Our Research

Exploring innovative solutions at the intersection of biotechnology and engineering

Research Areas

Our lab focuses on several key areas of bioprocess and metabolic engineering research

Metabolic Engineering

We engineer microbial metabolism to produce valuable chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. Our approaches include pathway optimization, enzyme engineering, and machine learning tools

  • Chassis engineering for novel pathway integrations
  • Adaptive laboratory evolution for strain improvement
  • Rational enzyme engineering

Bioprocess Engineering

We develop scalable and sustainable bioprocesses for industrial applications, focusing on fermentation optimization, downstream processing, and bioreactor design

  • Batch and Fed-batch fermentation
  • Lab-scale lignin valorization strategies
  • Life cycle and techno-economic analysis for process sustainability

Downstream Processing

We develop and optimize scalable processes to recover, purify, and formulate proteins and biomolecules from fermentation broth, ensuring product quality and consistency

  • Periodic counter-current chromatography (PCC)
  • MAtrix Assisted Refolding
  • Purification scale-up for bulk chemicals and proteins

Synthetic Biology

We design and construct novel biological systems and parts for applications in biotechnology

  • Genetic circuit design
  • Promoter library generation for tunable gene expression
  • Toe-hold switches and riboregulators

Microbial Strains & Target Products

Engineered microbial platforms for sustainable production of high-value biochemicals and biotherapeutics

Lactococcus lactis

Engineered for the production of:

  • Hyaluronic Acid (HA) - Array of different molecular weights

Escherichia coli

Engineered for the production of:

  • Antibodies as Single Chain Variable Fragments (scFvs)
  • Theranostic proteins
  • 3-Hydroxypropionic acid

Lactobacillus plantarum

Engineered for the production of:

  • Lactic acid
  • Acetoin

Acinetobacter baylyi

Engineered for the production of:

  • Muconic acid
  • Protocatechuate

Recent Publications

Highlights from our recent research work

A consortium-based approach to adaptive laboratory evolution of Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 reveals novel genetic targets for lignin valorization

Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2025

We developed a adaptive laboratory evolution strategy to optimize the simultaneous utilization of multiple lignin-related aromatics (LRAs).

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Biorefinery approach for rhamnolipid production by metabolically engineered Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120

Biomass and Bioenergy, 2025

We engineer Pseudomonas taiwanensis VL120 to co-utilize all the components of corncob for bioconversion to rhamnolipids.

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A Simple Magnetic-aided Microfluidic Screening Approach for Rabies Virus via Rolling Circle Amplification

Microchemical Journal, 2025

WWe developed a simple microfluidic device based on magnetic trapping to specifically screen rabies virus from biofluids.

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