Jack Hervey

Background

About Jack Hervey

I am a molecular biologist working on synthetic biotechnology and the genetics of harmful algal bloom species at the Cawthron Institute.My synthetic biology research draws on my previous work at Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID), where I worked on the use of alternative 'Xeno' nucleic acids (XNA) to develop aptamers to several cancer bio markers and SARS-CoV2. My career started with a BSc Hons in plant biotechnology at the University of Otago in New Zealand, following which I moved to the University of Cambridge, where I completed a PhD in Biochemistry studying photosynthetic bacteria and metabolic engineering. Following this I moved to CITIID to begin my postdoc studying XNA aptamers.I am particularly interested in synthetic and molecular biology, and the use of synthetic biology for biotech applications. I am also interested in photosynthesis and sustainable biotechnology, and the integration of biology and computer science to facilitate and inform high-throughput analyses.