Martin Barrios - Llerena BEng
I am a PhD student in the Biological and Environmental Systems Group, in
the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at Sheffield University.
I am from Peru (South America) I did my undergraduate studies in my home
city Arequipa at the University of San Agustin in the Department of Chemical
and Process Engineering.
After my graduation I worked in the University in my School teaching laboratory
practical classes on Process Engineering and Biological Systems.
Following this, I was a Research Fellow in the Department of Chemistry
at the University of Surrey (Surrey, UK) for one year, where I worked in
the
field of Thermodynamic and Organic Synthesis of compounds used as a chelator
agents to remove toxic metals.
My PhD project is the exploration of the next Generation of Products and
Processes derived from Microorganisms-Cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are
micro-algae (Bacteria) that use water, CO2 (from the air) and sunlight
as a sole source
of nutrient and energy, these microorganisms can be found in almost all
the places in the world. Cyanobacteria are a prolific source of natural
products
with widespread activities (antibacterial, anti-HIV, etc).
Within this project, I will be focused in the production of renewable sources
of energy (Hydrogen), Natural Products and Fine Chemicals from these microbes.
In order to do so, I will use genetic techniques -such as PCR, RT-PCR,
etc- to locate the genes involved in the metabolism of interest, and at
the same
time I will investigate the relevant proteins through Proteomic studies.
