Systems Biology

Major research interests

My main research interest is the use of genetic regulation to optimize bacterial strains for biotechnological production. This is done by constructing and analyzing defined mutant strains using knockouts, expression of heterologous genes or altered genetic control of genes. An important aspect is that I aim for dynamic control of relevant genes to allow fine-tuning of gene expression during biotechnological production processes. All current research projects are based on close collaboration with partners involved in mathematical modeling or (theoretical) systems analysis.
We focus on the bacterial species: Escherichia coli, Zymomonas mobilis and Cupriavidus necator. E. coli is a well-studied model species and current projects aim to optimize succinate production, understand carbon uptake control and to explore microaerobic conditions for production processes. Z. mobilis has many characteristics of a good production organism, but methods for targeted genetic manipulation need to be optimized, and some basics of its metabolism have yet to be clarified. In current projects we aim to redirect the metabolic flux from the natural product ethanol to more valuable products. Also, my team is establishing genetic methods for work with C. necator in order to open up the field of metabolic engineering to this interesting producer of biopolymers.

Possible research projects (not exhaustive)

• Microbial biopolymer and platform chemicals production from biogenic residues
  (Collaboration partners: Prof. Kienle, Dr. Klamt)

IMPRS ProEng Alumnae and Alumni