Engineering robust microbial hosts for precision fermentation

To meet the global food demand projected for 2050, precision fermentation needs to become a cornerstone of sustainable food production. This project aims to revolutionise microbial engineering for food ingredient production by developing a high-throughput platform to rewire gene regulatory networks (GRNs) in microbial hosts.  Current approaches rely on low-throughput, strain-specific engineering methods, limiting scalability and cross-species adaptability. Here, we integrate ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) with global transcription machinery engineering (gTME) and directed evolution to create modular transcription factor (TF) libraries with broad DNA-binding capabilities.

This project will deliver a plug-and-play microbial engineering platform, transforming the speed and flexibility at which precision fermentation hosts can be optimised for industrial use.

This project will be conducted at the UQ Biosustainability Hub, a premier facility for synthetic biology and industrial biotechnology. The Hub offers a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure for high-throughput microbial engineering. Core capabilities include robotic liquid handlers, automated colony pickers, high-throughput screening systems, and microplate-based growth and stress assays. Advanced analytical tools such as LC-MS, GC-MS, and next-generation sequencing support detailed metabolomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses. The facility also features modern bioreactors and fermentation systems for process development and scale-up. This integrated environment enables seamless progression from strain engineering and screening to systems-level characterisation and application testing.

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of microbiology, synthetic biology and bioinformatics would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of biotechnology, synthetic biology, microbiology, molecular biology, or biochemistry and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of molecular cloning, protein expression, and high-throughput screening is highly desirable.

You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) by 1 December, 2025 1 December, 2025.

Before you apply

1. Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
2. Prepare your documentation.
3. If you have any questions about whether the project is suitable for your research interests, contact Dr Yosephine Gumulya (y.gumulya@uq.edu.au).

When you apply

To apply, submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the program. You don't need to apply separately for the project or scholarship. How to submit an EOI

In your EOI, complete the ‘Scholarship/Sponsorship’ section with the following details:

1. Are you applying for an advertised project: 'Yes'
2. Project: 'Research project scholarship'
3. Scholarship Code Listed in the Advertisement: MICROBIAL-GUMULYA
4. Link to Scholarship Advertisement: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/engineering-robust-microbial-hosts-precision-fermentation

Submit an EOI