Postdoctoral Research
Voigt Lab
PI: Christopher A. Voigt, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Bioengineering
Engineering Human Skin Commensals
Human skin is inhabited by a diverse microbiota that influences skin health, immune regulation, and odor production. In particular, skin bacteria have been challenging to harness due to the lack of engineering tools, limited knowledge about their metabolism, and inherent difficulties in the long-term colonization of human skin. Harnessing and engineering these commensal bacteria offer a promising approach to enhance skin health and develop new therapeutic and cosmetic applications. This study presents the engineering multi-gene pathways into skin bacteria to alter the chemical composition of human skin by focusing on metabolic pathways for degrading skin metabolites and synthesizing beneficial compounds. These advancements suggest promising avenues for developing probiotic treatments and products that can modulate skin health, reduce body odor, and repel insects. The work highlights the potential of utilizing engineered skin commensals for a variety of applications, including improving wound healing, enhancing pathogen resistance, and facilitating transdermal drug delivery.
Transforming Plastic Waste into Nutritious Biomass
The conversion of plastic waste into valuable products is a crucial area of research due to increasing environmental pollution and the need for sustainable waste management solutions. This work presents an innovative approach to addressing plastic waste and contributing to the global food supply by converting plastic into nutritious biomass. The process involves two main steps: first, breaking down plastic into simpler chemical compounds; second, using specially engineered bacteria to transform these compounds into essential nutrients like milk proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants. This sustainable method turns plastic waste into animal feed or potentially human food, offering a solution to both pollution and food scarcity challenges.
Electrochemical CO2 Conversion into Microbiotic Food
Our innovative research project focuses on converting CO2 directly into food protein, combining electrochemical and biological methods to create a sustainable solution. We will produce a mix of products from CO2 using a catalyst and identify microbes that can consume this mixture. We aim to develop an efficient process by exploring low-cost sources of hydrogen and nitrogen. Our team will compile a list of bacteria and fungi from various sources, testing their growth on different compounds, and enhance them through genetic engineering for food production. Economic models will guide our efforts, ensuring a cost-effective and comprehensive approach to transforming CO2 into valuable food protein.