Happy yeast makes better beer: predicting fermentation success in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BBSRC iCASE).

Industrial partner: Aber Instruments Ltd

Yeast is used widely in food and beverage preparation and more recently in bioethanol production and other biotech applications. Production and sale of beer generates 53 billion Euros per annum in the EU alone, and better prediction of yeast vitality (fitness) would improve quality and productivity whilst limiting environmental and cost implications of waste from poor or failed fermentations. By measuring viability and metabolic indicators we intend to build a model that can be used to predict fermentation outcome. Coupled with this applied approach, there is also the opportunity to further our knowledge of health and stress physiology in this important model organism. We are seeking a talented and motivated scientist to contribute to these aims.

To determine impact of brewery-related stresses on yeast, the student will expose brewery and lab strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to models of stress (temperature, ethanol, nutritional, acid-washing, anaerobiosis etc.). Impact at the cellular level will be monitored using traditional microscopy / culturing methods as well as state-of-the-art methods in flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting and radio-frequency impedance spectroscopy (training will be provided in these techniques). The student will develop and test a model to predict viability (colony formation) and vitality (emergence from lag, division rate and metabolic activity) from the rapid methods. IBERS has a strong record in flow cytometry of microorganisms and well-equipped laboratories. Aber Instruments is a successful spin-out company from Aberystwyth University that specialises in online biomass measurements in breweries, pharmaceutical companies and, increasingly, is expanding into the biofuel market.

This PhD studentship provides an opportunity to gain world-class expertise in flow cytometry, cell sorting, impedance spectroscopy and modelling, particularly in the context of industrial biotechnology. Training will be given in all of the relevant laboratory techniques as well as in the construction of computer-based models. The successful candidate for this BBSRC iCASE PhD award will join the microbiology research group (http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/research/research-groups/microbiology-group/) and will be based at Aberystwyth University. They will also benefit from a placement with Aber Instruments Ltd. (located a 10 minute walk from the university), an international biotechnology company, where they will gain experience relevant to the project and to their future employability in applied aspects of viability monitoring, end user requirements and marketing.