Sing Teng Chua
Singapore
Chemistry, Hughes Hall
PhD thesis: Beyond Suspension: Light and Growth Dynamics in Immobilised Algal Cultures
My PhD research focuses on how microorganisms interact with their environments, specifically using the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in hydrogel encapsulation and biofilm formation. This study enhances our understanding of the effects of immobilization and cell crowding on microalgae at a cellular level, particularly regarding light delivery, cell cycle regulation, and nutrient profiles. The study revealed that with increasing self-shading in dense biomass, the heterogeneous aggregated system achieved a more optimal balance between photo-limited and photo-inhibited regimes compared to biofilms, resulting in a higher biological carrying capacity. Additionally, scattering enhancement can be achieved with hydrogel matrix to maximise light delivery efficiency. Through timelapse microscopy and single-cell tracking within microcolonies, I observed variations in cell cycle progression and morphology due to factors like spatial proximity, timing, illumination, and matrix stiffness. These findings provide insights into contact inhibition and microgradients in mass transfer, revealing spatial heterogeneity among cells within colonies.
After the PhD
I am starting a new postdoctoral research at the University of Copenhagen, supported by the Novo Nordisk Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024. My research project, titled "Synergising Bioinspired Coculture and 3D Bioprinting for Mapping and Modelling Optimal Design Principles for Light-driven Bioproduction," focuses on integrating coculture systems and 3D bioprinting technologies.