Creating Synthetic Organelles Through Engineering Biology for Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing

About this project

Organelles are subcellular compartments with specialised function, like mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell or chloroplasts enable photosynthesis. Organelles allow biological processes that other components like enzymes alone do not. Despite our wealth of knowledge on organelles in their native organisms, we do not know enough to make bespoke organelles for targeted purposes. In a create-to-understand approach, the Rinaldi lab at University of Hull is exploring engineering biology approaches to create synthetic organelles for multiple applications in biotechnology. After the revolution of DNA sequencing and manipulation, synthetic organelles might be the next frontier in synthetic biology.

This PhD in Biochemistry project focusses on creating synthetic organelles that compartmentalise oily chemicals in microbes using components from plants and other organisms. These organelles will target a key challenge in biomanufacturing, the practice of using biobased processes like microbial fermentation to make chemicals. These chemicals are life-saving medicines, agrichemicals, and flavours and fragrances in our toothpaste and cleaning products that we interact with every day. Chemical production cannot be decarbonised and biomass is the only material abundant enough to displace petrochemicals. However, some high-value chemicals are toxic to the production chassis and ultimately, microbes can only make as much chemical as they can tolerate. Synthetic organelles are a radical new approach to provide tolerance and increase levels of high-value chemicals. This technology will be key in the transition from petrochemicals to renewable feedstocks in chemical production to meet sustainability and renewable carbon goals. This project will thus be researching how to engineer microbes to make high-value chemicals through fermentation from waste wood from the forestry industry towards a circular bioeconomy, whereby maximum value is extracted from resources and minimum waste generated.

Our multidisciplinary supervisory team brings together Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering and circular economy to create industrial symbiosis towards a circular bioeconomy. We will perform Techno-Economic Assessment and Life Cycle Analysis to evaluate the commercial viability and sustainability claims of our technology and develop to Technology Readiness Level 4 to pursue commercialisation. We will also assess the implications of the process in terms of environmental, economic and social effects. This will involve consideration of sources of cellulose as well as potential end-users for the chemicals and the requirements they may have. Social considerations include the potential for creation/loss of jobs and likely geographic distribution of these changes. The evolving regulatory framework also needs to be considered.

The PhD student will join a vibrant and diverse research community that will support and empower them and includes other PhD students in Biology and related disciplines, and technical support and knowledgeable experts. They will attend and present at weekly lab meetings and departmental seminars and be assigned a mentor to develop their career and scientific skills.

The PhD student is expected to be trained in a unique and highly valued skillset that combines molecular biology with fermentation science to fill skill gaps in the growing UK bioeconomy, which is supported by government funding and research strategy from UKRI BBSRC and EPSRC (Synthetic Biology, Engineering Biology). They will also produce world-class, high-impact publications and patents to pursue commercialisation. They will be exposed to a breadth of disciplines and stakeholders, and through the supervisor networks, they will explore post-PhD career paths in academia, industry, biotech entrepreneurship, consultancy, science communication, patent law, policy, government and more.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Mauro Adriel Rinaldi.