MICROALGAE FOR THE FUTURE

Microalgae are extremely interesting photosynthetic organisms with varied and unique biological traits. Depending of their habitat and lineage, they present a different range of characteristics that will allow them to thrive in their ecosystems. Two good examples are their pigments and lipids: Microalgae have developed unique pigments that allow them to do efficiently photosynthesis under the water or even inside corals as essential symbionts. They are also capable of remodeling their lipids composition upon non optimal conditions in order to survive. In addition, they fixate CO₂ via photosynthesis and most of them can grow in seawater, making them sustainable organisms. In fact, they are responsible for approx. 50% of the global CO₂ fixation.

I am interested in understanding the fundamental biology of microalgae and use that knowledge to develop genome engineering tools. In this way, we aim to promote and optimize microalgae for the green transition in the biotech industry, relevant for example in the production of valuable compounds such as food additives and medicines.

My current research is focused on the eukaryotic SAR microalgae with special interest in Nannochloropsis oceanica, Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Breviolum minutum. My projects involve:

• Pigment biogenesis in SAR microalgae
• Development of genome engineering tools in N. oceanica
• Lipid accumulation in SAR microalgae and buoyancy
• Production of valuable compounds in N. oceanica

I am doing my research in the group of Algae biosynthesis lead by Johan Andersen-Ranberg. Are you interested in microalgae and would like to do your master or bachelor thesis with us? Do not hesitate to contact us!

More about my research:

LinkedIN 

GoogleScholar

Researchgate

Selected publications:

1. Jinkerson, R. E., Poveda-Huertes, D., Cooney, E. C., Cho, A., Ochoa-Fernandez, R., Keeling, P. J., Xiang, T., & Andersen-Ranberg, J. (2024). Biosynthesis of chlorophyll c in a dinoflagellate and heterologous production in planta. Current biology : CB, 34(3), 594–605.e4.
2. Poveda-Huertes, D., Patwari, P., Günther, J., Fabris, M. & Andersen-Ranberg, J. (2023). Novel transformation strategies improve efficiency up tp 10-fold in stramenopile algae. Algal research: 74, 11p., 103165.

GRANTS:

• NNF postdoctoral fellowship: PhotoMASS: Unlocking the bioproduction potential of Phototrophic Marine Algae for Sustainable Synthetic Biology. 04.2022-03.2025.
• VILLUM experiment grant: MOONWALK (MOving ON WAter: algae buoyancy LacKing limbs). 02.2024-01.2026