Dr Mingaile Jackson

Senior Research Assistant

School: Geography and Natural Sciences

I am a biochemist and molecular biologist with a strong research background in enzyme characterisation and microbial synthetic biology. I obtained my BSc (First Class Honours) in Human Biosciences from Northumbria University in 2018, followed by a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the same institution in 2023 under the supervision of Professor Gary Black. My doctoral research focused on the characterisation of novel Domains of Unknown Function (DUFs) within the Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZy) database, enhancing our understanding of enzyme function and carbohydrate metabolism.

Since completing my PhD, I have broadened my research interests to include synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. My postdoctoral work has involved developing synthetic metabolic feedback circuits, working with thermophilic bacteria to engineer novel functionalities and investigating bacterial cellulose (BC) production, with a focus on valorising agro-industrial and food waste streams into high-value biomaterials.

My current research interests lie at the intersection of biochemistry, molecular biology, and synthetic biology, with a focus on engineering microbial systems for sustainable biomanufacturing and the valorisation of renewable resources.