Continuous Expression and Purification of Recombinant Lactoferrin in Pichia pastoris (Precision Fermentation)

About the project

About the Project Help pioneer the next generation of sustainable biomanufacturing by developing a fully continuous precision-fermentation platform for producing and purifying recombinant lactoferrin in Pichia pastoris . Lactoferrin is a high-value bioactive protein with applications across nutrition, health, and biopharmaceuticals —and continuous processing offers a pathway to dramatically improved productivity, consistency, and cost-effectiveness . In this PhD, you will build and operate a long-term continuous yeast bioprocess and connect it to robust downstream operations to enable steady-state production of high-quality lactoferrin. While the project includes strain development and expression optimisation , the core focus is on continuous bioreactor operation, analytics, and purification , generating publishable results and platform capability with strong translational and industry relevance. Key research activities may include: Developing and optimising Pichia pastoris strains for recombinant lactoferrin expression (including screening strategies and expression tuning) Designing and running continuous fermentation modes (e.g., chemostat/perfusion strategies), with an emphasis on stability, productivity, and reproducibility Establishing at-line/online analytics for monitoring growth, metabolism, and product quality (e.g., cell density/viability, metabolites, titer, impurity profiles) Developing continuous or intensified purification workflows (e.g., capture and polishing concepts, membrane operations, chromatography strategies, precipitation/clarification approaches) Investigating process robustness and long-duration performance : contamination risk, genetic stability, productivity drift, fouling, and control strategies Integrating upstream and downstream insights into a coherent process model and techno-economic perspective to support scale-up decisions This project is ideal for a candidate excited by hands-on experimental work and process thinking—someone who wants to design, run, and troubleshoot real bioprocesses while producing research outcomes with clear impact in precision fermentation and biomanufacturing . Candidate background (typical): We welcome applicants with a strong degree (First-Class Honours or Master’s) in Chemical Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Microbiology , or a closely related discipline. Experience (or strong interest) in any of the following is highly valued: Yeast fermentation / microbial cultivation Bioreactor operation and process control Protein analytics (SDS-PAGE, ELISA/HPLC, activity assays) Downstream processing (filtration, chromatography, membranes) Data analysis, modelling, or automation (Python/MATLAB is a plus) Supervisor: Dr Lukas Gerstweiler ( lukas.gerstweiler@adelaide.edu.au ) Research Group: Biomanufacturing Research Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Adelaide University More Information: https://set.adelaide.edu.au/chemical-engineering/our-research/bioprocess-engineering/biomanufacturing-research-group Eligibility: Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) a strong Master’s or First-Class Honours Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Bioprocess Engineering, or a related discipline. English Language Requirements: International applicants require IELTS (minimum 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0) or equivalent TOEFL score. Application Process: Interested candidates should first send an expression of interest to Dr Lukas Gerstweiler including: CV, 2) academic transcripts, and 3) a brief statement of research interests (and relevant experience). Suitable candidates will be invited to submit a formal application for admission and scholarship via the Adelaide University research degree portal (adelaideuni.edu.au). Deadline: 1 February 2026 (for scholarship consideration in relevant rounds; contact supervisor as soon as possible). Join a research group advancing continuous bioprocessing and precision fermentation —and help deliver scalable, sustainable production of next-generation functional proteins.

Research areas