ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY

ABOUT THE Centre

Microbes evolved to address the specific needs and challenges of their natural environments, not those of the industrial age. Our Centre takes what nature does best and enhances it. We are pioneering new designs for synthetic microbes, creating custom-designed microbial communities and organelles, and entirely new-to-nature biological pathways and enzymes.

Our goal is to provide 21st century solutions to global agricultural, food production, manufacturing, healthcare and environmental challenges. For thousands of years we have used microbes to create bread, wine and cheese. Now synthetic biology goes one step further, engineering ways to convert biomass from agriculture or waste streams to biofuels, bio plastics and other high-value chemicals.

Our centre brings together 9 Australian universities and a range of partners, such as biotech start-ups, government departments, international university and research facilities, medium to large business and industry bodies. Together we aim to create an environmentally sustainable processing industry, leading to significant rural investment, jobs and new export opportunities.

WHAT IS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY?

“In my mind synthetic biology is one of the critical sciences of the 21st century. And if Australia doesn’t have a piece of synthetic biology we will be left behind in the technological dust.”

IAN PAULSEN
Centre Director and Distinguished Professor/ARC Laureate Fellow

MEET OUR PEOPLE

Ian Paulsen

Ian Paulsen

Centre Director - Macquarie University

Aleksandra Filipovska

Aleksandra Filipovska

Deputy Director - The University of Western Australia

Brett Neilan

Brett Neilan

The University of Newcastle

Lars Nielsen

Lars Nielsen

The University of Queensland

Martie-Louise Verreynne

Martie-Louise Verreynne

The University of Queensland

Sasha Tetu

Sasha Tetu

Macquarie University

Lawrence  LEE

Lawrence LEE

The University of New South Wales

Oliver Rackham

Oliver Rackham

Curtin University

Ian O'Hara

Ian O'Hara

Queensland University of Technology

James Behrendorff

James Behrendorff

Queensland University of Technology

ESTEBAN  MARCELLIN

ESTEBAN MARCELLIN

The University of Queensland

Kirill Alexandrov

Kirill Alexandrov

Queensland University of Technology

Nicki Packer

Nicki Packer

Macquarie University

Wendy Rogers

Wendy Rogers

Macquarie University

Josh Wodak

Josh Wodak

Western Sydney University

Colin Jackson

Colin Jackson

ANU

Brad Sherman

Brad Sherman

The University of Queensland

J-L Heylen

J-L Heylen

Chief Operating Officer

LIFE REIMAGINED

We are a world-leading research centre whose goal is to take us beyond what any single, existing microbe on earth can do.

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