Three phase bio-reactor biosensor development.
A biosensor technology which has been created in UCD to monitor and control grass-silage fed two-phase anaerobic digestion systems will be expanded upon to produce an automated monitoring and control system for AgRefine’s Three Phase Bioreactor (TPB). The biosensor that will be created will be capable of detecting total-amino acids as well as an array of volatile fatty acids, in leachates generated by the TPB. Real time detection and quantification of these analytes will allow for the automated monitoring and control system to be created.
Initially based in UCD under the supervision of Prof. McDonnell with input from Prof. C Murphy and Dr. Sweeney, the successful candidate will be trained on:
- Biosensor creation and operation techniques,
- The identification and screening of catabolic pathways capable of catabolising specific amino acids as well as D-, L- lactic acid and butyric acid, within numerous microorganisms,
- Genetically engineer specific microorganisms using a suite of genetic engineering techniques which will include Crispr Cas9, to create analyte specific biosensors,
- Creating and deploying the TPB’s automated monitoring and control system.
I have a background in biotechnology, microbiology and molecular biology. Besides consolidating my expertise in these topics, I am also gaining experience in project management and computer programming in the language C at UCD. My core interest is metabolic engineering, which I want to apply to strain construction to achieve a strain which is able to produce a valuable product from waste. I am also passionate about the industrial application of biotechnology and computer programming.
Education
2016 – 2019: Master in Life Science and Technology, TU Delft:
– Completed with an average of 8 on a scale from 1 to 10, two tracks within the Master program: Cell Factory and Biochemical Engineering
– Master thesis under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Pascale Daran-Lapujade, completed with an 8.5/10.
2011 – 2016: Bachelor in Life Science and Technology, TU Delft and University of Leiden:
– Completed with an average of 6.7 on a scale from 1 to 10, with a specialisation in Advanced Life Sciences and Technologies.
– Bachelor thesis under the supervision of Prof. Jack Pronk, completed with an 8.5/10.
2005 – 2011: Christelijk scholengemeenschap Vincent van Gogh, Assen, the Netherlands
– University preparatory education (vwo), concluded a science profile with an average of a 6.4 on a scale of 1 to 10.
Extra certificate: Project Modern Physics.
I find this project on the website of the EU where all marie curie projects are located. I wanted to do a PhD in metabolic reprogramming in an industrial applicable setting, that is why I applied for the project I am currently working on.