Four researchers promoted in the 91直播 Institute of Biotechnology
We are delighted to announce the promotions of four outstanding members of our academic staff. These well-deserved recognitions mark not only individual achievement but also the collective success of their research groups, collaborators, and the wider academic community.
Neil Dixon 鈥� promoted to Professor of Sustainable Biotechnology
Neil鈥檚 pioneering research focuses on engineering microbial systems for sustainable applications such as bioremediation, biosensing, and transforming carbon-rich waste into valuable bioproducts. His team has developed novel biotechnological processes using engineered microbes and consortia to convert mixed waste streams into high-value biopolymers and chemical building blocks, contributing significantly to circular economy initiatives.
Neil leads the UK contingent of the international CIRCLE project, which aims to repurpose carbon-rich waste as a feedstock for the chemical industry. He also played a key role in fostering international collaboration as the founding programme director of a dual PhD in Synthetic and Systems Biology with Tsinghua University.
Reflecting on his promotion, Neil said:
This recognition as Professor is testament to all the hardworking and brilliant members of my research team over the last 12 years. I would like to extend my thanks to all past and present members of the team!
Sophie Nixon 鈥� promoted to Professor of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology
Sophie leads research at the interface of environmental microbiology and biotechnology, exploring how microbial communities cycle carbon in extreme natural and engineered environments. Her work bridges fundamental discovery and applied innovation, with a focus on harnessing microbial processes for sustainable biotechnologies. She leads a 拢5.4 million BBSRC-funded programme investigating the rules of life in hot spring microbiomes to support the development of efficient CO鈧�-upcycling strategies for heavy industry. Sophie is also internationally recognised for her research into microbial life in deep subsurface environments relevant to geological CO鈧� storage.
A recipient of the 2023 L鈥橭r茅al-UNESCO For Women in Science Rising Talent award for Sustainable Development, she collaborates with global industry partners including Equinor, ExxonMobil, bp, and Unilever.
Commenting on her promotion, Sophie said:
I鈥檓 delighted and honoured to be promoted to Professor at this stage in my career. The recognition has given me the confidence to keep pursuing ambitious fundamental science with real-world impact. It鈥檚 a hugely exciting time to be a microbiologist, and I feel incredibly lucky to be in a position to drive discovery and innovation as part of the research community at the MIB and the wider University. I hope this promotion helps inspire other women in STEM to think big and aim high too.
James Winterburn 鈥� promoted to Professor of Biochemical Engineering
We also congratulate James Winterburn, who has been promoted to Professor of Biochemical Engineering. As an affiliate member of the MIB, James works closely with MIB researchers and focuses on using industrial biotechnology to develop sustainable, bio-based alternatives to petrochemicals. His work spans biomass pretreatment, fermentation process design, downstream processing, and bioproduct applications.
James is a Co-Founder of Holiferm Limited, which was spun out of his research group in 2018. Holiferm has since commercialised patented biosurfactant technologies and now manufactures sophorolipid biosurfactants at kilotonne scale.
Commenting on the promotion, James said:
Being promoted to Professor of Biochemical Engineering marks the achievement of one of my career goals. I鈥檝e been at 91直播 all my career, from my PhD onwards, and remain convinced that the institution is one of the best places in the world to lead the transition to sustainable bio-based chemicals manufacture. Although promotion is awarded to an individual, it wouldn鈥檛 have happened without a great research group, supportive academic colleagues and collaborators, and the awesome team at Holiferm.
Lu Shin Wong 鈥� promoted to Reader
Congratulations also to Lu Shin Wong, who has been promoted to Reader. Lu Shin鈥檚 research explores the mechanisms of enzymatic reactions and their applications in sustainable chemical synthesis. His work includes the study of enzymes that cleave and condense silicon-oxygen bonds鈥攔esearch that has shed light on the enzymes鈥� evolutionary origins and potential in silicon chemistry. He also works on enzymes that catalyse oxidation reactions, with applications in recycling and detoxification.
Lu Shin leads 91直播鈥檚 component of the 拢13M UKRI Preventing Plastic Pollution with Engineering Biology (P3EB) Mission Hub. He is an external reviewer for the Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility, the Belgian funding agency FWO, and the UKRI fellowships college; and received a Highly Commended 鈥淟ecturer of the Year鈥� Award at the FSE Students鈥� Awards in 2021.
Speaking about his promotion, Lu Shin said:
I am very pleased to receive this promotion. Carrying out good scientific research is really a team effort, so I feel it is also a recognition of our research team members past and present. I am also deeply involved in the running of our undergraduate programmes. These duties are crucial to the health of our department, so I am pleased that my promotion recognises these contributions.
Professor Anthony Green, Director of the 91直播 Institute of Biotechnology said of the promotions:
I am thrilled to see these four members of the Institute 鈥� Neil, Sophie, James, and Lu Shin 鈥� receiving this well-deserved recognition. They have all made significant contributions to their fields and are outstanding members of the MIB community. As acknowledged in their own comments, scientific discovery and progress is a collective effort borne of excellent teamwork and collaboration. We are fortunate to be members of an Institute such as the MIB that fosters a vibrant and collaborative research culture, allowing us to explore, discover and innovate with few limitations. Beyond academic excellence, Neil, Sophie, James and Lu Shin are outstanding colleagues - I would like to express my personal gratitude for their continual support and their outstanding contributions to the MIB and University more broadly.
Please join us in congratulating Neil, Sophie, James, and Lu Shin on their achievements. Their contributions continue to shape the future of sustainable biotechnology and engineering biology.
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