CBE Seminar: “Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology for a Sustainable Future” (Hal Alper, UT Austin)
April 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Abstract:
Recent technical advances are leading to a rapid transformation of the chemical palette available in cells, thus making it conceivable to produce nearly any organic molecule of interest—from biofuels to biopolymers to pharmaceuticals. However, these feats require the ability to “hijack” native cellular machinery and metabolism and navigate the complexity inherent in cellular regulation. This talk will cover examples of how microbial systems and enzyme can achieve the goal of sustainable chemical production and waste valorization. Examples include rewired cells for polymer precursors, unconventional carbon utilization including plastic waste, and platform strain engineering. Throughout the talk, there will be a focus on the biological developments necessary to achieve a sustainable, circular economy.
Hal Alper
Cockrell Family Regents Chair in Engineering
Dr. Hal Alper is the Cockrell Family Regents Chair in Engineering #1, Billy Carr Distinguished Teaching Fellow, and Executive Director of the Center for Biomedical Research Support at The University of Texas at Austin. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006 and was a postdoctoral research associate at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research from 2006-2008, and at Shire Human Genetic Therapies from 2007-2008. Dr. Alper also serves on the Graduate Studies Committee for the Cell and Molecular Biology Department and the Biochemistry Department. He is currently the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Cellular and Metabolic Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin where his lab focuses on metabolic and cellular engineering in the context of biofuel, biochemical, and biopharmaceutical production in an array of model host organisms. His research focuses on applying and extending the approaches of synthetic biology, systems biology, and protein engineering. Dr. Alper has published over 150 articles and 8 book chapters. Dr. Alper is the recipient of the Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award (2008), Texas Exes Teaching Award (2009), DuPont Young Investigator Award (2010), Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award (2011), UT Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award (2012), Biotechnology and Bioengineering Daniel I.C. Wang Award (2013), Jay Bailey Young Investigator Award (2014), Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2014), Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology Young Investigator Award (2015), ACS BIOT Young Investigator Award (2016), UT-Austin Emerging Inventor of the Year Award (2016) and AIChE Allan P. Colburn Award (2018), Biochemical Engineering Journal Young Investigator Award (2019), and Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering (2019), and AIChE Andreas Acrivos Award for Professional Progress in Chemical Engineering (2023). He was elected as a Fellow to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2018, the National Academy of Inventors in 2019, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2024.