Journal: Current Opinion in Microbiology
Bio
Dr Christopher C. Azubuike is a microbiologist, synthetic biologist, and metabolic engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He received his Ph.D. in Synthetic biology/Metabolic engineering at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He developed genetic tools for Cupriavidus necator H16, a bioplastic producing bacterium.
Following his Ph.D., Dr Azubuike worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He led a multidisciplinary project: Developing biosensor for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in wastewater. This research was funded by the United Kingdom Research & Innovation/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UKRI/BBSRC). Dr Azubuike’s role in this research involved synthesis of bioactive hydrogels using SpyTag-SpyCatcher approach.
Dr Azubuike joined the Synthetic biology group at ORNL in 2021. He is engineering a non-model bacterium to assimilate and convert lignin-derived aromatics into commercially relevant biochemicals and building blocks to improve biomanufacturing capabilities in Industrial biotechnology sector.
Research interests:
Metabolic engineering of model and non-model microbes for improved production of biochemicals
Microbial pathway optimization using evolutionary approach and 13C-metabolic flux analysis to identify metabolic bottlenecks
Optimization of fermentation process using design of experiments
Developing and optimizing genetic tools for non-model microbes
Bioremediation of hydrocarbons and heavy metals polluted environments
Academic Collaborations (External)
Prof Ramon Gonzalez (University of South Florida, Chemical, Biological and Material Engineering)
Dr Jing Chen (University of South Florida, Chemical, Biological and Material Engineering)
Prof Shawn R Campagna (University of Tennessee Knoxville, Chemistry)
Dr Katarina A Jones (University of Tennessee Knoxville, Chemistry)
Awards
Commonwealth Scholarship, Ph.D. (2016-2020)
Commonwealth Scholarship, MSc. (2014-2015)
Best Science Student, Faculty Prize (2011)
Best Microbiology Student, Department Subject Prize (2011)