A senior research scientist from Purdue University was among those honored to attend the President’s State of the Union address last week, thanks to her groundbreaking work in cellulosic ethanol.

According to BoilerStation.com, Nancy Ho was asked to attend the event by the White House and sat near First Lady Laura Bush.

“I will treasure this all my life,” Ho said Thursday. “And it is important for the biofuels and cellulosic ethanol industry. I think that was the message, too.”

Ho used genetic engineering to make a yeast that will change the sugars found in the plant residue into ethanol, something that normal yeast won’t do.

Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., has also recently honored Ho by naming her an energy patriot for September 2006.