Alessia Buscaino

Professor Alessia Buscaino is a molecular biologist specialising in fungal biology. She obtained her degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Palermo in Italy in 2000. During her PhD at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL-Germany), she focused on Dosage Compensation in Drosophila melanogaster, which sparked her interest in genome structures and genetic modification.
As an EMBO long-term post-doctoral fellow, she researched chromosome organisation in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe at WTCCB-Edinburgh. In 2013, she received an EMBO short-term fellowship to study chromosome structure and genomic variation in the non-conventional CTG-clade yeast Candida albicans at TAU University in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Since 2013, Alessia has led a research group at the University of Kent. Her research laboratory is part of the Kent Fungal Group, which focuses on the fungal CTG clade, investigating how genomic changes impact their adaptation to new environments. The CTG clade includes ascomycetous yeasts with clinical importance and biotechnological potential.
Alessia is the co-lead of the Growing Kent & Medway Project at the University of Kent. In this role, Alessia coordinates the activities of the Biotech Hub and collaborates with companies to support the development of innovative R&D programmes.
Alessia's expertise and work have significant applications for upcoming animal-free food and drink businesses. Her understanding of fungal biology and alternative food production, combined with cutting-edge genetic and genomic techniques, provides valuable support in developing innovative and sustainable animal-free food products.

• Alternative protein technology
• Fungal biotechnology