Alberto Rock

Picture of Alberto Rock

MRes student

I am a SAMS MRes Student in Algal Biotechnology. Though the course of my project I aim to develop the use of a novel CRISPR (BEC) in the heterokont algae Nannochloropsis sp. to increase high-value fatty acid yields for commercial applications. Specific aims of the project are to optimize electroporation and transformation efficiencies and to develop vectors able to deliver and express BEC in Nannochloropsis sp. I am very grateful to be part of this exciting research!

Contact details:
  • alberto.rock@sams.ac.uk
  • +44 (0)1631 559 000
  • +44 (0)07565 957 414
  • Orcid
  • Linkedin

MRes in Algal Biotechnology

Developing the use of a novel CRISPR associated protein (BRAIN Engineered Cas; BEC) in Nannochloropsis sp. to increase omega-3 fatty acid yield.

Supervisors

Dr. David Green (SAMS)

Dr. Matt Davey (SAMS)

Dr. Marie Mathilde (SAMS)

Prof. Nick Owens (SAMS)

Funder

Adam Khellier

University

University of the Highlands and Islands

Fieldwork experience

Highly branched isoprenoid lipid extractions | Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (including maintenance)| Purification of Biomolecules through size exclusion chromatography | Terpenoid extraction | Carbohydrate extraction | Carbon / Nitrogen analysis | Spectrophotometry | Pigment extraction | Ocean Data View (ODV) | R software | CTD arming, deployment and analysis | Secchi disk | Water sampling (Niskin-type bottles, Lund tube) | Benthic sampling (­Van-Veen grab) | Acoustic Doppler Current profiler (ADCP) deployment and analysis| Zooplankton and phytoplankton collection with nets | Sterile Aseptic Technique | Microalgal cultivation and subculturing | Microalgal media preparation| Microalgal Polycultures | Coulter Counter | Multi-plate reader | Hemocytometer | Microscopy | BSAC Ocean Diver qualification

 

Media mentions

https://www.brain-biotech.com/press/brain-and-sams-apply-bec-gene-editing-technology-to-omega-3-compounds-from-marine-organisms

 

Employment

Jun 2021 – Sep 2021 - Research Assistant on the CHASE project - Scottish Association for Marine Science

Apr 2021 – Sep 2021 - Media Technician / Support Scientist - Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa

Jun 2019 – Aug 2019  - Undergraduate Research Assistant - Scottish Association for Marine Science

Higher Education

2021 - BSc(Hons) 1:1 Marine Science , Scottish Association for Marine Science

Peer Reviewed Publications

Rock, A., Novoveská, L. & Green, D. (2021). Synthetic biology is essential to unlock commercial biofuel production through hyper lipid-producing microalgae: a review, Applied Phycology, 2:1, 41-59, DOI: 10.1080/26388081.2021.1886872