Role at ANSTO
Dr Damian Van Raad leads the molecular engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains at the National Deuteration Facility to biosynthesize isotopically labeled small molecules. His role spans capability development, strain engineering, and biochemical innovation to expand ANSTO’s molecular portfolio for neutron scattering and NMR-based research.
Expertise
Damian is an expert in synthetic biology, protein biochemistry, and cell-free systems, with a track record of innovation in enzyme engineering, non-canonical amino acid incorporation, and cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS). He has extensive experience developing microbial systems for biosynthetic applications, including heterologous pathway reconstruction, secretion system engineering, and lysate optimization for CFPS.
Background
Damian holds a PhD in Synthetic Biology (2019-2023) from the Australian National University, where his research integrated cell-free metabolic engineering, terpenoid biosynthesis, and biophysical analysis using isotope-labeled proteins. He has published in leading journals and secured competitive funding and patent protection for his technologies. As a cross-disciplinary researcher, he thrives in collaborative environments that translate synthetic biology into scalable biotechnological solutions.
In 2023, Damian joined CSIRO as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Synthetic Biology. There, he worked across plant and microbial systems to develop scalable solutions for bioproduction. He played a key role in national initiatives aimed at building synthetic biology capability, contributing to multidisciplinary collaborations at the interface of biology, chemistry, and engineering.