Last updated: 27 May 2025
Current Sector: Industry
Current Company: SOLASTA Bio
PhD Project Title: Systems Metabolic Engineering of Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius for sustainable chemical production
Supervisor(s): Professor David Leak and Dr Tom Arnot
External Partner: Corbion
MRes Project 1: Directed Evolution of Thermostable Terpene Synthases
Supervisor(s): Professor David Leak, Matthew Styles, Professor Steven Bull and Dr Marc Hutchby
MRes Project 2: BAY Biorefinery: Bacteria, Algae and Yeast working together
Supervisor(s): Dr Elias Martinez Hernandez, Dr Chris Chuck and Dr Marta Coma
Martyn is British but with an international background involving growing up in the Netherlands, Brunei and the USA. He graduated from the University of Exeter in 2016 with a BSc in Biochemistry with industrial experience. This included a year-long placement at the UK government Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and taking part in the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition in Boston USA in 2014.
Within the CSCT’s Renewable Feedstocks and Biotechnology theme, Martyn’s PhD focuses on the heat-loving bacterium Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius which can grow on a larger proportion of renewable plant waste sugars than many other microbes and can also be modified to produce biofuels and other useful chemicals sustainably. By measuring and modelling the metabolism of this bacteria under a range of different growth conditions, Martyn aims to be able to develop informed strategies to maximize the product yields of this bacterium. When not culturing bacteria, Martyn enjoys DIY, cycling and litres of tea.
