Hello everyone! My name is Mani Gupta, and I completed my PhD in Biological Sciences at IISER Kolkata, India, where my research focused on synthetic biology, enzyme engineering, enzyme immobilisation and metabolic engineering for sustainable bioprocessing. After my PhD, I briefly worked as a postdoctoral researcher at IIT Kanpur, investigating space synthetic biology by studying bacterial growth and behavior under simulated microgravity conditions. My research interests include engineering microbial systems, synthetic microbial consortia, and developing sustainable biomanufacturing platforms. At RLA Lab, I work on designing self-sustaining microbial consortia by combining Yarrowia lipolytica with photosynthetic cyanobacteria to convert CO₂ into valuable lipid-derived molecules. Outside the lab, I enjoy travelling and exploring new cultures.