Michael J White

Background

About Michael J White

Mike obtained his bachelors degree (B.Sc. with honors) in biological sciences from the University of London, Goldsmiths College, England. He received his doctorate degree in applied microbiology, University of Bath, under supervision of the late Professor Anthony H. Rose. During his doctoral studies, he was the recipient of an SERC-CASE studentship which included collaborative studies with the Unilever RD Laboratories in Colworth, England. Mike then joined the laboratory of Professor Susan A. Henry at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA where he spent four years gaining experience in microbial genetics and molecular biology. He later joined The Upjohn Company as a scientist in their bioprocess research and development group, where he began his industrial career in steroid and other small-molecule biotransformations. The Upjohn Company, once one of the world leaders in steroid synthesis and steroid pharmaceuticals, went through several acquisitions where Mike has remained for over 30 years. He now holds the position of Senior Research Advisor and Associate Fellow in the Bioprocess Development Group within Global Tech. Services at Pfizer, Inc. Mike's area of research has included microbial lipidology and biotransformations, studying incorporation of fatty acids into, and fatty acid reduction by, yeasts, and the genetic regulation of phospholipid synthesis in yeast. Since joining Pfizer, Inc.(heritage Upjohn Company and Pharmacia), he has become an authority on microbiological steroid transformations, having been responsible for developing several commercial steroid biotransformations and alternative 2nd-generation chemobiological steroid syntheses. Mike has over 35 years of experience in microbial biotransformations, and more than 30 years of experience specifically in microbiological oxidoreductive steroid transformations, scale-up, and commercialization.