Melody specialises in molecular biotechnology, chemical technology, and food technology, with a focus on engineering Yarrowia lipolytica for light-driven lipid production and microbial biomanufacturing.
Melody Yap’s research focuses on engineering Yarrowia lipolytica as a modular light-driven quantum hybrid for lipid production. By integrating light-responsive modules, such as rhodopsins, into yeast, she aims to enhance cellular energy efficiency and metabolic output. Additionally, she is exploring the potential of quantum dot biosynthesis within yeast to optimize light capture and utilization, driving biosynthetic pathways toward high-value lipid compounds. This approach seeks to improve the sustainability of microbial lipid production by reducing reliance on traditional carbon sources. Her work builds upon her growing expertise in synthetic biology, microbial fermentation, and metabolic engineering, with applications in sustainable biofuel production, food innovation, and industrial biotechnology.