Fascinated by the complexity of biological systems, my research aims at bringing understanding on how microbes respond to their environment and at using this knowledge to turn cells in powerful factories. My research focuses on the fantastic model eukaryote and industrial yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with a growing interest for ‘non-conventional’ yeasts. My research is articulated around two major themes, the study of central carbon metabolism and its regulation, and uncoupling growth from product formation. My projects integrate a broad range of approaches (e.g. quantitative physiology, genomics, cell biology) and of techniques either from our own section (e.g. molecular biology toolbox, cultivation in bioreactors, transcriptome analysis, fluorescence microscopy, FACS, etc.)  or in collaboration (e.g. proteomic, metabolomics). Realizing that the limited genetic accessibility of S. cerevisiae was hampering the study of its central carbon metabolism, I ventured in the field of synthetic biology a few years ago. I developed a new research line aiming at constructing yeast platform that enable to rapidly and easily remodel essential pathways. This ambitious research line has recently gained momentum thanks to the support of an ERC Consolidator grant.

Other activities

Since June 1st 2021 I am the Director of the Graduate School of the Applied Sciences Faculty (ca. 500 PhD candidates)

Since 2014 I am senior editor at the international journal FEMS Yeast Research.

The 6th Applied Synthetic Biology in Europe conference is coming soon, don't miss it!

Prof. Dr. Ir. Daran-Lapujade

Full professor - Director of the Applied Sciences Graduate School

Latest news

02/08/2022 - Our ENW-XL proprosal has been granted!

Our ENW-XL proposal on the control of electrons in microbial metabolism coordinated by Ruud Weusthuis (WUR) has been granted! We will work with colleagues from Wageningen University and the VU Amsterdam