Vision Statement

Microorganisms have evolved over billions of years to successfully occupy a broad variety of ecological niches. To overcome the limitations of natural biological systems, we use our deep knowledge in synthetic biology to build custom-designed microbial communities, construct synthetic organelles and create new to nature enzymes and metabolic pathways.

We aim to provide the technical innovation critical for Australia to develop a vibrant bioeconomy where synthetic microorganisms convert biomass from agriculture and waste streams into high-value chemicals.

Aims and Objectives

The ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology aims to engineer synthetic microbes to create a new environmentally friendly and sustainable advanced biomanufacturing industry. To create environmentally and economically sustainable industries the world needs to transition away from a fossil fuel-based economy to a sustainable bioeconomy.

In this new landscape, biochemicals, biofuels, and biomaterials will be produced by microbial cell factories from agricultural biomass or waste streams. Our aim is to build next generation microbial cell factories capable of biochemical transformations that are not possible using natural systems.

Bolstering the capacity of Australia’s bioprocessing industries will translate to significant rural investment and jobs as manufacturing decentralises to co-locate to agricultural areas where feedstock biomass is available.

Research Focus

Pioneer new approaches to the design of synthetic microbes, enabling the development of custom-designed microbial communities, synthetic organelles and new to nature biological pathways and enzymes.

Combine engineering with molecular biology to design and construct novel biological systems that convert biomass from agriculture or waste streams to biofuel, bioplastics and other high-value chemicals.