Project title
A new biological route for large scale manufacture of methacrylic acid from renewable feedstocks.
Profile of former PhD student Florentina Winkelmann.
About the project
My PhD project is partnered with Lucite International and Ingenza. It aims to develop a biological route for production of poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) plastics used in acrylic and plexi glass. We will be engineering yeast to produce methyl methacrylate which is commercially usually manufactured from petroleum.
About me
I obtained my BSc in Biochemistry from Imperial College London where I also completed my Mres in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences. As part of the Mres I have worked with Anopheles gambiae; characterizing proteins for transmission blocking, Clostridium acetobutylicum; using network rewiring to identify butanol tolerant strains as well as E. coli; improving fatty acid synthesis via synthetic acetyl-CoA carboxylase bypasses. Working in three different labs has allowed me to explore different research topics and find my passion in biotechnology for industry.
Besides my academics I am an avid surfer and do not shy away from the cold water of the UK. In my free time I like to explore new places, try out new food, cook new recipes and occasionally book my next holiday based on the local cuisine and surf spots.
| Year | Role |
|---|---|
| 2019 - Present | PhD Student, University of Edinburgh, UK |
| 2017 - 2018 | Mres Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Imperial College London, UK |
| 2014 - 2017 | BSc Biochemistry, Imperial College London, UK |
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