Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research interests
With a background spanning biochemistry, synthetic biology, control engineering, and chemical engineering, Simona is passionate about realising the biotechnological potential of non-model microbes through interdisciplinary science. Her research interests include:
- Development of tailored molecular toolkits for non-model bacteria.
- Metabolic engineering towards the valorisation of CO2 and CO2-derived organic compounds.
- Bioprocess design and optimisation.
- Evolutionary engineering.
Biography
Dr Simona Della Valle is a synthetic biologist, specialising in engineering microorganisms for sustainable biomanufacturing. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biochemistry from University College London, where her interest in biotechnology began with research on extremophilic bacteria and microalgae. In 2023, she completed her PhD in Synthetic Biology at the University of Oxford, focusing on Cupriavidus necator, a bacterium capable of converting CO2 into value-added products. Currently, she is a Research Associate in the Fritz Lab (UWA School of Molecular Sciences), where she engineers the fast-growing marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens to valorise CO2-derived acetate, at scale.
Awards and Recognitions
- Impact Award for Public Engagement and Outreach (Sep 2021)
- Awarded by the University of Oxford BBSRC Interdisciplinary Biosciences DTP.
- Dobson Domus Research Prize (Aug 2021)
- Awarded by Linacre College, University of Oxford, for outstanding communication of original research.
- Vice-Chancellor’s Education Award (May 2020)
- Supported teaching on the “Introduction to Programming for Life Scientists” course, recipient of Oxford’s award for high-quality education.
- The Rabin Medal (Jul 2018)
- Top student in the UCL MSci Biochemistry graduating cohort.
- Undergraduate Scholarship for Excellence (2016/2017)
- Top second year student in the UCL Faculty of Life Sciences.
- Undergraduate Microbiology Prize (Sep 2016)
- Awarded by the Microbiology Society – outstanding performance in a microbiology-related course.
- Campbell Prize (2015/2016)
- UCL Department of Structural and Molecular Biology – exceptional academic achievement.
Research
Selected publications
Della Valle, S. et al. Streamlined and efficient genome editing in Cupriavidus necator H16 using an optimised SIBR-Cas system. Trends in Biotechnology, 43, 1470–1491 (2025)
Della Valle, S. et al. Construction of microbial platform chassis for CO2 utilisation. Current Opinion in Systems Biology, 37, 100489 (2024)
Davison, P. A. et al. Engineering a Rhodopsin-Based Photo-Electrosynthetic System in Bacteria for CO2 Fixation. ACS Synthetic Biology 11, 3805–3816 (2022).
Perez, M. F. et al. Neuronal perception of the social environment generates an inherited memory that controls the development and generation time of C. elegans. Current Biology 31, 4256-4268.e7 (2021).
Languages
Languages
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English |
Native |
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Italian |
Native |
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Spanish |
Native |
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French |
Intermediate |
Programming Languages
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Python |
Advanced |
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R |
Advanced |
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MATLAB |
Intermediate |
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C |
Beginner |
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Synthetic Biology, PhD, Metabolic Engineering of Cupriavidus necator H16 for sustainable biomanufacturing, University of Oxford
Award Date: 6 Oct 2023
Industry keywords
- Bioengineering
- Biotechnology
Research expertise keywords
- Synthetic biology
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Molecular biology
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Establishing Vibrio natriegens as a high-performance host for acetate-based poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production
Politan, R., Della Valle, S., Pineda, L., Joshi, J., Euler, C., Flematti, G. & Fritz, G., 23 Jun 2025, USA: bioRxiv.Research output: Working paper › Preprint
Open Access -
Establishing Vibrio natriegens as a high-performance host for acetate-based poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production
Politan, R., Della Valle, S., Pineda, L., Joshi, J., Euler, C., Flematti, G. & Fritz, G., Nov 2025, In: Metabolic Engineering. 92, p. 22-38 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
From marsh to market: taming Vibrio natriegens for sustainable bioproduction
Della Valle, S., Faber, A., Politan, R. J., Lama, S. & Fritz, G., Dec 2025, In: Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 96, 12 p., 103353.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Streamlined and efficient genome editing in Cupriavidus necator H16 using an optimised SIBR-Cas system
Della Valle, S., Orsi, E., Creutzburg, S. C. A., Jansen, L. F. M., Pentari, E.-N., Beisel, C. L., Steel, H., Nikel, P. I., Staals, R. H. J., Claassens, N. J., van der Oost, J., Huang, W. E. & Patinios, C., Jun 2025, In: Trends in Biotechnology. 43, 6, p. 1470-1491 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access5 Citations (Scopus) -
Construction of microbial platform chassis for CO2 utilisation
Della Valle, S., Tu, W. & Huang, W. E., 12 Dec 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Current Opinion in Systems Biology. 37, 100489.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access6 Citations (Web of Science)