Welcome to Nielsen Lab

Who we are

We are a team of engineers and scientists focused on developing novel biotechnologies for efficiently converting renewable feedstocks into a variety of sustainable fuel and chemical products.

We work at the interface of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, while also incorporating key elements of industrial and applied microbiology, and use these skills to ‘re-program’ and study microorganisms that carry out various functions of interest. Current applications include engineering novel biosynthetic pathways, expanding catabolic range and capacity, improving strain robustness, and enhancing other traits of industrial importance, among others. Learn more…

Complex problems require multi-disciplinary solutions. Thus, for us and the scientific community as a whole to continue to gain new and meaningful fundamental insights that will ultimately help to address the Grand Challenges facing today’s society, it is critical that unique and fresh perspectives are both encouraged and enthusiastically embraced. To this end, our group continues to provide a safe and inclusive environment where all are welcome, regardless of culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, nation of origin, age, education, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and/or beliefs. Science belongs to all of us, and our discoveries are better and stronger when achieved together.

Research Areas

Metabolic Engineering

Novel pathway engineering
Strain optimization
Product tolerance
Adaptive laboratory evolution

Synthetic Biology

New strain engineering tools
Biosensors
Dynamic control
Synthetic microbial communities

Bioprocess Engineering

Integrated bioreactors
Product separation
Photobioreactors
Process modeling and optimization

Take a Tour of our Lab Space

Recent News and Announcements

New NSF Project!

We are excited to begin work on a new project related to enhancing CO2 fixation in ‘dark’ fermentations. This project will combine both synthetic biology and bioprocessing solutions, and our…

Biological Integration Institute for Mechanisms of Cellular Evolution Launches

The new Biological Integration Institute for Mechanisms of Cellular Evolution recently launched at ASU, led by Prof. Michael Lynch. We are excited to be a part of the team and look forward to…

Congrats Dr. Dookeran!

Congrats to our latest Ph.D. grad, Zach Dookeran, for successfully defending his thesis earlier this month!

New DOE project to investigate bicarbonate transport

Together with the Nannenga Lab, we are excited to kick-off a new DOE BES project entitled ‘Exploring structure-function relationships governing transport by and regulation of the major…

Congrats New M.Sc. Grads!

Congrats to Omar, Raj, and Chandra on completing your M.Sc. Degrees! Best of luck in your next positions!

Congrats Dr. Flores!

Dr. Andrew Flores successfully defended his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering today! Andrew was co-mentor by Prof. Nielsen and Prof. Xuan Wang (SOLS), and his thesis was entitled ‘Engineering…

FURI/MORE Symposium Spring '21

Congrats to Ashley, Chey and Omar on their great presentations as part of the Fulton Schools Spring 2021 FURI/MORE Symposium! Great job! Learn more here and here.

Visit to IIT

Had a great visit to Illinois Institute of Technology earlier this month! Enjoyed meeting new colleagues and it was a pleasure to present a research seminar on some of our recent works.

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AIChE 2019

Andrew and Dave presented a couple of talks at AIChE 2019 in Orlando last month.

Convocation 2019

Big congrats to Dr. Machas on his hooding today!!!

Moving to Biodesign C

A busy Summer made busier by moving our lab to the new Biodesign C building! Phase 1 is complete, with the full move slated for early Fall. We had a small celebration to say goodbye to our old…

Michael Machas, Ph.D.!

Congrats to Michael on his successful Ph.D. defense! Let the celebration begin, Dr. Machas!