Ebert Group Honours Projects
Adaptive Laboratory Evolution of an NADH Auxotrophic Strain of Pseudomonas putida for Carbon-Efficient Bioprocesses
Biomanufacturing is often limited by CO2 by-product formation, reducing carbon efficiency. To address this, the Ebert group engineered a Pseudomonas putida strain lacking NAD(P)+-decarboxylases, eliminating CO2-producing reactions while creating an NAD(P)H auxotrophy. To supply the strain with electrons for growth and biosynthesis, inorganic electron sources and respective dehydrogenases can be provided, avoiding CO2 generation. While promising, growth limitations arise from enzyme incompatibility and disrupted metabolism.
This project leverages adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) to address these challenges by applying selective pressures to enhance strain fitness, metabolism, and enzyme compatibility. The selected candidate will work with automated ALE platforms, perform multi-omics analysis, and identify beneficial mutations for improved bioprocess efficiency.
We seek motivated students with strong academic records in biotechnology, microbiology, or engineering and a passion for research. The project runs six months, with potential extensions, offering hands-on experience in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
Join us to advance sustainable biomanufacturing and make a tangible impact in green technology development.
Contact: Dr Birgitta Ebert
07 3346 4280
birgitta.ebert@uq.edu.au
What to do
- Review each project description and find one which matches your areas of interest.
- Contact the research group leader or project advisor directly to discuss the project and arrange a meeting or visit to the AIBN lab.
Contact
If you have general enquiries about studying at AIBN please contact our HDR team.
hdr.aibn@enquire.uq.edu.au