We are pleased to announce that Jan Lyczakowski has been presented with a Cambridge Society for the Application of Research (CSAR) PhD Student Award in recognition of excellence in applied research.
After completing a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, Jan moved to Cambridge to study for a PhD as part of the BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Having completed two rotation projects, he is now conducting his PhD research in Professor Paul Dupree's laboratory in our Department.
The sustainable provision of food and energy to the growing population is one of the greatest challenges of this century. Jan's main research interest is in understanding and changing the structure of plant biomass to make it easier to break down in to simple sugars, which could then be fermented to produce biofuels and other products. The majority of Jan's research has so far focused on investigating the molecular features that can make biomass hard to digest, through characterising conifer enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of factors that contribute recalcitrance to degradation. He is currently interested in developing synthetic biology tools that would enable the specific engineering of wood structures within trees to improve their digestion, and hopes to continue with a career in academia focusing on plant biomass genetic engineering.
Speaking about his award, Jan said: "It is fantastic that my work was recognised by CSAR. The fact that the award is presented in recognition of excellence in applied research makes it even more important to me. I would like to thank Professor Paul Dupree and Dr Marta Busse-Wicher for their excellent supervision and encouragement; without them, none of my work would be possible."
The Cambridge Society for the Application of Research (CSAR) exists to encourage an appreciation of the application of research. Their PhD Student Award competition is designed to encourage and reward students who can demonstrate both the excellence of their research and the opportunities for its application.