Wädenswil, Zurich, Switzerland
Experienced research scientist with a demonstrated history of working in academic research. Skilled in Metabolic Engineering, Enzyme Engineering, Synthetic Biology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology. Strong research professional with a Master of Science focused in Microbiology and Immunology from ETH Zurich and a summa cum laude doctoral degree from the University of Marburg (Max Planck Institute, Marburg). Fascinated by the potential of science to solve some of the world's most pressing problems.
Research and development of artificial photosynthetic processes for the fixation of CO2, focusing on its conversion into applicable products. The position involves the mentoring of PhD students, which are expanding the project into different directions.
Main Project: “Design and realization of synthetic pathways for the fixation of carbon dioxide in vitro.” Major achievement: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important carbon feedstock for a future green economy. This requires the development of efficient strategies for its conversion into multi-carbon compounds. We described a synthetic cycle for the continuous fixation of CO2 in vitro. The crotonyl–coenzyme A/ethylmalonyl-CoA/hydroxybutyryl-CoA (CETCH) cycle is a reaction network of 17 enzymes that converts CO2 into organic molecules at a rate of 5 nanomoles of CO2 per minute per milligram of protein. The CETCH cycle was drafted by metabolic retrosynthesis, established with enzymes originating from nine different organisms of all three domains of life, and optimized in several rounds by enzyme engineering and metabolic proofreading. The CETCH cycle adds a seventh, synthetic alternative to the six naturally evolved CO2 fixation pathways, thereby opening the way for in vivo and in vitro and applications.
Laboratory Assistant in the Group of Prof. Mathis in the research field of vector entomology. I assisted in the Project focusing on the spread of the West-Nil Virus in Switzerland, by assessing the prevalence, vector competence and host preference of the biological vector (mosquito). This project involved experiments conducted in a bio-safety level 3 laboratory.