Dr Birgitta Ebert
Dr

Birgitta Ebert

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 64280

Background

Birgitta Ebert’s research focuses on developing biotechnology concepts to address critical challenges such as pollution, climate change and overexploitation of natural resources.

She specializes in improving microbial catalysts for eco-friendly chemical and material production by leveraging metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, systems analysis, and modelling. Her goal is to create microbial cell factories that convert renewable resources and waste into valuable products, reducing reliance on petrochemicals. She collaborates closely with chemists and chemical engineers to enhance the integration of chemical and biological processes for improved efficiency and sustainability.

Birgitta has a background in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Systems Biotechnology from TU Dortmund University (Germany). She led a research group in Systems Metabolic Engineering at the Institute of Applied Microbiology at RWTH Aachen University (Germany) from 2012 to 2019. In 2016, she expanded her expertise in Synthetic Biology by joining the Keasling lab at the University of California in Berkeley and the Joint BioEnergy Institute in Emeryville (USA).

Since April 2019, she has been at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at the University of Queensland, applying her expertise to engineer microbial cell factories for fermentation-based manufacturing.

Availability

Dr Birgitta Ebert is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biochemistry and cell biology Bioinformatics and computational biology Biological Sciences Biological network analysis Industrial biotechnology Microbiology Synthetic biology Systems biology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, TU Dortmund University

Research interests

  • Microbial Biotechnology

  • Synthetic Biology

  • Systems Metabolic Engineering

  • Bioeconomy

Search Professor Birgitta Ebert’s works on UQ eSpace

62 works between 2008 and 2025
All (62) Journal Article (52) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (5)

1 - 20 of 62 works

2025

Journal Article

Systematic engineering of synthetic serine cycles in Pseudomonas putida uncovers emergent topologies for methanol assimilation

Puiggené, Òscar, Muñoz-Triviño, Jaime, Civil-Ferrer, Laura, Gille, Line, Schulz-Mirbach, Helena, Bergen, Daniel, Erb, Tobias J., Ebert, Birgitta E. and Nikel, Pablo I. (2025). Systematic engineering of synthetic serine cycles in Pseudomonas putida uncovers emergent topologies for methanol assimilation. Trends in Biotechnology. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.001

Systematic engineering of synthetic serine cycles in Pseudomonas putida uncovers emergent topologies for methanol assimilation

2025

Journal Article

Advancing Australia’s food future: opportunities and challenges in precision fermentation

Gumulya, Yosephine, Peng, Huadong, Ebert, Birgitta, Johnson, Hope, van der Pols, Jolieke C., Bansal, Nidhi, Marcellin, Esteban and Turner, Mark S. (2025). Advancing Australia’s food future: opportunities and challenges in precision fermentation. Future Foods, 11 100630, 100630. doi: 10.1016/j.fufo.2025.100630

Advancing Australia’s food future: opportunities and challenges in precision fermentation

2025

Conference Publication

Synthetically primed adaptation of bacterial metabolism to a non-native sugar substrate

Dvorak, P., Buryskova, B., Popelarova, B., Ebert, B., Botka, T., Bujdos, D. and Benesik, M. (2025). Synthetically primed adaptation of bacterial metabolism to a non-native sugar substrate. European Congress on Biotechnology – ECB 2024, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 30 June - 3 July 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.nbt.2024.08.116

Synthetically primed adaptation of bacterial metabolism to a non-native sugar substrate

2025

Journal Article

Acetol biosynthesis enables NADPH balance during nitrogen limitation in engineered Escherichia coli

Sudarsan, Suresh, Demling, Philipp, Ozdemir, Emre, Ben Ammar, Aziz, Mennicken, Philip, Buescher, Joerg M., Meurer, Guido, Ebert, Birgitta E. and Blank, Lars M. (2025). Acetol biosynthesis enables NADPH balance during nitrogen limitation in engineered Escherichia coli. Microbial Cell Factories, 24 (1) 65. doi: 10.1186/s12934-025-02687-z

Acetol biosynthesis enables NADPH balance during nitrogen limitation in engineered Escherichia coli

2024

Journal Article

Exploration of in situ extraction for enhanced triterpenoid production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Dianat, Mariam, Straaten, Sarah, Maritato, Aldo, Wibberg, Daniel, Busche, Tobias, Blank, Lars M. and Ebert, Birgitta E. (2024). Exploration of in situ extraction for enhanced triterpenoid production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microbial Biotechnology, 17 (12) e70061, e70061. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.70061

Exploration of in situ extraction for enhanced triterpenoid production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2024

Journal Article

Methyl ketones: a comprehensive study of a novel biofuel

Gruetering, Carolin, Honecker, Christian, Hofmeister, Marius, Neumann, Marcel, Rasspe-Lange, Lukas, Du, Miaomiao, Lehrheuer, Bastian, von Campenhausen, Maximilian, Schuster, Franziska, Surger, Maximilian, Ebert, Birgitta E., Jupke, Andreas, Tiso, Till, Leonhard, Kai, Schmitz, Katharina, Pischinger, Stefan and Blank, Lars M. (2024). Methyl ketones: a comprehensive study of a novel biofuel. Sustainable Energy and Fuels, 8 (9), 2059-2072. doi: 10.1039/d4se00035h

Methyl ketones: a comprehensive study of a novel biofuel

2024

Journal Article

Synthetically-primed adaptation of Pseudomonas putida to a non-native substrate D-xylose

Dvořák, Pavel, Burýšková, Barbora, Popelářová, Barbora, Ebert, Birgitta E., Botka, Tibor, Bujdoš, Dalimil, Sánchez-Pascuala, Alberto, Schöttler, Hannah, Hayen, Heiko, de Lorenzo, Víctor, Blank, Lars M. and Benešík, Martin (2024). Synthetically-primed adaptation of Pseudomonas putida to a non-native substrate D-xylose. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 2666, 1-18. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46812-9

Synthetically-primed adaptation of Pseudomonas putida to a non-native substrate D-xylose

2023

Journal Article

Expanding Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120's acyl‐CoA portfolio: propionate production in mineral salt medium

Neves, Dário, Meinen, Daniel, Alter, Tobias B., Blank, Lars M. and Ebert, Birgitta E. (2023). Expanding Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120's acyl‐CoA portfolio: propionate production in mineral salt medium. Microbial Biotechnology, 17 (1) e14309, e14309. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.14309

Expanding Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120's acyl‐CoA portfolio: propionate production in mineral salt medium

2023

Journal Article

Cross-species synthetic promoter library: finding common ground between Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120 and Escherichia coli

Neves, Dário, Liebal, Ulf W., Nies, Salome C., Alter, Tobias B., Pitzler, Christian, Blank, Lars M. and Ebert, Birgitta E. (2023). Cross-species synthetic promoter library: finding common ground between Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120 and Escherichia coli. ACS Synthetic Biology, 12 (7), 2029-2040. doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00084

Cross-species synthetic promoter library: finding common ground between Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120 and Escherichia coli

2023

Journal Article

Correction to “Engineering Critical Amino Acid Residues of Lanosterol Synthase to Improve the Production of Triterpenoids in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>”

Guo, Hao, Wang, Huiyan, Chen, Tongtong, Guo, Liwei, Blank, Lars M., Ebert, Birgitta E. and Huo, Yi-Xin (2023). Correction to “Engineering Critical Amino Acid Residues of Lanosterol Synthase to Improve the Production of Triterpenoids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”. ACS Synthetic Biology, 12 (4), 1377-1377. doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00142

Correction to “Engineering Critical Amino Acid Residues of Lanosterol Synthase to Improve the Production of Triterpenoids in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>”

2023

Journal Article

Non-invasive monitoring of microbial triterpenoid production using nonlinear microscopy techniques

Dianat, Mariam, Münchberg, Ute, Blank, Lars M., Freier, Erik and Ebert, Birgitta E. (2023). Non-invasive monitoring of microbial triterpenoid production using nonlinear microscopy techniques. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11 1106566, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1106566

Non-invasive monitoring of microbial triterpenoid production using nonlinear microscopy techniques

2023

Journal Article

Current metabolic engineering strategies for photosynthetic bioproduction in cyanobacteria

Satta, Alessandro, Esquirol, Lygie and Ebert, Birgitta E. (2023). Current metabolic engineering strategies for photosynthetic bioproduction in cyanobacteria. Microorganisms, 11 (2) 455. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11020455

Current metabolic engineering strategies for photosynthetic bioproduction in cyanobacteria

2022

Journal Article

Molecular characterization of cyanobacterial short‐chain prenyltransferases and discovery of a novel GGPP phosphatase

Satta, Alessandro, Esquirol, Lygie, Ebert, Birgitta E., Newman, Janet, Peat, Thomas S., Plan, Manuel, Schenk, Gerhard and Vickers, Claudia E. (2022). Molecular characterization of cyanobacterial short‐chain prenyltransferases and discovery of a novel GGPP phosphatase. The FEBS Journal, 289 (21), 6672-6693. doi: 10.1111/febs.16556

Molecular characterization of cyanobacterial short‐chain prenyltransferases and discovery of a novel GGPP phosphatase

2022

Journal Article

Ancestral sequence reconstruction of the CYP711 family reveals functional divergence in strigolactone biosynthetic enzymes associated with gene duplication events in monocot grasses

Vinde, Marcos H., Cao, Da, Chesterfield, Rebecca J., Yoneyama, Kaori, Gumulya, Yosephine, Thomson, Raine E. S., Matila, Tebogo, Ebert, Birgitta E., Beveridge, Christine A., Vickers, Claudia E. and Gillam, Elizabeth M. J. (2022). Ancestral sequence reconstruction of the CYP711 family reveals functional divergence in strigolactone biosynthetic enzymes associated with gene duplication events in monocot grasses. New Phytologist, 235 (5), 1900-1912. doi: 10.1111/nph.18285

Ancestral sequence reconstruction of the CYP711 family reveals functional divergence in strigolactone biosynthetic enzymes associated with gene duplication events in monocot grasses

2022

Journal Article

Engineering critical amino acid residues of lanosterol synthase to improve the production of triterpenoids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Guo, Hao, Wang, Huiyang, Chen, Tongtong, Guo, Liwei, Blank, Lars M., Ebert, Birgitta E. and Huo, Yi-Xin (2022). Engineering critical amino acid residues of lanosterol synthase to improve the production of triterpenoids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ACS Synthetic Biology, 11 (8), 2685-2696. doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00098

Engineering critical amino acid residues of lanosterol synthase to improve the production of triterpenoids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2022

Journal Article

Mix and match: promoters and terminators for tuning gene expression in the methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha

Wefelmeier, Katrin, Ebert, Birgitta E., Blank, Lars M. and Schmitz, Simone (2022). Mix and match: promoters and terminators for tuning gene expression in the methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10 876316, 1-14. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.876316

Mix and match: promoters and terminators for tuning gene expression in the methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha

2022

Book Chapter

Microbial production, extraction, and quantitative analysis of isoprenoids

Satta, Alessandro, Lu, Zeyu, Plan, Manuel R., Esquirol, Lygie and Ebert, Birgitta E. (2022). Microbial production, extraction, and quantitative analysis of isoprenoids. Plant Secondary Metabolism Engineering: methods and protocols.. (pp. 239-259) New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2185-1_20

Microbial production, extraction, and quantitative analysis of isoprenoids

2021

Journal Article

Genome-scale model reconstruction of the methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha

Liebal, Ulf W., Fabry, Brigida A., Ravikrishnan, Aarthi, Schedel, Constantin V. l., Schmitz, Simone, Blank, Lars M. and Ebert, Birgitta E. (2021). Genome-scale model reconstruction of the methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha. BMC Biotechnology, 21 (1) 23, 23. doi: 10.1186/s12896-021-00675-w

Genome-scale model reconstruction of the methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha

2021

Journal Article

Auxin-mediated protein depletion for metabolic engineering in terpene-producing yeast

Lu, Zeyu, Peng, Bingyin, Ebert, Birgitta E., Dumsday, Geoff and Vickers, Claudia E. (2021). Auxin-mediated protein depletion for metabolic engineering in terpene-producing yeast. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 1051, 1051. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21313-1

Auxin-mediated protein depletion for metabolic engineering in terpene-producing yeast

2021

Journal Article

Auxin‐mediated induction of GAL promoters by conditional degradation of Mig1p improves sesquiterpene production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with engineered acetyl‐CoA synthesis

Hayat, Irfan Farabi, Plan, Manuel, Ebert, Birgitta E., Dumsday, Geoff, Vickers, Claudia E. and Peng, Bingyin (2021). Auxin‐mediated induction of GAL promoters by conditional degradation of Mig1p improves sesquiterpene production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with engineered acetyl‐CoA synthesis. Microbial Biotechnology, 14 (6) 1751-7915.13880, 1-16. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.13880

Auxin‐mediated induction of GAL promoters by conditional degradation of Mig1p improves sesquiterpene production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with engineered acetyl‐CoA synthesis

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    BioLignoPlast - A tandem chemo-biocatalytic approach for lignin valorisation into plastic monomers
    Queensland-Germany Bioeconomy Collaborative Science Program
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Developing Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis Frameworks for precision fermentation of milk proteins and its integration into current dairy infrastructure
    Commonwealth Department of Education
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Chemo-biocatalytic conversion of lignin to high-performance fibre monomers
    United States Army International Technology Center-Pacific (ITC-PAC)
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2029
    ARC Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and Recycling (ARC ITRP administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    How does metabolic conditioning of the host environment enhance persistence of Haemophilus influenzae infections?
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Towards decarbonized aerobic fermentation: metabolic understanding of hydrogenase activity and its utilization for bioproduction
    Universities Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Production of biopolymers from plastic waste
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Birgitta Ebert is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae for triterpenoid production

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploiting plant biosynthesis to produce vaccine adjuvants

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Bioengineered lignin conversion into high-performance fibre monomers

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Muxina Konarova

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Growth coupled lignin monomer conversion to butadiene by engineered Pseudomonas putida

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Muxina Konarova

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Microbial fatty acid derivative production from CO2-derived C2 intermediates

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Esteban Marcellin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Redesigning Carbon Flux: Growth-Coupled Lignin Valorisation and the Emergence of Synthetic Chemolithoheterotrophy in Pseudomonas putida

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Esteban Marcellin

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Advancing lignin valorisation: refining sustainable and bio-upgradable mono-phenolics for synthesis of high-performance fibre

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Muxina Konarova, Ms Ping Chen

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Engineering Eubacterium limosum for Enhanced CO2 Fixation via rational genome-scale

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr James Heffernan, Professor Esteban Marcellin

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Dr Birgitta Ebert directly for media enquiries about:

  • Bioeconomy
  • Industrial Biotechnology
  • Metabolic Engineering
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Systems Biotechnology

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au