Biochemical Engineering Virtual Taster Lecture Series 2025

Welcome to a series of online taster lectures from the team here at UCL Biochemical Engineering, where we explore some of the cutting-edge research taking place in our department. Our researchers and academics will be looking at the many ways that biochemical engineers are helping solve some of the world's biggest problems, such as how to make vaccines more sustainably, cheaply and quickly or how to grow mean in a laboratory.

Virtual Taster Lecture Series - Dodo nuggets and T-rex legs

29 April 2025, 9am–10am
Here in UCL Biochemical Engineering, we are at the forefront of research into lab-grown meat, but that throws up some really exciting questions about what the future of food could be! Can we grow dodo nuggets? Will you ever see T-rex meat in the supermarket? Research Fellow Dr Travis Callue will be presenting a talk on the scientific and engineering challenges of growing meat in a lab and the exciting future that could be closer than we think.

Virtual Taster Lecture Series - Can cell-free technology make viral vector medicines?

30 April 2025, 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
Rapid viral vector-based medicine manufacture using cell-free technology has the potential to get these medicines to market much faster, but there are challenges in making the technique work. In this webinar, EngD Research Student Danielle Deuker will ask if we can use cell-free technology to make viral vector medicines.

Virtual Taster Lecture Series - Redesigning yeast to make oil

1 May 2025, 4pm–5pm
Here at UCL Biochemical Engineering, we're pioneering the technique of Synthetic Biology, where we redesign biology to solve some of the world's biggest problems. In this taster lecture, Dr Leo Rios will present his work on redesigning yeast to produce oils that can be used in industries such as cosmetics, as well as the challenges of growing the cells (bioprocessing) and then extraction and purification.

Ferdinando Sereno winning 3MT competition

Virtual Taster Lecture Series - Manufacturing mRNA vaccines that can reach the whole world

2 May 2025, 9am-10am
MRNA vaccines are one of the most crucial recent health developments and were critical in the pandemic crisis. Because they need to be stored cold or frozen, they are not viable for many parts of the developing world, but what if we could overcome this?