Affiliation: Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, Wageningen, the Netherlands

Dr. Gao has served as a researcher at the Bioprocess Engineering group, AlgaePARC, at Wageningen University & Research (Wageningen, the Netherlands) since 2017. Dr. Gao holds a PhD (2019) in Aquatic Product Processing and Storage Engineering obtained from Ocean University of China (Qingdao, China).

Dr. Gao worked on the overexpression of nanosized polyphosphate bodies in cyanobacteria (Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002) and the assessment of these nanoparticles for the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia using animal or cell models. Currently, he is working on improving fucoxanthin and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production in Tisochrysis lutea by process optimization and single-cell selection. His research is involved in the EU project MAGNIFICENT, funded by the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant No. 745754). In his project, he has developed several improved strains that are promising in fucoxanthin and DHA industrial outdoor production. He won the silver medal in the Upgrader category of the Best Microalgae Awards 2020 edition (AlgaEurope, European Algae Biomass Association).

His research interests are in the development of new technologies for cost-effective microalgae production, thus supplying sustainable feedstocks for food, feed, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.