Current Research
Rochelle Aw is an Assistant Professor in Microbiology whose research focuses on developing cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) and in vitro glycosylation platforms for the rapid and flexible production of biotherapeutics. CFPS enables protein expression within hours and can be stored in a dehydrated form, requiring only water to activate-offering a powerful tool for on-demand protein manufacturing.
Her work leverages the yeast Pichia pastoris (syn. Komagataella phaffii) to produce both target proteins and engineered glycans that can be transferred onto these proteins to enhance their stability and functionality. By designing human-like glycosylation patterns, Rochelle aims to improve the performance of protein-based drugs and accelerate the development of next-generation therapeutics.
Research vision: To create modular, scalable CFPS systems that integrate glycoengineering for precision biomanufacturing, enabling faster, more cost-effective production of complex biologics.
Past Research
Rochelle Aw's previous research spans synthetic biology, microbial engineering, and biomanufacturing, with a strong focus on developing innovative platforms for protein and vaccine production.
During her time in Michael Jewett's group at Stanford University and Northwestern University, Rochelle worked extensively on cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) using Escherichia coli. Her projects included genome engineering to improve CFPS yields, production of full-length antibodies, and in vitro glycosylation with human-like glycans. She collaborated with Vaxcyte Inc. on chlamydia vaccine development and contributed to major DARPA and DTRA initiatives aimed at reimagining protein manufacturing.
Prior to this, Rochelle spent nearly a decade in Karen Polizzi's group at Imperial College London as a Research Associate in the Centre for Synthetic Biology. She pioneered the first CFPS platform based on Pichia pastoris. Her work supported the Future Vaccine Manufacturing Hub, including producing viral antigens such as Chikungunya virus-like particles, rabies glycoprotein, and HPV proteins, and contributing to the COVID-19 response by expressing spike protein and RBD in Pichia pastoris. She also developed CRISPR-based tools for glycosylation control, novel biosensors, and collaborated with industry partners to enhance vaccine manufacturing in low- and middle-income countries.
Rochelle's PhD in David Leak's group at Imperial College London, funded by a BBSRC CASE studentship with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, focused on factors affecting the productivity of Pichia pastoris, combining molecular biology, bioprocess optimisation, and transcriptomic analysis.