Research

I'm currently a researcher in the synthetic biology space, primarily in biofuels and bioproducts. Previously, I've worked on QTL mapping in Panicum virgatum and Panicum hallii, demonstrating in vitro transcription, and understanding the mechanism of ion channel regulation, among other things.

My current focus is in automating bench scale processes through the use of laboratory automation and software.

Publications

• Szarzanowicz, M. J., Waldburger, L. M., Busche, M., Geiselman, G. M., Kirkpatrick, L. D., Kehl, A. J., Tahmin, C., Kuo, R. C., McCauley, J., Pannu, H., Cui, R., Liu, S., Hillson, N. J., Brunkard, J. O., Keasling, J. D., Gladden, J. M., Thompson, M. G., & Shih, P. M. (2024). Binary vector copy number engineering improves agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Nature Biotechnology.
• Torres-Tiji, Y., Sethuram, H., Gupta, A., McCauley, J., Dutra-Molino, J.-V., Pathania, R., Saxton, L., Kang, K., Hillson, N. J., & Mayfield, S. P. (2024). Bioinformatic prediction and high throughput in vivo screening to identify cis-regulatory elements for the development of algal synthetic promoters. ACS Synthetic Biology, 13(7), 2150–2165.
• Zhan, C., Lee, N., Lan, G., Dan, Q., Cowan, A., Wang, Z., Baidoo, E. E., Kakumanu, R., Luckie, B., Kuo, R. C., McCauley, J., Liu, Y., Valencia, L., Haushalter, R. W., & Keasling, J. D. (2023). Improved polyketide production in C. Glutamicum by preventing propionate-induced growth inhibition. Nature Metabolism, 5(7), 1127–1140.
• Nava, A. A., Fear, A. L., Lee, N., Mellinger, P., Lan, G., McCauley, J., Tan, S., Kaplan, N., Goyal, G., Coates, R. C., Roberts, J., Johnson, Z., Hu, R., Wu, B., Ahn, J., Kim, W. E., Wan, Y., Yin, K., Hillson, N., … Keasling, J. D. (2023). Automated platform for the plasmid construction process. ACS Synthetic Biology, 12(12), 3506–3513.
• Chen, C.-S., Narani, A., Daniyar, A., McCauley, J., Brown, S., Pray, T., & Tanjore, D. (2022). Ensemble models of feedstock blend ratios to minimize supply chain risk in bio-based manufacturing. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 181, 107896.