Entrepreneurial PhD
PhD: Diversity, Ecology, and Biotechnological Potential of Chain Elongating Microorganisms from Natural and Engineered Ecosystems
Diana is an international student currently pursuing a PhD at the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, part of the research group led by Professor Philip Hugenholtz at the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (SCMB).
She is a Colombian biologist and microbiologist with a Master’s degree in Microbiology. Her research focuses on the ecology and biotechnological potential of microorganisms capable of producing medium-chain carboxylic acids and alcohols in both natural and engineered environments.
Beyond her scientific pursuits, Diana aspires to foster biotech businesses. She has a strong interest in science translation and the commercialization of microbial products with applications in environmental and industrial sectors. Her technical expertise includes metagenomic analysis, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and systems biology.
Diana is particularly excited about biotech applications such as:
- Producing green chemicals and commodities using microorganisms.
- Developing food ingredients and dietary supplements through microbial processes.
- Recovering rare earth elements by integrating physicochemical and microbial processes.
She was honoured to receive the UQ Entrepreneurial PhD Top-Up Scholarship (2022), which has enabled her to gain entrepreneurial knowledge and learn from the experiences of fellow students and entrepreneurs.
Diana was born with albinism, a genetic condition she has actively researched and advocated for. In addition to publishing papers and presenting at conferences on the topic, she founded Albinos por Colombia, an NGO that collaborates with international organisations supporting people with albinism. Before moving to Australia, she held various professional roles in Colombia’s education and agriculture sectors.
Outside academia, she enjoys reading and traveling to new places. You might find her dancing to Latin rhythms such as salsa, sharing time with friends, or playing Brazilian drums to balance her academic life.
