Dr Colin Scott
Pronouns: he,him,his
CSIRO BioFoundry Director
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Contact details:
CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA
Biography
Colin was born in Scotland. He obtained a BSc (hon) in Genetics from the University of Wales in 1996 and a PhD in Molecular Microbiology from Sheffield University (England) in 2000.
Colin has an strong interest in the use of advanced biological engineering (Engineering Biology/Synthetic Biology) to deliver technological solutions for the most pressing issues facing Australia and the world. He moved to CSIRO Entomology in Canberra in 2004 as a post-doctoral fellow, engineering enzymes to clean-up toxic environmental contaminants. For the last two decades he has contributed to CSIRO's efforts in Engineering Biology through the development of a number of initiatives, including the Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform (2016-2022) and the Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform (2022-present).
Colin is currently the Director of CSIRO's BioFoundry - a cutting edge, high-throughput Engineering Biology/Synthetic Biology facility that provides a platform to accelerate discovery and bioengineering for the emerging bioeconomy. With a suite of specialist equipment to meet the needs of high-throughput bioengineering projects, the BioFoundry is open to projects with industry, government and academia. Such facilities are helping engineering biology transition to faster, more effective delivery of new technologies to support the emergence of the bioeconomy, which promises cleaner and more efficient approaches to providing goods and services to Australia.
Colin maintains an active research program that investigates, engineer and harness the biochemical and metabolic diversity found in nature. Enzymes are nature's nanotechnology: nanoscale machines that carry out all of the chemical reactions needed for life to survive and prosper. Evolution has produced a countless number of these chemical reactions, and as the world continues to evolve, so do the enzymes, responding to the introduction of new molecules with new functions. Colin's projects focus on harnessing these enzymes for applications such as biocatalysis (making chemicals) and bioremediation (cleaning up pollution).
Professional Areas
Current Roles
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CSIRO BioFoundry Director
Leading CSIRO's cutting edge, automated bioengineering facility
Academic Qualifications
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2000
PhD in Molecular Microbioogy
University of Sheffield -
1996
BSc (Hon) in Genetics
University of Aberystwyth
Professional Experiences
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2021-2022
Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Director
CSIRO -
2017-2022
Research Team Leader
CSIRO -
2017-2021
Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Executive
CSIRO -
2016-2017
Future Science Platform Director (interim)
CSIRO -
2012-2017
Research Group Leader
CSIRO -
2008-2012
Research Team Leader
CSIRO -
2004-2008
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
CSIRO -
2000-2004
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
University of Sheffield
Achievements and Awards
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2010-2013
Julius Award
CSIRO
Other highlights
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2020-Present
Adjunct Professor - Queensland University of Technology
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2010-Present
Editor - Biodegradation (Spinger)
Related links
Publications
ORCID 0000-0001-6110-6982
We have publications by Dr Colin Scott