Engineering Microorganisms for Biosynthesis

Synthetic biology is an emerging field that aims to design and construct new biological parts or systems and redesign existing ones to carry out novel tasks. Its potential for biosynthesis of valuable products is based on our understanding and ability to engineer biological systems, which are often complex functional networks of genes and biomolecules that mediate life processes. My research interests are focused on deciphering and engineering these regulatory networks to create recombinant microorganisms for production of industrially important chemicals and fuels. During the poster session, I will present examples from my graduate research that investigated problems involving genetic and signaling networks in bacteria and a project from my postdoctoral research that engineer a thermophile for biodiesel production. I will also discuss my plans to develop an independent research program.