The Bioengineering and Food Technology research group offers two thesis topics in the upcoming semester.
Master’s or Bachelor’s thesis topic: Screening of evolved R. toruloides strains for tolerance and utilization of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)
Duration of laboratory work: November 2025 – February 2026 (possibility of extension)
Supervisor: Abdullah Nasir
Description: Rhodotorula topruloides is a promising yeast for the production of lipids and other value-added compounds (aviation fuels, biochemicals). As a result of adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE), R. toruloides strains have been obtained that can more successfully consume short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), thereby allowing them to grow on food waste-based media. During the work, you will isolate and screen existing strains for their tolerance to SCFAs, using automated laboratory equipment such as a growth profiler and bioreactors. You will acquire knowledge of microbial cultivation and colony isolation techniques, use automated high-throughput screening methods and be able to interpret the obtained results. In the case of the master’s thesis, you will also determine the amount of short-chain fatty acids consumption and relate it to the growth rate using analytical chemistry (HPLC/GC) and lipid quantification methods.
Master’s thesis topic: Metabolic Engineering of Rhodotorula toruloides for Astaxanthin production using Golden Gate Assembly Platform.
Duration of laboratory work: October 2025 – February 2026
Supervisor: Subhasis Behera
Description: Astaxanthin is a red pigment-producing carotenoid that has applications as a feed additive, in cosmetics and as an antioxidant. During the work, you will prepare transcription units, introduce them into R. toruloides yeast, and screen and identify strains with increased pigment productivity. During the work, you will acquire skills in cloning, genetic engineering, and molecular biology and learn to use automated laboratory equipment.
The working language in both cases is English.
If interested, please kaisa.orgusaar@taltech.ee