Photosynthetic Microbes
Photosynthesis is the most sustainable natural process, splitting water and fixing atmospheric CO₂ into biomass using solar energy. Although this process has enormous capacity and has been optimized through evolution, there is still potential for improvement. Our aim is to understand photosynthesis, enhance its efficiency, and apply this knowledge to develop innovative biotechnologies.
Follow us at Bluesky @photomicrobeslab.bsky.social
The PhotoMicrobes team’s research primarily focuses on cyanobacterial, algal, and plant photosynthesis, particularly on alternative electron transport routes and their role in the regulation of photosynthesis. The team is leveraging this knowledge to develop sustainable biotechnological applications through two main strategies: a short-term approach focused on producing sustainable algal biomass for a circular bioeconomy, and a long-term approach centered on creating emerging living cell factories and engineered living materials for the production of solar chemicals and fuels. Thus, we utilize both natural biodiversity and advanced engineering techniques.
Currently, we are investigating:
(i) Alternative electron transport pathways and the regulation of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria and green algae;
(ii) The development of solid-state cell factories and engineered living materials (ELMs) for efficient production of solar chemicals and fuels;
(iii) Green electricity generation from cyanobacteria and algae through exoelectrogenesis, including its mechanisms of action;
(iv) The biodiversity of Nordic cyanobacteria and algae for efficient remediation of industrial effluents, nutrient recovery, and production of value-added products.
2025-2028 - Research Council of Finland, national research infrastructure roadmap – FIN- BioFoundry;
2024-2026 - Business Finland co-research project AlgaCircle;
2024-2028 - EU HE RIA, Solar to Butanol S2B (https://www.s2b-project.eu/);
2024-2029 - Jane and Aatos Erkko foundation, PhotoFactory;
2023-2027 - Research Council of Finland, Photo-e-Mat;
2023-2027 - Finnish Cultural Foundation;
2022-2026 - EU Horizon Europe IA, REALM (https://realmalgae.eu);
2023-2025 - Tandem Industry Academia, Finnish Research Impact Foundation, AgriAlga;
2022 - Donation from Maa- ja vesitekniikan tuki ry;
2022-2025 - EU CSA, SUNER-C (https://sunergy-initiative.eu);
2021-2023 - Research project grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation - PhotoCat;
2020-2023 - EU FET-Open, FuturoLEAF;
2020-2023 - Novo Nordisk Foundation - PhotoPro;
2019-2023 - Academy Project Funding, AlgaLEAF;
2018-2022 - Academy Project Funding, Revisiting Photosynthesis;
2017-2022 - NordForsk Nordic Center of Excellence "NordAqua" (https://realmalgae.eu)
The team is engaged in several EU, Nordic, and national research projects, and we maintain close interactions with stakeholders and industry partners. Our goal is to promote sustainable, nature-inspired technologies at both the national and EU levels. Allahverdiyeva is the Deputy Director of the FIRI national roadmap infrastructure FIN-BioFoundry, which brings together the biotechnology efforts of VTT, Aalto University, Tampere University, and the University of Turku. We are happy to collaborate by offering a range of equipment, methodologies, and educational resources related to photosynthesis and photosynthetic biotechnologies.
Alumni - Ph.D. students
Ph.D. Thesis (5.12.2024): Advancing agricultural sustainability through microalgae biotechnology innovations
Ph.D. Thesis (7.6.2024): Employing Solid-State Platforms for Photosynthetic Chemical Production
Ph.D. Thesis (26.11.2021): Accelerating innovation in biotechnology through knowledge in cyanobacterial photosynthesis
Ph.D. Thesis (19.11.2021): Dynamic regulation of oxygenic photosynthesis in cyanobacteria by flavodiiron proteins
Ph.D. Thesis (27.05.2019): Improving the efficiencies of photoautotrophic biofuel production: from biomass to biocatalysts
Ph.D. Thesis (14.9.2018): Acclimation responses of hydrogen producing cyanobacteria
Ph.D. Thesis (16.3.2018): Integrative regulation of major bioenergetic pathways in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Ph.D. Thesis (08.09.2017): Photoprotective auxiliary electron transport pathways in cyanobacteria
Ph.D. Thesis (26.02.2016): Alternative electron transfer routes involved in photoprotection of cyanobacteria
Ph.D. Thesis (13.03.2015): Oxygen Photoreduction in Cyanobacteria
Ph.D. Thesis (19.12.2014): Extended hydrogen photoproduction by nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria
Alumni - PostDocs
Currently a group leader at the University of Turku https://www.utu.fi/en/people/lauri-nikkanen
Currently a postdoc at the University of Turku https://www.plant-biochemistry.hhu.de/en/our-team
Currently a postdoc at the Uppsala University, Sweden https://www.uu.se/en/contact-and-organisation/staff?query=N21-2037
Currently a senior researcher at the Monash University, Australia https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/fiona-lynch