Surbhi Jain

Surbhi Jain is a Research Fellow in the Department of Microbiology at Monash University, specializing in microbial biotechnology and sustainable bioprocessing. Her research focuses on understanding and optimizing microbial conversion of waste gases (e.g., CO, CO₂) into valuable products like single-cell proteins and biofuels, with significant implications for UN Sustainable Development Goals related to clean energy and sustainable industry. She investigates thermophilic acetogens such as Thermoanaerobacter kivui, elucidating their metabolic pathways including acetogenesis, electron bifurcation, and CO utilization mechanisms.

Her work bridges fundamental microbiology with applied biotechnology, addressing challenges in industrial biocatalysis and waste-to-bioenergy systems. Key research areas include enzyme function in thermophilic organisms, metabolic pathway engineering, and microbial adaptation to extreme environments. Collaborations involve analyzing global networks of electron carriers and genetic components critical for CO-dependent growth and formate production.

Jain's publications demonstrate a focus on Thermoanaerobacter kivui's physiology, including studies on CO dehydrogenase enzymes, hydrogenase complexes, and the molecular basis of electron bifurcation. Her findings contribute to optimizing bioindustrial processes using thermophilic microbes for sustainable waste gas utilization. No scientific awards or grants are specifically mentioned in the provided information.