I joined Teesside University as a Lecturer in Biotechnology in early 2022, bringing with me an extensive background in microbiology and biotechnology. My work here focuses on enzyme and protein biotechnology projects, where I develop processes and products using both conventional and modern tools. For more details, please scroll down to "Academic Achievements" below.

• White biotechnology/ industrial biotechnology
• Enzyme discovery for biocatalysis
• Enzyme biotechnology/ application
• Circular economy & sustainability (through breaking down natural or synthetic polymers)
• Biobased waste valorisation for bioplastics production
• Biomanufacturing using biocatalysis (metabolites, fine chemicals, pharmaceutical ingredients)
• Glycoengineering for vaccine development
• Protein solubility enhancement (using protein engineering)
• Diagnostic enzymes

PhD projects available:

1. Thermostable sugar/ carbohydrate metabolising enzymes (biochemistry and engineering for biocatalysis: enzymatic synthesis of highly value-added products)

2. Chitin-degrading enzymes, including chitinases (discovery, engineering and applications)

3. Discovery and engineering of enzymes for different applications (medicine synthesis, diagnosis, and industrial applications, including carbon capture, bio-valorisation of biomass/ wastes, circular economy). 

• Microbiology to enzyme engineering: With a microbiology background, I started my career as a research assistant in biochemistry during which I secured a $50,000 research grant on microbial removal of heavy and toxic metals (bioremediation). Then, I began a decade-long journey (2006-2016) in Japan, where I had the privilege of working in three distinct laboratories across two universities. During this period, I fully immersed myself in Japan's high-calibre research environment, attending numerous national and international conferences, and building a strong professional network. My time there concluded with a PhD in Biotechnology, specialising in enzyme engineering and biochemistry, which I proudly obtained under the esteemed guidance of Professor Yasuhisa Asano.

Directed evolution strategy employed to generate highly soluble mutants of a low-soluble plant enzyme recombinantly expressed in E. coli (major part of PhD research).

• A new enzyme discovery for biocatalysis: Following the PhD, I secured a position as a postdoctoral researcher with the esteemed ERATO Asano Project. This initiative, funded by the Japan Science & Technology Agency, was the largest scientific grant in Japan at the time, valued at roughly $15,000,000 back in 2012. The project yielded significant results across both scientific and practical applications, leading to numerous patents and a wealth of peer-reviewed publications. My primary focus involved extensive research into a highly stable and efficient millipede enzyme. This groundbreaking work spanned from its initial discovery right through to its comprehensive characterisation, aiming to offer a viable alternative to enzymes currently used in industry. It truly opened up a new perspective on arthropods, revealing novel and exceptionally robust enzymes for the biocatalysis of pharmaceutical building blocks and other valuable chemicals, a period that ran from 2012 to 2015. Please read about the cover image here & the full paper here.

A highly stable and efficient millipede enzyme discovery for biocatalysis: (Left) Millipede Harbors Speedy Catalyst: A millipede enzyme makes valuable chiral building blocks for pharmaceuticals faster than its industrial counterparts. See ACS Chemical & Engineering News here. (Right) Crystal (3D) structure of the enzyme.

• Hyperthermostable enzyme discovery for biomanufacturing of carbohydrate derivatives: I then moved to Kyushu University (Japan), where I worked as a senior researcher on sugar-metabolising enzymes from a hyperthermophilic archaeon and discovered and purified a few enzymes and most importantly, a unique isomerase. This work resulted in two new EC numbers by IUBMB (mutase) & (epimerase). See the enzyme discovery paper in J Bacteriology (ASM) here. I enjoyed conducting research with one of the pioneers of archaeal whole genome sequencing, Dr Yutaka Kawarabayasi.

• Opening new windows to my research: I moved to the UK and joined Dr Christopher Law at Queen's University Belfast (QUB), working on recombinant chitinases and later started a glycoengineering project with Professor Miguel Valvano. Both have been great experiences with great people.
• Independent role: At Teesside University, my role has been encompassing significant contributions to teaching, module leadership, and a high volume of student training and supervisions, which I'm very proud of, in addition to my research.

Last but not least, I have been involved with teaching & student training and supervision for a long...

-Module leader, Life Science Research Project (SCI4013-N)

-Module leader, Advanced Downstream Bioprocessing (SCI4051-N) for MSc. Bioprocessing  & Biotherapeutics (Apply for the course here). See my students in their practical sessions (2024 & 2025).

-Enzymatic catalysis/ biocatalytic synthesis of pharmaceuticals

-Enzyme engineering for biocatalysis and biotechnological applications