Austin’s Three Minute Thesis
Proteomics to Study “Fat” Yeast
Austin’s research falls within a field called synthetic biology—in other words, engineering biology to do useful things such as sustainably producing fuels, chemicals, and materials (e.g., bioplastics). He’s particularly interested in nonconventional yeast described as oleaginous, a term deriving from Latin for “oil of the olive tree.” Unlike Brewers yeast which produces alcohol, the yeast he study produces “fats” when it is starved of certain nutrients. It is efficient at consuming various nutrients in plant wastes, thereby making it a candidate for sustainable production of biodiesel, bioplastics, and palm oil substitutes.
The goal of his research is to enhance our understanding of metabolism and stress response in these “fat” yeasts. He is helping develop an advanced proteomics approach that will allow him to simultaneously measure the abundance of thousands of proteins as well as specific modifications to them. This information is important because proteins are the cell’s workforce: they perform various tasks, which includes being messengers. Ultimately, this proteomics approach and the insights gleaned from studying yeast will be useful for other applications such as diabetes research.
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Austin is a PhD candidate in the Biological Systems Engineering department and the WSU-PNNL Distinguished Graduate Research Program. His passion for yeast began during undergraduate study at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he acquired a B.S. in Biochemistry with a double major in French. Following undergraduate studies, he gained invaluable experience in molecular cloning and microbiology at Xylome Corporation, a yeast biotechnology company pursuing sustainable products development. Austin has also worked as a French tutor and is captivated by the art of language and music. In his free time, he writes and records music for vocals, guitar, piano, and drums.