Jenny Molloy

I am a Group Leader at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the University of Cambridge, building technologies for an open, globally inclusive and equitable bioeconomy.

My groups develop biomanufacturing tools and technologies that are sustainable by design and deployable in low-resource contexts. We also investigate the most effective ways that enzyme engineering and manufacturing can positively impact on health and sustainability, especially in developing and emerging economies.

We have a long-standing interest in protein functionalisation of sustainable and readily available materials (e.g. silica, cellulose, chitosan) and have worked on solid and hydrogel immobilisation of enzymes and peptides. We also have experience in high-throughput screening of proteins using cell-free protein expression systems. This seemed like a perfect opportunity to apply our experience to a real and impactful climate problem, as part of a community doing the same.

I am very interested in new approaches to funding and performing science and in scientific community building: I have co-founded four social enterprises and nonprofits supporting the development and deployment of open source tools for science through building communities, knowledge infrastructures and policy. So I would be excited to be part of the Homeworld Collective cohort and mentoring, to experience their forward-thinking mission to grow the field of climate biotech in a very intentional way. I think that in itself will be a great source of inspiration and ideas for my longer-term mission of equitable global access to biotechnology.

January 2023