This discipline explores the metabolic potential of microorganisms to produce high-value products for health, agriculture, energy, and industry. By integrating molecular biology, metabolic engineering, and bioprocessing, it enables sustainable production of biomolecules, biofuels, and biochemicals.
Key Research Areas:
Bioactive Compounds
- Extraction and purification of polysaccharides (e.g., β-glucans), lipids, and secondary metabolites (e.g., cordycepin)
- Genetic modification and pathway engineering of microorganisms (e.g., Escherichia coli) to produce recombinant proteins (antibody-binding proteins) and therapeutic metabolites (psilocybin)
Fungal and Mushroom Biotechnology
- Production of mushrooms and mycelium using lignocellulosic biomass combined with seaweed
- Development of shipping-container cultivation systems and robotic harvesting technologies to enhance efficiency and food security
Microbiome Engineering
- Microbiome engineering soil to improve soil fertility, nutrient cycling, plant growth, and human health
- Environmental microbiome to understand ecological processes and contamination-related issues (microplastics, heavy metals, and petrochemicals)
- Gene editing of microbes and consortia for phytohormones and environmental enzymes
Biomanufacturing and Fermentation
- Use of fermentation-based processes to convert renewable feedstocks into biofuels, biochemicals, and other high-value product
- Integration of microbiome science and bioprocess technology for sustainable, circular, and low-carbon production of biopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and bio-based chemicals
