Overview
Background
Centre for Solar Biotechnology: Prof Ben Hankamer is the founding director of the Solar Biofuels Consortium (2007) and Centre for Solar Biotechnology (2016) which is focused on developing next generation microalgae systems. These systems are designed to tap into the huge energy resource of the sun (>2300x global energy demand) and capture CO2 to produce a wide-range of products. These include solar fuels (e.g. H2 from water, oil, methane and ethanol), foods (e.g. health foods) and high value products (e.g. vaccines produced in algae). Microalgae systems also support important eco-services such as water purification and CO2 sequestration. The Centre is being launched in 2016/2017 and includes approximately 30 teams with skills ranging from genome sequencing through to demonstration systems optimsation and accompanying techno-economis and life cycle analysis. The Centre teams have worked extensively with industry.
Structural Biology: The photosynthetic machinery is the biological interface of microalgae that taps into the huge energy resource of the sun, powers the biosphere and produces the atmospheric oxygen that supports life on Earth. My team uses high resolution single particle analysis and electron tomography to solve the intricate 3D architecture of the photosynthetic machinery to enable structure guided design of high efficiency microalgae cell lines and advanced artificial solar fuel systems.
Availability
- Professor Ben Hankamer is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Liverpool
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, University College London
- Doctor of Philosophy, University College London
Research interests
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The Structural Biology of Photosynthesis
Algae cells have evolved over ~3 billion years of natural selection to yield a diverse array of highly efficient, self-assembling, light-responsive membranes. These act as Nature’s solar interfaces, via which plants tap into the power of the sun. These interfaces contain nano-machinery to drive the photosynthetic light reactions which convert light from the sun into food, fuel and atmospheric oxygen to support life on Earth. This photosynthetic machinery is intricately arranged in 3D and has evolved to adjust dynamically (i.e. 4D: 3D & time) to changing light conditions to achieve optimal efficiency of solar energy conversion. Structural biology, in the form of cryo- electron microscopy, electron tomography, and single particle analysis therefore provide critical insights into this process and will increasingly facilitates structure guided design of new solar fuel systems.
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Micro-algae biotechnology
Algae tap into the power of the sun (> 2300 x total global energy demand) to produce biomass for CO2 water and nutrients. Consequently microalgae can be used for the following High value foods and pharmaceuticals: To develop algae based systems for the production of foods/nutraceuticals, vaccines, peptide therapeutics, novel antibiotics in algae. Reef protection/Bioremediation: To develop algae based bioremediation technologies (e.g. minimising nutrient runoff to the reef; phytomining). Solar Fuels: To develop economic algae based and bio-inspired solar fuel systems (e.g. solar power H2 from water for fuel cells).
Research impacts
The Challenge: The global economy is valued at ~$114 Tn pa and is powered by the $6 Tn energy sector. 80% of global energy is used as fuels (only ~20% as electricity).
By 2050, expansion of the human population to > 9 billion people and continued global economic growth, will necessitate 50% more energy (International Energy Agency), 70% more food (UN), 50% more fresh water (OECD) and CO2 emissions cuts of 80% (IPCC) to maintain political, social, fuel and climate security.
Microalgae systems sit at the nexus of this challenge. They are rapidly growing microscopic solar driven ‘cell factories’ which can capture sunlight and CO2 and can grow in saline/low grade water to reduce greenhouse gas emission and produce O2, clean water and biomass. Depending on the species and process used, this bimass can yield a wide range of products. At the high value end micoalgae can be used to produce pharmaeutical and health food products such as omega-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants. As systems and economic efficiencies are improved they can supply much larger commodity markets including renewable fuels as well as bioplastics and ‘green-chemical’ feedstocks.
Australia is uniquely positioned to benefit from such work on tackling the challenge of delivering cost-competitive solar fuel systems. It has vast lands, abundant solar irradiation, saline water resources and excellent infrastructure.
Our parallel structural biology work is focused on generating detailed molecular blueprints of photosynthetic interfaces, refined over 3 billion years of evolution, and to apply these design principles to the development of high-efficiency algal and bio-inspired artificial solar fuel systems at pilot-scale. This will benefit society by reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, and provide the basis for sustainable, long-term economic development.
Works
Search Professor Ben Hankamer’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Book Chapter
Algae-Based Technologies for Mine Site Sustainability
Kaksonen, Anna H., Cheng, Ka Yu, Ginige, Maneesha P., Purcell, Diane, Ayre, Jeremy, Moheimani, Navid, Bahri, Parisa A., Hankamer, Ben, Wolf, Juliane and Edraki, Mansour (2024). Algae-Based Technologies for Mine Site Sustainability. Proceedings of the 63rd Conference of Metallurgists, COM 2024. (pp. 1021-1023) Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-67398-6_170
2024
Journal Article
Modelling dynamics of photosynthetic units and microalgae growth based on high throughput pulsed light screens
Saccardo, Alberto, Wolf, Juliane, Bezzo, Fabrizio and Hankamer, Ben (2024). Modelling dynamics of photosynthetic units and microalgae growth based on high throughput pulsed light screens. Chemical Engineering Journal, 490 151684, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.151684
2023
Book Chapter
High-throughput screening to accelerate microalgae-based phycochemical production
Wolf, Juliane, Chapman, Robert, Deepika, Charu, Pietri, Mélanie, Bensalem, Sakina and Hankamer, Ben (2023). High-throughput screening to accelerate microalgae-based phycochemical production. Value-added products from algae: phycochemical production and applications. (pp. 273-319) edited by Abdelfatah Abomohra and Stephan Ende. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-42026-9_10
2023
Journal Article
Microalgae: potential novel protein for sustainable human nutrition
Williamson, Ellen, Ross, Ian L., Wall, Benjamin T. and Hankamer, Benjamin (2023). Microalgae: potential novel protein for sustainable human nutrition. Trends in Plant Science, 29 (3), 370-382. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.08.006
2023
Journal Article
Environmental and nuclear influences on microalgal chloroplast gene expression
Carrera-Pacheco, Saskya E., Hankamer, Ben and Oey, Melanie (2023). Environmental and nuclear influences on microalgal chloroplast gene expression. Trends in Plant Science, 28 (8), 955-967. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.03.013
2023
Journal Article
Targeting greens and yellows: a solar biorefinery analysis for the microalgae-based co-production of pigments, proteins, and fuel
Karan, Hakan, Roles, John, Hankamer, Ben and Ross, Ian L. (2023). Targeting greens and yellows: a solar biorefinery analysis for the microalgae-based co-production of pigments, proteins, and fuel. Algal Research, 74 103187, 103187. doi: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103187
2023
Journal Article
Delivering impactful solutions for the bioeconomy
Hankamer, Ben, Pregelj, Lisette, O’Kane, Shane, Hussey, Karen and Hine, Damian (2023). Delivering impactful solutions for the bioeconomy. Trends in Plant Science, 28 (5), 583-596. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.02.007
2023
Journal Article
Promoting cell growth and characterizing partial symbiotic relationships in the co‐cultivation of green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Escherichia coli
Yamada, Ryosuke, Yokota, Moe, Matsumoto, Takuya, Hankamer, Ben and Ogino, Hiroyasu (2023). Promoting cell growth and characterizing partial symbiotic relationships in the co‐cultivation of green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Escherichia coli. Biotechnology Journal, 18 (2) 2200099, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/biot.202200099
2022
Journal Article
Solar biorefinery concept for sustainable co-production of microalgae-based protein and renewable fuel
Karan, Hakan, Roles, John, Ross, Ian L., Ebrahimi, Majid, Rackemann, Darryn, Rainey, Thomas and Hankamer, Ben (2022). Solar biorefinery concept for sustainable co-production of microalgae-based protein and renewable fuel. Journal of Cleaner Production, 368 132981, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132981
2022
Journal Article
Circular biomanufacturing through harvesting solar energy and CO2
Sørensen, Mette, Andersen-Ranberg, Johan, Hankamer, Ben and Møller, Birger Lindberg (2022). Circular biomanufacturing through harvesting solar energy and CO2. Trends in Plant Science, 27 (7), 655-673. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.03.001
2022
Journal Article
Germination screen for microalgae-generated plant growth biostimulants
Rupawalla, Zeenat, Shaw, Lindsay, Ross, Ian L., Schmidt, Susanne, Hankamer, Ben and Wolf, Juliane (2022). Germination screen for microalgae-generated plant growth biostimulants. Algal Research, 66 102784, 102784. doi: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102784
2022
Book Chapter
Sustainable production of pigments from cyanobacteria
Deepika, Charu, Wolf, Juliane, Roles, John, Ross, Ian and Hankamer, Ben (2022). Sustainable production of pigments from cyanobacteria. Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology. (pp. 1-81) Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/10_2022_211
2022
Book Chapter
Utilisation of seaweeds in the Australian market – commercialisation strategies: current trends and future prospects
Deepika, Charu, Wolf, Juliane, Moheimani, Navid, Hankamer, Ben, von Herzen, Brian and Rao, Ambati Ranga (2022). Utilisation of seaweeds in the Australian market – commercialisation strategies: current trends and future prospects. Sustainable global resources of seaweeds volume 1: bioresources , cultivation, trade and multifarious applications. (pp. 265-294) edited by Ambati Ranga Rao and Gokare A. Ravishankar. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-91955-9_15
2021
Journal Article
Algae biofertilisers promote sustainable food production and a circular nutrient economy – An integrated empirical-modelling study
Rupawalla, Zeenat, Robinson, Nicole, Schmidt, Susanne, Li, Sijie, Carruthers, Selina, Buisset, Elodie, Roles, John, Hankamer, Ben and Wolf, Juliane (2021). Algae biofertilisers promote sustainable food production and a circular nutrient economy – An integrated empirical-modelling study. Science of the Total Environment, 796 148913, 1-21. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148913
2021
Journal Article
Microalgal nanocellulose – opportunities for a circular bioeconomy
Ross, Ian L., Shah, Sarah, Hankamer, Ben and Amiralian, Nasim (2021). Microalgal nanocellulose – opportunities for a circular bioeconomy. Trends in Plant Science, 26 (9), 924-939. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.05.004
2021
Journal Article
The fate of nitrogen and sulphur during co-liquefaction of algae and bagasse: Experimental and multi-criterion decision analysis
Obeid, Farah, Van, Thuy Chu, Guo, Bingfeng, Surawski, Nic C., Hornung, Ursel, Brown, Richard J., Ramirez, Jerome A., Thomas-Hall, Skye R., Stephens, Evan, Hankamer, Ben and Rainey, Thomas (2021). The fate of nitrogen and sulphur during co-liquefaction of algae and bagasse: Experimental and multi-criterion decision analysis. Biomass and Bioenergy, 151 106119, 106119. doi: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2021.106119
2021
Journal Article
Techno-economic evaluation of microalgae high-density liquid fuel production at 12 international locations
Roles, John, Yarnold, Jennifer, Hussey, Karen and Hankamer, Ben (2021). Techno-economic evaluation of microalgae high-density liquid fuel production at 12 international locations. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 14 (1) 133, 1-19. doi: 10.1186/s13068-021-01972-4
2021
Journal Article
Inducible high level expression of a variant ΔD19A,D58A-ferredoxin-hydrogenase fusion increases photohydrogen production efficiency in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Xiong, Dake, Happe, Thomas, Hankamer, Ben and Ross, Ian L. (2021). Inducible high level expression of a variant ΔD19A,D58A-ferredoxin-hydrogenase fusion increases photohydrogen production efficiency in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Algal Research, 55 102275, 102275. doi: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102275
2021
Journal Article
Sargassum blooms in the Atlantic Ocean – from a burden to an asset
Marx, Ute C., Roles, John and Hankamer, Ben (2021). Sargassum blooms in the Atlantic Ocean – from a burden to an asset. Algal Research, 54 102188, 102188. doi: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102188
2020
Journal Article
Light and heat-shock mediated TDA1 overexpression as a tool for controlled high-yield recombinant protein production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplasts
Carrera-Pacheco, Saskya E., Hankamer, Ben and Oey, Melanie (2020). Light and heat-shock mediated TDA1 overexpression as a tool for controlled high-yield recombinant protein production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplasts. Algal Research, 48 101921, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.algal.2020.101921
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Ben Hankamer is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Digital simulation and model guided optimisation of light driven cell factories
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Marcus Gallagher, Dr Juliane Wolf
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Doctor Philosophy
Light-driven biocatalytic cell factories
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross, Professor Gary Schenk
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Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing microalgae harvesting and pigment extraction through novel methods: evaluation and optimization for sustainable biotechnological applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Juliane Wolf
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Doctor Philosophy
Optimisation of microalgae-based fertiliser and plant bio-stimulants
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Juliane Wolf
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating protein expression and secretion mechanisms in microalgae with a focus on significantly increasing the production of industrially relevant antibodies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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Doctor Philosophy
Cryo-EM studies of Photosystem II mutants
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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Doctor Philosophy
Regulation of bioenergetic pathways in Clamydomonas reinhardtil: Control of linear and cyclic photosythetic electron transport and its implications on hydrogen production
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Pipeline Development for Algae as a Viable Sustainable Dietary Protein Source to Support Human Nutrition
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Structure-guided optimisation of light-driven biomanufacture
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross, Dr Farrah Blades
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Doctor Philosophy
Closed Greenhouse Indoors Climate Simulation and Control
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Juliane Wolf, Emeritus Professor Hal Gurgenci
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Doctor Philosophy
Coupling of P450 ancestors with the photosynthetic machinery of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for light-driven biocatalysis in vitro
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross, Professor Elizabeth Gillam
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Integrated analyses of biomass production and pigment accumulation in cyanobacteria and microalgae
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Juliane Wolf
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Solar-Driven P450 Biocatalysis: Tapping Photosynthetic Electrons to Power the Synthesis of High-Value Fine Chemicals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross, Dr Melanie Oey
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Modelling microalgae based production of recombinant proteins under different scenarios
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross, Dr Melanie Oey
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Generation and characterisation of CRISPR - mediated LHCBM - Knockout Chlamydomonas reinhardtii strains
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Techno-economic and life cycle analysis of multi-product microalgae biorefineries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
The development of green microalgae as a biofertiliser and biostimulant to improve Spinacia oleracea crop quality and yield.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Juliane Wolf
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Optimising microalgae production efficiency and key process parameters: light, nutrients and growth systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Juliane Wolf, Dr Jennifer Yarnold
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Analysis and optimisation of chloroplast recombinant protein expression in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Bioengineering high efficiency solar driven hydrogen production in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Combined Techno-economic and Lifecycle Analysis of Renewable Fuel Production Systems
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Biophysical and Structural Studies of Escherichia coli Mechanosensitive Channel of Large Conductance
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Developing 3D novel edge detection and particle picking tools for electron tomography
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Scale-up cultivation of Australian algae New approaches to isolation, mid-scale cultivation and harvesting of Australian wild type algal strains
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross, Dr Melanie Oey
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Photosynthesis of microalgae in outdoor mass cultures and modelling its effects on biomass productivity for fuels, feeds and chemicals.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Enhanced microalgae growth and lipid production: A study of cytostatic inhibitors and glycerol assimilation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Effective Scale Up of Microalgal Systems for the Production of Biomass and Biofuels
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Developing automated high-throughput microalgal nutrient screening system
Principal Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Cryopreservation, culture recovery and glucose induced Programmed cell death in Chlorophyte microalgae
Principal Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Novel Nanovalves for Liposomal Drug Delivery Based on Bacterial Mechanosensitive Channel of Large Conductance
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Multiple, Object-Oriented Segmentation Methods of Mammalian Cell Tomograms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Regulation of light harvesting complex gene expression in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring New Strategies For A More Accurate Estimation Of Microalgae Growth Rate And Light Harvesting Complexes Antennae Size
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Multiscale analysis and optimisation of photosynthetic solar energy systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg, Professor Gerard Milburn, Professor Tom Stace
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Developing metabolic fingerprinting strategies to decipher algal hydrogen production.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Commercialisation and Development of Integrated Microalgal Production Systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Enhanced Filter Algorithms And Application Of Single Particle Analysis To The Study Of Ovine Atadenovirus
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
ADVANCED ALGORITHMS, SOFTWARE AND APPLICATIONS IN SINGLE PARTICLE ANALYSIS
Principal Advisor
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Coupling of P450 ancestors with the photosynthetic machinery of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for light-driven biocatalysis in vitro
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Ross, Professor Elizabeth Gillam
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Structural characterisation of macromolecular complexes by cryo-electron microscopy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Structural characterisation of the eukaryotic CAD multienzyme complex
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg, Dr Ian Ross, Professor Bostjan Kobe
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Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Ben Hankamer directly for media enquiries about:
- algae
- algae biotechnology
- algae systems
- algal biofuels
- biodisesel
- biofuels
- Biofuels - microalgae
- bioreactors
- biotechnology
- climate change
- Crystallography
- Electron crystallography
- Electron microscopy
- Energy - clean
- hydrogen
- Life cycle analysis
- Microalgae biofuels
- Renewable energy
- Single particle analysis
- Solar fuels
- Structural biology
- Sustainable energy
- Techno-economic modelling
- X-ray crystallography
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