CV

You can also find my PDF CV here.

Education

Ph.D., Molecular Engineering and Sciences (Data Science Option) — University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA, 2018–2023; Distinguished Dissertation Award
M.S., Chemistry (International Program) — Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, 2016–2017; Dean’s List and Outstanding Thesis Award
B.S., Chemistry (Distinction Program) — Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, 2012–2016; First Class Honors

Research and Work Experience

September 2024–Present: Engineering Excellence Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Advisor: James J. Collins, Department of Biological Engineering
- Engineering microbial living therapeutics
- Targeted microbial consortia and microbiome engineering
- AI-guided antimicrobial systems development
2018–2024: Ph.D. Student and Interim Postdoctoral Scholar, Center for Synthetic Biology, Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Advisors: Jesse G. Zalatan, Department of Chemistry, and James M. Carothers, Department of Chemical Engineering; collaborated with interdisciplinary teams at UW, PNNL, and LBNL
- Developed bacterial CRISPR transcriptional-modulation tools
- Engineered carbon-conserving metabolism in diverse bacteria, including Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, and Acinetobacter baylyi
- Accelerated design-build-test-learn cycles using tunable CRISPR programs
- Investigated gene-regulatory circuits at genome scale using CRISPRa/i
2017–2018: Research Assistant, School of Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Vidhyasirimethi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Thailand
- Advisor: Pimchai Chaiyen
- Engineered metabolic pathways in E. coli for biofuel synthesis
- Investigated new chemistry of carboxylic acid reductase enzymes
2016–2017: Master’s Researcher, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Thailand
- Advisor: Torsak Luanphaisarnnont; co-advisor: Chutima Jiarpinitnun
- Synthesized allenic esters and investigated conjugate-addition mechanisms
- Evaluated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus
- Studied intramolecular dearomatization Diels–Alder reactions

Skills

Microbial and molecular engineering: molecular biology, microbiology, microbial consortia, metabolic engineering, CRISPRa/i system design, genetic circuits, and genome-scale perturbation
Microbial hosts: Pseudomonas putida, Acinetobacter baylyi, Bacillus subtilis, Vibrio natriegens, Shewanella oneidensis, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, and Cupriavidus necator
Protein and enzyme engineering: protein purification, enzyme characterization, and carboxylic acid reductase biochemistry
Additional expertise: synthetic chemistry, data-science-assisted experimental design, and design-build-test-learn workflows

Patents

U.S. Patent Application No. 18/306960, filed April 24, 2023; based on Provisional Patent Application No. 63/335,143, filed April 26, 2022. “Genetic Manipulation Method in Bacteria.” Inventors: Cholpisit Kiattisewee, James M. Carothers, Jesse Zalatan, Ian D. Faulkner, Jason Fontana, and Chen Dong
PCT-WO2019209187 A1, filed April 25, 2018. “A Luciferase Reporter System and an Assay for Gene Expression Profiling Using the Same.”
DIP-1801005261, filed April 25, 2018. “ระบบรายงานผลเอนไซม์เปล่งแสงและการวัดการแสดงออกของยีนจากวิธีการนั้น”
DIP-1801002500, filed April 27, 2018. “วิธีการสังเคราะห์ไรบูโลสโดยเอนไซม์ไพราโนสทูออกซิเดส”
DIP-1801003340, filed June 7, 2018. “ระบบวิศวกรรมเมตาบอลิกสำหรับการผลิตสารไฮโดรคาร์บอนในเซลล์เจ้าบ้าน”
DIP-1801005184, filed August 30, 2018. “กระบวนการสังเคราะห์เอสเทอร์”

Publications

CRISPRi-assisted E. coli strains increase success rate of burdensome construct cloning

Faulkner I., Kiattisewee C., Darst B., Leejareon P., Yoshikuni Y., Zalatan J.G.^†, Carothers J.M.^† (2026). "CRISPRi-assisted E. coli strains increase success rate of burdensome construct cloning." bioRxiv. DOI: 10.64898/2026.06.02.729553. Preprint.

Conjugation-based genome engineering enables rapid prototyping and bioproduction in non-model bacteria

Guzman M.S., Kiattisewee C., Comes J., Robert A.M., Cardiff R.A.L., Cook M., et al. (2026). "Conjugation-based genome engineering enables rapid prototyping and bioproduction in non-model bacteria." bioRxiv. DOI: 10.64898/2026.04.17.717921. Preprint.

Engineering Biology: International Guidelines for Constructing Higher Education Curricula

Chaiyen P., Fahmi A., Khomfoi S., Kiattisewee C. (2026). "Engineering Biology: International Guidelines for Constructing Higher Education Curricula." UNESCO Publishing.

How many plasmids can bacteria carry? A synthetic biology perspective

Kiattisewee C. (2025). "How many plasmids can bacteria carry? A synthetic biology perspective." Open Biology. 15(7):240378. DOI: 10.1098/rsob.240378. PMID: 40730232.

Systematic Mapping of Bacterial CRISPRa Systems for Synergistic Gene Activation Reveals Antagonistic Effects

Kiattisewee C.⁺, Karanjia A.V.⁺, Cardiff R.A.L.⁺, Olander K.E., Leejareon P., Alvi S.S., Carothers J.M.^†, Zalatan J.G.^† (2025). "Systematic Mapping of Bacterial CRISPRa Systems for Synergistic Gene Activation Reveals Antagonistic Effects." ACS Synthetic Biology. 14(8):3232-3244. DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.5c00358.

Guide RNA structure design enables combinatorial CRISPRa programs for biosynthetic profiling

Fontana J.⁺, Sparkman-Yager D.⁺, Faulkner I.⁺, Cardiff R., Kiattisewee C., Walls A., Primo T.G., Kinnunen P.C., Garcia Martin H., Zalatan J.G.^†, Carothers J.M.^† (2024). "Guide RNA structure design enables combinatorial CRISPRa programs for biosynthetic profiling." Nature Communications. 15:6341. PMID: 39068154

CRISPR Tools for Engineering Prokaryotic Systems: Recent Advances and New Applications

Alba Burbano D.⁺, Kiattisewee C.⁺, Karanjia A.V., Cardiff R.A.L., Faulkner I.D., Sugianto W., Carothers J.M.^† (2024). "CRISPR Tools for Engineering Prokaryotic Systems: Recent Advances and New Applications." Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. 15(1):389-430.

Enzymes, auxiliaries and cells for the recycling and upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Wongsatit T.⁺, Srimora T.⁺, Kiattisewee C.^†, Uttamapinant C.^† (2024). "Enzymes, auxiliaries and cells for the recycling and upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)." Current Opinion in Systems Biology. 38:100515.

Engineering activatable promoters for scalable and multi-input CRISPRa/i circuits

Alba Burbano D.⁺, Cardiff R.A.L.⁺, Tickman B.I., Kiattisewee C., Maranas C.J., Zalatan J.G.^†, Carothers J.M.^† (2023). "Engineering activatable promoters for scalable and multi-input CRISPRa/i circuits." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 120(30):e2220358120. PMID: 37463216.

Gene expression dynamics in input-responsive engineered living materials programmed for bioproduction

Sugianto W., Altin-Yavuzarslan G., Tickman B.I., Kiattisewee C., Yuan S.F., Brooks S.M., Wong J., Alper H.S., Nelson A., Carothers J.M.^† (2023). "Gene expression dynamics in input-responsive engineered living materials programmed for bioproduction." Materials Today Bio. 20:100677. PMID: 37273790.

Effect of UV light irradiation on the In₂O₃ nanoparticle films synthesis by the sparking method

Siriariyachai R., Sirithuwanon N., Kantarak E., Sroila W., Kumpika T., Kiattisewee C., Limpichaipanit A., Singjai P., Wiranwetchayan O.^† (2023). "Effect of UV light irradiation on the In₂O₃ nanoparticle films synthesis by the sparking method." Materials Letters. 134046.

Expanding the Scope of Bacterial CRISPR Activation with PAM-Flexible dCas9 Variants

Kiattisewee C.⁺, Karanjia A.V.⁺, Legut M., Daniloski Z., Koplik S.E., Nelson J., Kleinstiver B.P., Sanjana N.E., Carothers J.M.^†, Zalatan J.G.^† (2022). "Expanding the Scope of Bacterial CRISPR Activation with PAM-Flexible dCas9 Variants." ACS Synthetic Biology. 11(12):4103-4112. PMID: 36378874.

Multi-layer CRISPRa/i circuits for dynamic genetic programs in cell-free and bacterial systems

Tickman B.I.⁺, Burbano D.A.⁺, Chavali V.P., Kiattisewee C., Fontana J., Khakimzhan A., Noireaux V., Zalatan J.G.^†, Carothers J.M.^† (2022). "Multi-layer CRISPRa/i circuits for dynamic genetic programs in cell-free and bacterial systems." Cell Systems. 13(3):215-229.e8. PMID: 34800362.

Portable bacterial CRISPR transcriptional activation enables metabolic engineering in Pseudomonas putida

Kiattisewee C., Dong C., Fontana J., Sugianto W., Peralta-Yahya P., Carothers J.M.^†, Zalatan J.G.^† (2021). "Portable bacterial CRISPR transcriptional activation enables metabolic engineering in Pseudomonas putida." Metabolic Engineering. 66:283-295. PMID: 33930546.

Carboxylic Acid Reductase Can Catalyze Ester Synthesis in Aqueous Environments

Pongpamorn P.⁺, Kiattisewee C.⁺, Kittipanukul N.⁺, Jaroensuk J., Trisrivirat D., Maenpuen S., Chaiyen P.^† (2021). "Carboxylic Acid Reductase Can Catalyze Ester Synthesis in Aqueous Environments." Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 60(11):5749-5753. PMID: 33247515.

Effective CRISPRa-mediated control of gene expression in bacteria must overcome strict target site requirements

Fontana J.⁺, Dong C.⁺, Kiattisewee C., Chavali V.P., Tickman B.I., Carothers J.M.^†, Zalatan J.G.^† (2020). "Effective CRISPRa-mediated control of gene expression in bacteria must overcome strict target site requirements." Nature Communications. 11(1):1618. PMID: 32238808.

One-Pot Bioconversion of l-Arabinose to l-Ribulose in an Enzymatic Cascade

Chuaboon L., Wongnate T., Punthong P., Kiattisewee C., Lawan N., Hsu C.Y., Lin C.H., Bornscheuer U.T., Chaiyen P.^† (2019). "One-Pot Bioconversion of l-Arabinose to l-Ribulose in an Enzymatic Cascade." Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 58(8):2428-2432. PMID: 30605256.

Addition of formate dehydrogenase increases the production of renewable alkane from an engineered metabolic pathway

Jaroensuk J., Intasian P., Kiattisewee C., Munkajohnpon P., Chunthaboon P., Buttranon S., Trisrivirat D., Wongnate T., Maenpuen S., Tinikul R., Chaiyen P.^† (2019). "Addition of formate dehydrogenase increases the production of renewable alkane from an engineered metabolic pathway." Journal of Biological Chemistry. 294(30):11536-11548. PMID: 31182484.

Kinetic studies of conjugate addition of amines to allenic and acrylic esters and their correlation with antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus

Kiattisewee C., Kaidad A., Jiarpinitnun C., Luanphaisarnnont T.^† (2018). "Kinetic studies of conjugate addition of amines to allenic and acrylic esters and their correlation with antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus." Monatshefte für Chemie - Chemical Monthly. 149:1059–1068.

A 1,2-Addition Pathway for C(sp²)—H Activation at a Dinickel Imide

Powers I.G., Kiattisewee C., Mullane K.C., Schelter E.J., Uyeda C.^† (2017). "A 1,2-Addition Pathway for C(sp²)—H Activation at a Dinickel Imide." Chemistry – A European Journal. 23(32):7694-7697. PMID: 28453895

Investigating promoter distance rules for effective bacterial CRISPRa with distinct transcriptional activation mechanisms

May 19, 2022

Poster at EBRC Annual Meeting 2022, Berkeley, California

Kinetic studies of conjugate addition of amines to allenic and acrylic esters and their correlation with antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus

November 05, 2017

Poster at ACS Asia-Pacific International Chapters Conference 2017, Jeju, South Korea

National Delegate at the 67^th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

June 25, 2017

Nobel Laureate Meeting at The 67^th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, Lindau, Germany

National Delegate at the Asian Science Camp 2013

August 25, 2013

Nobel Laureate Meeting at Asian Science Camp 2013, Tsukuba, Japan

Peer Review Services (and Assisting in Peer-Review)

Reviewing Editor — Microbial Cell Factories and Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts
iScience — October 2025 (direct invitation)
Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal — September 2025 (direct invitation)
Microbial Cell Factories — November 2024 and March 2025 (direct invitations)
Nucleic Acids Research – August 2023 (Direct invitation to C.K.)
Nucleic Acids Research – 4 articles – April 2023 (Assisting J.M.C.), March 2022 (Assisting J.M.C.), December 2020 (Assisting J.G.Z.), and September 2019 (Assisting J.G.Z.)
Nature Communications – 3 articles – December 2022 (Assisting J.G.Z.), October 2022 (Assisting J.G.Z.), and March 2020 (Assisting J.M.C.)
ACS Synthetic Biology – 2 articles – October 2023 (Assisting J.G.Z.) and February 2023 (Assisting J.G.Z.)
Nature Microbiology – February 2024 (Assisting J.M.C.)
Nature Chemical Biology – November 2023 (Assisting J.M.C.)
Cell Reports Methods – May 2023 (Assisting J.M.C.)
Metabolic Engineering Communications – May 2022 (Assisting J.M.C.)
The CRISPR Journal – June 2020 (Assisting J.G.Z.)
Microbial Cell Factory – February 2020 (Assisting J.M.C.)
Biotechnology Journal – March 2018 (Assisting P.C.)

Leadership and Services

2025 — Organizing Committee, Biotechnology Beyond Conventional Containment workshop at Caltech’s Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy
2025–Present — Lead contributor and author, UNESCO Engineering Biology Curriculum Framework for Low- and Middle-Income Countries, in partnership with VISTEC and NXPO Thailand
2024–Present — Mentor, ASM Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship Program
2024–2025 — Communication Chair, Engineering Biology Research Consortium Student and Postdoctoral Association (EBRC-SPA)
2023 — Panelist, DiscoverBMB Community Day, ASBMB Annual Meeting
2022 – 2023
- UW MolES Graduate Student Association (MolES-GSA), Member & Cohort Representative
2021–Present — Focus Topic Advisor and Science Communicator, Thailand Synthetic Biology Consortium
2021–2024 — Membership and Outreach/Engagement Co-Chair and DEI Task Force Liaison, EBRC-SPA
2021 – 2022
- UW Graduate School Interdisciplinary Committee (GSIC), as a MolES Student Liaison working on developing new course curriculum for Ph.D. students
2020 – 2022
- Co-founder of the MolES Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee – Organizational Subcommittee member
2020 – Present
- Member of the EBRC Student and Postdoc Association, contributing to roadmapping initiatives including:

Honors and Awards

2025 — Winner, Megabase Spark; selected to receive 100 kb of synthetic DNA from RootPath
2025 — Spirit of Asilomar Next Generation Leader, Science History Institute; led entreaties delivered from the meeting
2025 — ACS Younger Chemist Leadership Institute Award
2024 — Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Engineering Excellence, 2024–2026 cohort, MIT School of Engineering
2023 — Distinguished Dissertation Award, Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington
2023 — ACS Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Recognition Program, Leadership in Mentoring
2023 — AIChE Foundation registration support and DEI travel award for SEED
2022 — Travel Award, ACS Spring Meeting Graduate Student Symposium “Mother (Nature) Knows Best: Bonding with Nature’s Proteins,” San Diego, USA
2019 — Outstanding Thesis Award, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University
2017 — National delegate, 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Chemistry, Lindau, Germany

References

James J. Collins — Termeer Professor of Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jesse G. Zalatan — Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Washington
James M. Carothers — Charles W. H. Matthaei Endowed Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington
Georg Seelig — Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington
Caroline S. Harwood — Gerald and Lyn Grinstein Professor of Microbiology, University of Washington

Cholpisit Ice Kiattisewee

CV