size, reduction in the number of functional groups, and overall reduction in oxidation state. Alternatively, conversion of natural gas (methane) to fuels and chemicals requires the addition of functionality and increase in molecular size. Research focused on the development and utilization of inorganic catalysts for biomass and natural gas transformation will permit the efficient, economical use of non-food-based biomass and domestic natural gas.