Irnayuli Sitepu

Irnayuli Sitepu is a Project Scientist and lab manager at the Phaff Yeast Culture Collection, part of the University of California, Davis Department of Food Science and Technology. She specializes in yeast strain screening for industrial applications, particularly in biofuel production, lipid synthesis, and brewing science. Her work emphasizes high-throughput methods for identifying yeasts with desirable traits like proline uptake, ionic liquid tolerance, and polyol lipid secretion.

Dr. Sitepu holds a Ph.D. in Applied Bioscience/Forest Microbiology from Hokkaido University (Japan, 2007), an M.S. in Plant-Microbe Interaction from the University of Adelaide (Australia, 2001), and a B.Sc. in Plant Pest and Disease from Brawijaya University (Indonesia, 1994).

Her research interests focus on microbial genetics, bioremediation, and sustainable resource utilization. Key areas include optimizing yeast strains for lipid and protein production, leveraging microbial interactions in tropical ecosystems, and developing biocatalysts for industrial processes. She has pioneered lab protocols for screening oleaginous yeasts and contributed to understanding yeast tolerance to harsh environments (e.g., ionic liquids).

Her recent publications highlight advancements in yeast-based production systems for biofuels, glycolipids, and high-protein biomass, with a growing emphasis on industrial scalability and novel applications in brewing. Patents from 2024 underscore her team's innovations in polyol lipid synthesis technologies.

Dr. Sitepu currently supervises junior specialists, postdocs, visiting scientists, and students in her lab. She collaborates closely with the Boundy-Mills research group and has contributed to the USCCN microbial genomics initiative. Her work bridges fundamental microbiology with applied biotechnology, addressing both environmental and industrial challenges.

Her lab manages the Phaff Yeast Collection, a global resource for yeast strains, and explores applications in biorehabilitation of degraded lands through rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi. This includes studies on Aquilaria spp. for agarwood production and tropical peatland restoration.