About Me
My research interests are focused on the design and construction of regulatory pathways capable of optimizing gene expression in any bacterium of interest.
Born in outback Queensland, Australia, I grew up with seven siblings on cattle, sheep and grain farms in Queensland and Victoria. There, I developed my love and curiosity for nature.
During my undergraduate studies at LaTrobe University, Melbourne, I became interested in the power of microbes and their amazing potential to solve modern problems. After 20 years of researching various bacteria, they still fascinate me. Since 2018, I have been researching and teaching at the Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
Many non-model microbes have been identified as having great potential for biotechnology, such as in bioplastic production or alternative energy sources. Frequently, however, the bottleneck for such enterprises is the lack of knowledge on how to enhance production by controlled gene expression. I found and am currently optimizing a biotechnological method which will allow humans to control gene expression in any bacterium.