Dr Max Cardenas-Fernandez
About
Max obtained his BSc in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from ‘San Marcos’ University (Peru). Then he graduated from ‘Autonoma de Barcelona’ University (Spain) with a PhD in Applied Biotechnology in 2012, here his doctoral research focused on the development of biocatalytic processes for the synthesis of chiral aliphatic and aromatic amino compounds.
Max joined the Department of Biochemical Engineering at UCL in 2013 as a Post Doctoral Research Associate, working with Prof Gary Lye for the valorisation of sugar beet pulp within a biorefinery context, and with Prof John Ward for the discovery of novel enzymes (transaminases, IREDs, transketolase). Max joined the School of Biosciences at the University of Kent as Lecturer in Biotechnology in April 2021.
Research interests
Max’s main research interest is the area of biocatalysis and bioprocessing for the synthesis of fine and commodity chemicals for the pharmaceutical, biorefinery, agrochemical and food sectors; through enzyme discovery and screening, cascade enzymatic reactions, reaction engineering and heterogeneous bioconversion (biocatalysts immobilization). Max is also interested in the sustainable production of biopolymers in particular biopolyamides.
Teaching
BIOS6290 - Proteins: Structure and Function
BIOS8510 - Advanced Molecular Processing for Biotechnologists and Bioengineers
BIOS8520 - Advanced Analytical and Emerging Technologies for Biotechnology and Bioengineering
BIOS8710 - Biotechnology in Action
BIOS8590 - Practical Molecular Biology and Genome Editing