معرفی
Paige Erpf is a Postdoctoral Fellow and Synthetic Biologist at Macquarie University's School of Natural Sciences and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. She specializes in genetic engineering of both industrial and pathogenic yeast, with a focus on developing the first synthetic yeast strain and engineering microbes to address climate change challenges.
Paige graduated from The University of Queensland with an undergraduate degree in Zoology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, followed by a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Her academic journey has positioned her at the forefront of synthetic biology research.
Paige's research focuses on transforming ordinary yeast into miniature cell factories that produce biofuels, plastics, and medicines. She specializes in genetic engineering of industrial and pathogenic yeast, with significant work on Cryptococcus neoformans. Her research explores how engineered microbes can work together to tackle problems arising from climate change, representing an innovative approach to environmental challenges through synthetic biology.
Her publication record shows a strong trajectory in synthetic biology and fungal pathogenesis, with recent high-impact work on synthetic chromosome design and construction. Her research spans fundamental yeast biology to applied antifungal drug discovery, demonstrating both theoretical depth and practical applications in microbial engineering.
Notable recognition:
- Superstar of STEM (2023)
Paige has mentored and supervised several master's and PhD students, undergraduates, and high school students on placement. She actively contributes to education through guest lectures in courses covering synthetic biology, microbiology, and ribosome translation. Her outreach extends beyond academia, as she ventured into science comedy in 2023, performing at the Enmore Theatre Wildflower Bar and Sydney Fringe Festival, and appearing on the National Science Quiz.
As a member of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Paige collaborates with researchers across institutions on cutting-edge synthetic genome projects. She has participated in a global consortium working on building the first synthetic genome, demonstrating her integration into international research networks focused on advancing synthetic biology capabilities.
