James Behrendorff

Dr. James Behrendorff is a Senior Lecturer in Microbial Biotechnology at QUT's Gardens Point campus within the Faculty of Science's School of Biology & Environmental Science. He leads research in synthetic biology, focusing on biocatalysis, microbial engineering, and metabolic pathway prototyping. His work aims to convert low-cost or waste resources into valuable molecules like pharmaceuticals and bio-based plastics. Behrendorff is a Chief Investigator in the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology and QUT's Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, contributing to sustainable development goals. He holds a PhD from the University of Queensland and teaches undergraduate units in biotechnology and synthetic biology.

Research interests include redox cascades, secretion systems, membrane complex engineering, and organelle targeting. His articles span topics such as agrobacterial control, cell-free protein expression systems, and gas fermentation optimization. Behrendorff’s work emphasizes industrial biotechnology applications, with a focus on microbial systems like Yarrowia lipolytica and Clostridium autoethanogenum. He currently accepts research students for Honours, Master's, and PhD programs.

Behrendorff’s contributions include pioneering methods for antimicrobial screening and synthetic protein scaffolding at biological membranes. His research bridges fundamental biology with industrial applications, addressing challenges in sustainable resource utilization and bioremediation.