ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology

🎉 Congratulations to researchers from our University of Newcastle node who have won the Net Zero Grand Challenge 2024, along with the People’s Choice Award, for their project, EcoFusion: The Carbon Conversion Revolution. ♻️ The team includes Dr Benjamin Matthews, Evan Gibbs, Dr Ben Long 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 - Ally, Dr Joachim Steen Larsen and Kate Hlywa. 👉 Read the story here: https://lnkd.in/gyFqsEev #CoESB #OurPeople #NetZeroGrandChallenge #Decarbonisation #Sustainability #Innovation Australian Research Council

✨#CoESB24 Keynote Speaker Spotlight: Associate Professor Sierin Lim, Nanyang Technological University Singapore✨ Sierin Lim is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering in the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU). Her SLim Research group focuses on the design and engineering of biological entities for applications in health and the environment. The activities range from repurposing protein cages and bacterial cellulose for formulation and delivery of active molecules to the skin and contrast agent for imaging atherosclerotic plaques, to engineering enzymes and microbes to up-cycle plastic wastes using cyanobacteria, cellulose bacteria, and yeast. She is currently serving as the Associate Dean of Global Partnerships at the NTU Graduate College. She earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) with a postdoc at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Sciences in UC Irvine. Her keynote will be on PET Biodegradation: The Enzyme, the Process, and the Microbes - look forward to it! #CoESB #AnnualConference #SyntheticBiology #Sustainability #KeynoteSpeaker Australian Research Council

Three synthetic biologists from our QUT (Queensland University of Technology) node were recently featured in Road to the Max: Australia journey. 🇦🇺🔬 Dr Wayne Johnston (Research Associate and Lecturer), Dr James Antoney, (Postdoctoral Fellow in Protein Engineering), and Mica Fiorito, (PhD student) discussed their work in QUT’s synthetic biology lab and the potential applications of their research. 🧬✨ Watch the video below! 🎬 #CoESB #OurPeople #SyntheticBiology #SyntheticBiologist #EngineeringBiology Pharma's Almanac Australian Research Council

Our Creative in Residence Jackie Marshall recently visited our Macquarie University node. Inspired by her interview with Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Sheemal Kumar, she recorded a nursery-rhyme styled ukulele-driven song snippet. 🎵🎶 Listen to it below 👇 👉 Check out her blog post here & subscribe: https://lnkd.in/gpHh-Z3M #CoESB #CreativeinResidence #SeaUrchins #SyntheticBiology Australian Research Council Macquarie University Natural Sciences

Tonight, Dr Paige Erpf from our Macquarie University Natural Sciences node will be presenting a special synthetic biology lecture at Macquarie University! Step into the fascinating world of synthetic biology! 🧬✨ Yeast, once known for brewing beer and wine, is now a powerhouse of innovation. Discover the groundbreaking creation of the first synthetic eukaryote and its monumental impact on industries like biofuels and medicine. 🍷🔬 Explore how yeast is being redesigned to produce bioplastics, paving the way for a sustainable future in the fight against climate change. 🌍♻️ In just 50 minutes, join Paige and uncover how these tiny microbes are reshaping our world! 📅 Thursday, 24 October from 6pm 📍Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus, North Ryde 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gw6H2Y24 #CoESB #OurPeople #SyntheticBiology #Innovation #Sustainability #Biofuels #Bioplastics Australian Research Council

'We're testing aptamers—synthetic molecules that act like antibodies—to target steviol glycosides, the sweeteners used in sugar substitutes. Using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC), we've identified a promising aptamer with strong affinity. These aptamers could pave the way for highly sensitive biosensors to monitor steviol production bioprocesses.' - Dr Elena Eremeeva, Postdoctoral Research Fellow from our QUT (Queensland University of Technology) node #CoESB #OurPeople #DayintheLife #SyntheticBiology #SyntheticBiologist Australian Research Council

Synthetic Biology, So What? 💡 A great article about the impact of synthetic biology on our lives, co-authored by our Partner Investigator Dr Robert Speight. 📰 Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gVjZfmHq #CoESB #OurPeople #SyntheticBiology #EngineeringBiology #Innovation #Biotechnology #Sustainability

Our 2024/2025 Creative in Residence Jackie Marshall recently visited the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology AIBN and interviewed Chief Investigator Professor Esteban Marcellin. 🎼 Read all about her discoveries in the blog post below and remember to subscribe for more updates ⬇️ #CoESB #CreativeInResidence #Creative #SyntheticBiology #SyntheticBiologist Australian Research Council

🎉 Congratulations to PhD student Francisco Peralta from the Centre’s QUT (Queensland University of Technology) node on his recent publication in Bioresource Technology! 📚 Francisco discovered a fermentation-friendly formulation of sugarcane bagasse (leftover wood and pulp from crushing sugarcane). Remarkably, the yeast growth and oil production on this low-cost media matched that of synthetic media, demonstrating that engineered Yarrowia lipolytica can thrive on an industrially-scalable, eco-friendly solution from the sugarcane industry. 🌱💡 Take a look here: https://lnkd.in/giKWGeHj #Research #SyntheticBiology #Sustainability #Innovation #CoESB #Fermentation Australian Research Council James Behrendorff

Our Thom Dixon and Dirk van der Kley on why Australia needs its own BioMADE and biomanufacturing strategy.