Conner Webb

About

Conner obtained his BSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Kent in 2015 before spending three years working in the biotech/healthcare sector. During this time he held a post as a research technician within the Centre for Molecular Processing, working on the biotechnological exploitation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Escherichia coli. Following this, he took up a research-based position at AlgaeCytes. This company extracts valuable natural products from algal biomass (their main product being Omega 3 oils), and this involves large scale production and processing of algal biomass. Conner is now undertaking a PhD in Biochemistry with Prof Colin Robinson entitled, ‘Development of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to combat pathogenicity in aquaculture’. The project aims to produce vaccines and antimicrobial proteins in algal cells for the aquaculture industry in South East Asian (SEA) countries. Proteins of interest include endolysins targeting Streptococcus agalactiae and dsRNA/vaccine subunits targeting viral diseases such as Talapia lake virus. The goal of the research project is to help improve and sustain the growing aquaculture industry within SEA countries.

Supervision

Prof Colin Robinson, School of Biosciences.