Dr Chiara Gandini

Chiara is a Genetic Engineer passionate in synthetic biology and in the fascinating world of bacteria. In the past, she worked on scaling-up protein production in E. coli, in dissecting the molecular mechanisms of the photosynthetic machinery of cyanobacteria and plants, and in genetic engineering diatoms to over-express proteins and high-value lipids, always aiming to create a more sustainable economy. She loves cloning and programming with DNA and she is looking forward for robots and automation to take over her pipetting skills. Within the Open Bioeconomy lab, she is developing tools to enable biotechnology in low-resource contexts, including helping to select genetic parts to be included the Open Enzyme project and cloning libraries of genetic constructs to prototype protocols for the low-cost expression and purification of enzymes through large scale cell-free protein synthesis and 3D printed devices. She is also helping in prototyping a low-cost bioreactor to grow E. coli. Outside the lab, she likes building things, doing birdwatching (also pigeons), gardening, hiking and board games (Schyte!).