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Associate Professor

Won Jae Choi

Associate Professor
Head, Industrial Biotechnology Division
Ph.D. , Biochemical Engineering, Seoul National University, South Korea
Cluster:
Food, Chemical and Biotechnology
Email

Biography

An experienced biochemical engineer with more than 25 years of hands-on experiences in public/private sectors for the development of industrial microbial strains/enzymes and bioprocesses. Expertise in providing the vision and leadership required to ensure a high quality of scientific achievement and commercialization along the R&D value chain from scientific proof of concept to manufacturing and business.

SIT Appointments

  • Head, Industrial Biotechnology Division
    – Present
  • Associate Professor
    – Present
  • Deputy Cluster Director, Food Chemical and Biotechnology
    –

Education

  • Ph.D.
    Biochemical Engineering, Seoul National University , South Korea
  • M.S.
    Biochemical Engineering, Seoul National University , South Korea
  • B.S.
    Chemical Technology, Seoul National University , South Korea

Corporate Experience

  • Associate Adjunct Professor, Biochemistry, NUS
    Present
  • Team Leader, Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences/Singapore Institute of Food and Biotech Innovation, Singapore
    –
  • Group Leader, Samsung Petrochemical Co. Ltd, South Korea
    –
  • Team Leader, Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Singapore
    –
  • Team leader, Dongbu HiTek Co. Ltd, South Korea
    –
  • Senior Researcher, DreamBiogen Co. Ltd, South Korea
    –
  • Researcher, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
    –
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Research Interests

  • Production of bio-based specialty ingredients using whole cell and enzymes
  • Waste stream valorization for upcycling and circular economy
  • Bio-prospecting for non-GMO enzyme and strain for industrial application
  • Pilot/commercial scale integrated biorefinery process for bio-based chemicals

Past Projects

  • Extraction of bromelain from pineapple wastes
    –
  • Joint lab for food waste valorization
    –
  • Realising the value of algae as a source of alternative protein
    –
  • Development of plant-based meat like favors
    –
  • Biocatalytic process for cosmetic ingredient
    –
  • Immobilized enzyme for biocatalysis
    –
  • Valorisation of shea butter latex and shea olein
    –
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Journal Papers

  • Lo T-M, Hwang IY, Cho H-S, Fedora RE, Chng SH, Choi WJ and Chang MW (2021) Biosynthesis of Commodity Chemicals From Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Lignin. Front. Microbiol. 12:663642

  • Tee-Kheang Ng, Ai-Qun Yu, Hua Ling, Nina Kurniasih Pratomo Juwono, Won Jae Choi, Susanna Su Jan Leong, Matthew Wook Chang (2020) Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica towards food waste bioremediation: Production of fatty acid ethyl esters from vegetable cooking oil. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering, 129 (1):31-40

  • Md. Mahabubur Rahman Talukder, Puah Sze Min, Choi Won Jae (2019) Integration of cell permeabilization and medium engineering for enhanced enantioselective synthesis of ethyl-S-3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoate (S-EHPP). Biochemical Engineering Journal, 148: 24-28

  • Binbin Chen, Hui Ling Lee, Yu Chyuan Heng, Niying Chua, Wei Suong Teo, Won Jae Choi, Susanna Su Jan Leong, Jee Loon Foo, Matthew Wook Chang (2018) Synthetic biology toolkits and applications in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnol Adv. 36:1870-1881

  • Hossain, GS, Nadarajan, SP, Zhang, L, Ng, TK, Foo, JL, Ling, H, Choi, WJ, Chang, MW (2018) Rewriting the Metabolic Blueprint: Advances in Pathway Diversification in Microorganisms. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY. Feb 12;9:155

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