Established Academic 2022
Dr Jenny Molloy
Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
School of Technology
The Vice-Chancellor's Awards
for Research Impact and Engagement
About the researcher
Dr Jenny Molloy is the Founder and Director of the Open Biochemistry Lab and a Shuttleworth Research Fellow at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.
Jenny's research looks at open approaches to Intellectual Property for a Sustainable and Equitable Bioeconomy. Her work focuses on better understanding problems facing researchers accessing biological research tools in low-resource contexts, particularly Latin America and Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor's Awards
for Research Impact and Engagement
About the researcher
Dr Jenny Molloy is the Founder and Director of the Open Biochemistry Lab and a Shuttleworth Research Fellow at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.
Jenny's research looks at open approaches to Intellectual Property for a Sustainable and Equitable Bioeconomy. Her work focuses on better understanding problems facing researchers accessing biological research tools in low-resource contexts, particularly Latin America and Africa.
With Jenny’s support, we implemented novel modes of institutional collaboration and have been contributing to revolutionary research projects, sharing results through scientific publications.
Stephane Fadanka Executive Director, Mboalab
What is the research?
The Open Enzyme Collection: towards equitable and inclusive global biomanufacturing using synthetic biology
The Open Enzyme Collection an open source library of DNA for manufacturing critical reagents for biological research and molecular diagnostics.
While biology is the future of sustainable manufacturing in many sectors, there are numerous barriers to low and middle income countries participating in and benefiting from the global bio-economy. One is the supply chain for biological reagents such as enzymes.
The Open Enzyme Collection now been distributed to over 500 labs in over 50 countries, where it is enabling synthetic biology education, diagnostics innovation and local manufacturing projects that aim to expand access to biotechnology as a tool for sustainable development.
It catalysed a non-profit spin-off, Beneficial Bio, which is supporting entrepreneurs in six countries across Africa and Latin America to address reagent supply chain challenges and establish bioinnovation hubs that are engaging local academics, government and private sector partners.
This project shows a strong relationship between research and its subsequent ambitious application within a range of different labs and within a global context. The co-produced work with independent labs is extremely impressive and demonstrates the academic's commitment and passion. Her work with a range of end-users has ensured the impact is both measurable and sustained with new partnerships in developing countries planned.
The judges
Quick fire Q&A
Dr Jenny Molloy
1
What would others be surprised to learn about you?
Until the age of about 16 I thought that biology was pretty boring. I was wrong!
2
What motivates you?
Knowing that biology is a critical technology for creating a sustainable future for people and the planet but also that very few people globally have access to shape that future and benefit from it. That inequity is what motivates me and my work.
3
If you could wake up tomorrow with a new skill, what would it be?
The ability to pick up languages very quickly. I often end up in situations abroad where I wish I spoke more languages - like live on French Cameroonian breakfast news!
4
How do you pick yourself up when research does not go to plan?
I read a lot of stoic philosophy and that teaches you to prepare for things not to go to plan and focus on controlling your response, learning from it and moving forward.
5
What advances would you like to see in your field within your lifetime?
On demand DNA synthesis in every lab, it would be a game changer for designing and engineering biology
6
What gives you the most satisfaction?
Seeing other people using our DNA toolkits and protocols to do things that I wouldn’t even have thought about.
7
What's the best bit of advice you've been given?
Don’t be afraid to talk to anyone, even if they’re intimidatingly important. 98% of the time they will be delighted to share what they know with you. That advice from a senior academic when I was a student helped me overcome a lot of anxiety.
Built with Shorthand