![]() | Patrick Yizhi CaiProfessoryizhi.cai@manchester.ac.uk |
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![]() | Ellie PayneManagerellie.payne@manchester.ac.uk |
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Ellie is the manager of the Cai lab, having joined the group shortly after completing her Masters in Biochemistry at the University of Liverpool in the Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, making her own clothes, and exploring nature.
![]() | Reem SwidahPostdoctoral research associatereem.swidah@manchester.ac.uk |
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Reem obtained her PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Manchester under the supervision of Prof. Mark Ashe and Prof. Chris Grant. During her PhD and a subsequent postdoc in Mark Ashe’s lab she engineered S. cerevisiae strains to produce butanol by introducing the ABE pathway from bacteria into yeast, applying metabolic engineering and synthetic biology strategies to enhance butanol production, and continued that work as a research associate in Mark Ashe’s lab. Reem joined the lab of Prof. Patrick Cai in 2018 as a postdoctoral research associate. Reem is currently working on Sc3.0 project and genome minimization via SCRaMbLE. She is constructing and characterizing artificial new essential chromosome in the Sc2.0 synthetic strain. In her free time, she enjoys working as a volunteer in different charities. Reem loves reading, painting, cooking, travelling and exploring life.
![]() | Stefan HoffmannPostdoctoral research associatestefan.hoffmann@manchester.ac.uk |
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Stefan joined the group of Professor Patrick Cai in 2019 as a postdoctoral research associate. He did his PhD at the University of Potsdam, Germany under the supervision of Professor Katja Arndt, focussing on synthetic systems for directed evolution and transcriptional regulation in E. coli. He is working on biocontainment in synthetic biology, developing genetic systems to contain engineered organisms to defined culture conditions. In his spare time, Stefan enjoys kickboxing, gardening, DIYing and a variety of outdoor activities.
![]() | Kewin GombeauPostdoctoral research associatekewin.gombeau@manchester.ac.uk |
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Kewin joined the group of Professor Patrick Cai in 2019 as a postdoctoral research associate. He performed his PhD at the University Aix-Marseille, France, under the supervision of Prof. Jean-Paul Bourdineaud and Dr. Christelle Adam-Guillermin, aiming at integrating the epigenetic response in the field of radioecotoxicology. He then joined in 2017 the research team lead by Dr. Jean-Paul di Rago, France, to work on the nuclear relocation of mitochondrial genes in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
His current research aims at implementing a fully synthetic, size-reduced and functional mitochondrial genome in S. cerevisiae by removing the presumably non-essential inter- and intragenic sequences, representing more than 80% of the mitochondrial genome size. Kewin truly believes that mitochondria play a central role in eukaryotic cell’s adaptive capabilities and evolution.
In his spare time, Kewin enjoys learning about psychology, playing guitar and cooking.
![]() | Raymond WanPostdoctoral research associateraymond.wan@manchester.ac.uk |
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Ray obtained his BSc from the University of British Columbia (1997) and PhD from the University of Melbourne (2004), both in computer science. His PhD dissertation was on text compression and information retrieval. Since then, he has worked as a researcher in bioinformatics in Japan and Hong Kong on various next generation sequencing and genotyping projects. He joined the Cai lab in 2022 as a computational biologist. His personal interests include computer games, the piano, and almost anything related to Japan.
![]() | Mark McCulloughPostdoctoral research associatemark.mccullough@manchester.ac.uk |
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Mark joined the Cai Lab in 2022 as a computational post-doc. He completed his PhD at Queen’s University Belfast, under the supervision of Professor Paulo Prodohl, which entailed a Population Genomics approach to managing European oyster populations. Mark’s interests are in computational tools to assist the design-build-test-learn cycles of synthetic biology and genomics projects. Mark enjoys cycling, reading and watching science-fiction.
![]() | Leandro Vieira dos SantosPostdoctoral research associateleandro.vieiradossantos@manchester.ac.uk |
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Leandro holds his BSc in Microbiology from the Federal University of Viçosa, and PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the State University of Campinas. His PhD was about metabolic engineering and adaptive evolution of yeasts to produce biofuels from renewable sources. Since then, he has worked as researcher in the area of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering in industry and research institutes, designing yeasts to produce biofuels and value-added biochemicals. He joined the Cai lab at the end of 2022 applying evolution to understand molecular mechanisms of speciation. Personal interests include travelling, reading and learning about economy.
![]() | Ravishankar BabuPostdoctoral research associateravishankar.babu@manchester.ac.uk |
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Ravi joined the group of Professor Patrick Cai in 2023 as a postdoctoral research associate. He finished his PhD from University of Aberdeen, UK under the supervision of Professor Ian Stansfield, working on transcriptional regulation of tRNAs and translational elongation factor EEF2A in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. He then joined the lab of Dr. Yulia Yuzenkova in 2021 as a postdoctoral research associate at Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Newcastle University where he worked on NAD+ capped RNA in E.coli and its role in regulating transcriptional and translational efficiency. His current research aims at engineering of human artificial chromosomes and application of tRNA neochromosomes in regulating translational efficiency. In his free time, he likes capturing moments and places through photography.
![]() | Alba BalleriniPhD studentalba.ballerini@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk |
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Alba is a PhD student in the Cai Lab. She joined the group of Professor Patrick Cai in 2019 as a master student and, after her graduation with a Molecular Biotechnology MSci from University of Pisa, she started her PhD. Her work involves the engineering of the next generation of tRNA neochromosomes. She believes that the tRNA neochromosome research within the Sc2.0 project is a highly fascinating research field which will allow observation towards de novo chromosome building but also to study fundamentals of tRNA biology which would not be accessible in a standard biological system. In her free time, she volunteers in science research events, she enjoys travel, reading, going to the cinema and loves good food.
![]() | Josh JamesPhD studentjoshua.james-2@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk |
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Josh joined the Cai lab group in 2019 as a PhD student, shortly after graduating with a Biology MSci from the University of Bristol. His work involves using CRISPR and adeno-associated virus (AAV) to develop tools for rewriting human genomes. These will allow analysis of the functionalities of genetic sequences at a previously unattained resolution. This project is in collaboration with the Chew Lab (Genome Institute of Singapore). Outside of the lab, Josh enjoys travel, SCUBA diving and climbing.
![]() | Miriam Montserrat Vega-GordilloPhD studentmiriam.vegagordillo@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk |
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Miriam studied Biotechnology at the Autonomous University of Queretaro and completed the MSc. in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology at Sussex University. She has worked on different projects of functional genomics, experimental oncology and immunology in Mexico, Spain and Canada. Currently enrolled in the dual Manchester-Beijing PhD programme she focusses on applying synthetic biology, genomics and AI to develop novel therapeutic approaches for cancer. Outside of the academic world, she has launched start up initiatives to promote a more inclusive world; she enjoys chess, independent films, theatre and reading.
![]() | James SandersPhD studentjames.sanders-3@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk |
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James joined the Cai lab in 2021 as a PhD student with a focus on expanding the genetic code of synthetic yeast. This work aims to leverage the unique design features of Sc2.0 to engineer new strains of yeast that are able to efficiently use amino acids not found in nature. Before joining the lab, James graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Genetics from the University of Glasgow followed by an MRes in Synthetic Biology from the University College London.
![]() | Eloise O’ConnorPhD studenteloise.oconnor@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk |
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Eloise graduated with a BSc Hons in Biochemistry from Imperial College London in 2019. She joined the Cai lab group in 2021 working in conjunction with Prof Jason Micklefield. Her project is on synthetic biology approaches for re-assembling biosynthetic pathways in heterologous host strains and biosensing technologies. Eloise is funded by the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in BioDesign Engineering. Outside of the lab Eloise enjoys art, fitness and bouldering.
![]() | Gabrielle DavidPhD studentgabrielle.david@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk |
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After graduating with a Biology MSci from the University of Bristol, Gabrielle joined the Cai Lab as a PhD student in 2022. The aim of her project is to develop recording systems within yeast, utilising the vast data storage potential of DNA as a medium on which to write a history of encountered signals. Such systems may be utilised to continuously monitor events and transient signals in a range of environments, for example pollution in rivers and disease markers in the gut. In her spare time, Gabrielle loves sewing, baking, singing and working on her family farm with her collies.
![]() | Smruti Sudha BiswalPhD studentsmruti.biswal@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk |
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Smruti joined the Cai Lab in 2023 after completing her Integrated Master of Science in Life Science from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India. She is enrolled in the EPSRC-funded CDT BioDesign Engineering PhD program. As a part of the program, she completed her Mres in Systems and Synthetic Biology from Imperial College London. Her project is based on developing technologies for mammalian synthetic biology of engineering disease-based genomic loci that can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. When not in the lab, she enjoys rummaging through the pages of a thriller novel, cooking and most likely munching on desserts!
![]() | Maisie CzernuszkaPhD studentmaisie.czernuszka@student.manchester.ac.uk |
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Maisie recently joined the Cai lab as a PhD student after graduating with a Biology MSci from the University of Manchester in July 2023. In collaboration with Prof. Michael Brockhurst, her work aims to engineer bacteriophages within yeast. Maisie’s primary focus is the development and implementation of a diverse range of biocontainment and safeguarding strategies, with the ultimate goal of enhancing phage therapeutics and offering an innovative alternative to traditional antibiotics. Outside of the lab, Maisie enjoys playing volleyball, reading, video games, and good food.
Alumni
Title | Given name | Family name | Dates | Position |
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Mustafa | Kaplan | June 2023 – Sept 2023 | MSc student | |
Muyao | Ma | June 2023 – Sept 2023 | MSc student | |
Martin | Holub | June 2023 – Sept 2023 | Visiting PGDR | |
Sanmukh | Shivdekar | June 2023 – Sept 2023 | MSc student | |
Martyna | Grazinyte | Oct 2022 – June 2023 | Undergraduate student | |
Austin | Semple | Oct 2022 – June 2023 | Undergraduate student | |
Max | Freedman | Sept 2022 – May 2023 | MSc student | |
Xiaoran | Ding | 2022 | Master (MSc) student | |
Perrine | Dalby | 2022 | Master student | |
Marco | Monti | 2022 | PhD student | |
Dr. | Yingying | Li | 2021 | Postdoc |
Elisa Barrow | Molina | 2021 | Master student | |
David | Leeming | 2021 | Master student | |
Alex | Atkinson | 2020 | Master student | |
Dr. | Daniel | Schindler | 2020 | Postdoc |
Jamie | Auxillos | 2020 | PhD student | |
Katarina | Jonsson | 2019 | PhD student | |
Francesco | Ragazzini | 2019 | Master student | |
Sally | Jones | Sep 2019 | Research technician | |
Ivy Yunjia | Zhang | Aug 2019 | Visiting student, Chinese University of Hong Kong | |
Dr. | Jason Shijian | Liu | Aug 2019 | Visiting Academic, Fujian University of Technology |
Jun Yang | Ong | Jul 2019 | Undergraduate student | |
Dr. | Eva | Garcia-Ruiz | Jan 2019 | Postdoc |
Chantal Yue | Shen | 2018 | PhD student | |
Paulina | Kanigowska | 2018 | PhD student | |
Shuangying | Jiang | 2018 | Visiting PhD student | |
Aileen | Greig | Dec 2017 | Technician | |
Dr. | Andrea | Martella | Dec 2017 | Postdoc |
Dr. | Dariusz | Abramczyk | Dec 2017 | Postdoc |
Emily | Scher | Sep 2013 – Dec 2017 | PhD student | |
Nahuel Manzanaro | Moreno | Dec 2017 | PhD student | |
Olivia Wei | Liu | Dec 2017 | PhD student | |
Roy | Walker | Dec 2017 | PhD student | |
Ute | Koeber | Dec 2017 | PhD student | |
Aitor | Bleda | May 2016 – Nov 2016 | Software Engineer | |
Anais | Moisy | Nov 2015 – Nov 2016 | Designer, Design Informatics | |
Sarah Yijing | Zheng | Oct 2014 – Nov 2016 | Automation Engineer | |
Dr. | Valentin | Zulkower | Jun 2015- Nov 2016 | Software Developer |
Fabian | Schneider | Mar 2016 – Sep 2016 | Visiting PhD student, University of Munich | |
Alba | Ubide | Oct 2013 – Sep 2016 | Lab manager | |
Tianyi | Li | Jul 2015 – Aug 2015 | Visiting graduate student, Tsinghua University | |
Lois | Ogunlana | Jun 2015 – Aug 2015 | Undergraduate student in Biotechnology, University of Edinburgh | |
Hugo | Vilanueva | Sep 2013 – Sep 2014 | Honors undergraduate student in Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh | |
Qi | Feng | Apr 2014 – Aug 2014 | Visiting master student from Tianjin University | |
Claire | Chung | Jun 2014 – Aug 2014 | Visiting undergraduate from Chinese University of Hong Kong | |
Jackie Yun | Wang | Apr 2013 – Jun 2014 | Visiting scholar from BGI |